After 19 years, Larry Young is officially hanging up his Wolf Creek hat and heading into retirement. While we’re excited for him to enjoy this next chapter, it’s going to be hard to imagine Wolf Creek without his craftsmanship, humor, and the easygoing camaraderie he brought to the team.
Larry’s Journey to Wolf Creek
Larry received his apprenticeship in pattern making at Federal Pattern in Dayton, where he honed his skills crafting everything from disk brakes to master cylinders for cars. A true jack-of-all-trades, Larry also worked as a handyman, completing residential repair work ranging from carpentry to plumbing to electrical work and everything in between.
His path to Wolf Creek Portable Piping Products began in the early 2000s, when he worked as an independent contractor for Chris Knowles, helping to set up landscape distribution locations for Wolf Creek Co., (which sold in 2021).
“At the time, I was getting burnt out as a pattern maker and wanted to try something different and fresh,” Larry shared. “Chris asked me to come on board with Wolf Creek on the portable piping side of the business, and the rest is history.”
When he first started at Wolf Creek in 2003, Larry specialized in fabricating steel fittings. In the years to come, he would play an instrumental role in helping Wolf Creek get started in HDPE pipe. He even helped Jim Orban patent our famous polybarb pipe and tails!
As Shop Manager, Larry oversaw HDPE Polypipe production along with inventory control, freight shipping, and general maintenance and repairs as needed. If anything ever needed fixing, Larry could handle it!
More Than Just a Job
What Larry says what he’ll miss most about working at Wolf Creek is the team and the relationships that developed into friendships over the years.
“Wolf Creek made work fun,” he said. “We have a good culture, and that everyday comradery will be missed.”
Larry also appreciated the variety of his role. “Every day is always different. You’re not sitting at a desk staring at a screen or fabricating the same widget every day. I enjoy working with my hands, fabricating and watching a finished product come to life.”
Some of his fondest memories at Wolf Creek included the Christmas parties and cookouts. “At Wolf Creek, we are small, but that almost makes us like family,” he said. “And you always get to know your team better when food is involved!”
Looking Ahead
So, what’s next for Larry? More time for travel, relaxation, and loved ones. He and his wife, Cathy, recently returned from a trip to Scottsdale to visit family and already have plans to go back.
“I guess I’m excited to do whatever I want now. I put in my time!” he joked.
True to his nature, Larry won’t be putting down his tools anytime soon. “I’ll always be a handyman and help out where I can,” he said. “I love fixing and tinkering.”
We’re sure Larry will find plenty to do. We just hope he enjoys every minute of the well-deserved retirement he’s earned. Thanks for everything, Larry!
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