Power lineman recalls career
Hanging Dog Meet Randy Curtis, a man who has put his life in danger to help others many times.
Curtis has lived in Cherokee County his entire life. Born in Murphy in 1961 and raised in Unaka, today he lives in Hanging Dog.
“This is home. It’s where all my relatives were raised and grew up,” he said.
“I love Murphy, I wish it was like it was 30 or 40 years ago, but it’s still a good town. There’s a lot of good people in Murphy.”
Curtis is retired but spent 36 years with Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp., where he did underground services as well as the duties of an overhead lineman. He also worked correcting troubles from storms in Grape Creek, Hanging Dog, Ogreeta and Unaka.
When the power went down, he went up – even though working to restore power is a dangerous endeavor.
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“I was very blessed to never get seriously hurt with the power company,” Curtis said with gratefulness in his voice.
However, he often felt unappreciated when it came to customers.
“I wish people knew what we went through sometimes to get their power back on in bad weather and at night,” Curtis said. “There’s a lot more to it than most people realize, especially the dangers of it.”
He has advice for younger folks wanting to do the job.
“When you’re around other linemen, watch what they do and how they do it,” Curtis said. “Pay attention and don’t give up, be determined to do it.”
He not only climbed power poles for the power company, but trees as well with his own business. He has been up and down trees for 38 years with Curtis Tree Service, which is no less dangerous a job than climbing power poles.
The most challenging part of Curtis’ job was within the first five years of his career.
“I was so determined to climb trees, but I had to learn how to climb,” he said.
Why continue climbing trees after several near-misses that could have ended his life?
“I’m just not through working yet. I enjoy it and help a lot of people that need help that can’t afford it,” Curtis said. “I make money sometimes, but I do my share of helping people and getting paid by the blessings of God.”
He recently had an incident that could have easily ended the life of not only himself, but his 3-year-old granddaughter, Caroline.
Earlier this year on Mother’s Day, he and his family were at Meeks Park in Blairsville, Ga., spending time together. While walking a trail, Caroline tripped and fell backward down a 15-foot drop-off.
Curtis went after her. The toddler ended up in a soft spot with mud, dirt and water, avoiding serious injury. He, however, hit a rock and free-tumbled to the bottom.
The result was a broken hip and femur bone. Curtis was unable to move or get up and ended up in a creek.
A family that had been nearby waded the creek and sat with Curtis until emergency personnel arrived. It took about two hours for the crew to hoist him up and retrieve him from the creek.
From there, he was taken to the hospital, where he stayed for three days and two nights requiring surgery. It was a painful process.
While he was still in the hospital, a man from the family who waited in the water with him went back to the accident site and cut down the bush Curtis tried to hold on to in order to prevent his fall. One of its branches had broken, allowing Curtis to continue his descent. The man – a doctor in Blue Ridge, Ga. – fashioned the branch into a walking stick and gave it to Curtis.
“It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Somebody loved and cared for me enough to go back over and cut that bush down and trim it up. It just meant the world to me,” he said with emotion.
Curtis’ hobbies include spending time with his three children, three grandkids and his wife, Connie. He also enjoys hunting and working for people.
“I love to leave everybody very happy,” he said. “It’s very important to me.”
Where does he see himself in 10 years?
“When I get healed up enough, I’m gonna skydive. I’ve been wanting to do it for several years, and the good Lord willing that’s one thing I’m gonna do. I am gonna do it,” Curtis said.
Curtis is a Mason and a Shriner. He is proud that both organizations generously help children.
“I’m better than I used to be but I still have a long way to go to be the person I want and need to be,” he said.
“God is not done with me on this Earth yet.”
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