Vernon
the Maintenance became a big item. So that division became very prominent because they
tell people where they can spend their money. If you want any money, you got to go to
them to get it. When you're passing out the money, you get to do a lot of dictating about
how it's going to be used.
Q ..
That's always been the case, hasn't it?
A
Oh yes, whoever has got the bucks has got the authority too.
Q ..
We're talking about a lot of your colleagues in Civil Works. What about the relative
impact of the various Directors of Civil Works that you worked for. You've mentioned
John Wall. Are there any others who left their marks on the directorate?
A
Well, there were quite a few of them, I don't think, that really changed anything much.
They may have made a lot of noise here and there but actually I think probably General
Morris [Major General John W. Morris, Director, April 1972-September 1975, later Chief
of Engineers] was the one that had a lot of influence on what went on when he was there.
Heiberg, too, had a lot to do in Civil Works. Let me think of some of the others.
Major General Charles I. (Chuck) McGinnis
Q ..
How about Chuck McGinnis [Major General Charles I. McGinnis, Director, July 1977-
June 1979]?
A ..
Yeah, McGinnis did a lot, too. I really liked him. You could talk to him and he would
listen to you. A lot of times he would do something about what you mentioned to him.
A lot of times about dam safety.
Major General Jackson Graham
Q ..
Much more important than were the senior civilians who provide the continuity in the
directorate?
Well, all of the Directors of Civil Works had their pluses and minuses. I guess some of
A
them seemed to work with a lot of the people and others seemed to work with just a few.