Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Someone once told me that you know you are getting old when you start receiving praise and awards for things you like to do. Retirement is right around the corner, they explained. Well, I am not ready to retire, and I still love what I do, so God willing, you are going to have to keep putting up with me for a while. So, what is the point of this column? “Standing on the shoulders of giants” is my statement.
I have never done what I do for praise or recognition. I just enjoy passing my knowledge on to others. I encourage all the people I interact with to do the same. We need to aid those less experienced in a particular topic to excel. With practice and patience, I believe all of us can be the best at whatever we choose to do, given our God-given ability. Not doing your best is not in my mindset. As a very clever technical writer once said to me, “good enough is not good enough.” It might be good enough to get by, but we should strive to do our best at all things we take on. In the real world, time constraints, budget concerns, and other work and family obligations can push us, but we should always strive to do our best.
Where did I learn these life and work lessons? As a young boy, I watched my father work two jobs so he could support our family. We lived humbly, but his drive to send us to a private Catholic school was his push. My sister and I were kept in line by a loving but heavy-handed mom. She expected no less than perfection. A 98% on a test was a reason for studying harder, not praise. My grandmothers, aunts, and uncles expected the same. My schoolteachers from grade school through college expected the best in me, and each of them would do anything necessary to ensure I did my best. My football coaches saw my potential and never let me give up on myself, especially during two-a-day summer practices. In the work environment, the owners of the companies and supervisors I have worked for have all been supportive. The one place I worked where I was not pushed was the worst job I ever had. Not that the work was difficult or not in my wheelhouse. I just realized no one cared enough about me to do my best. “Good enough” was acceptable. That job did not last long for me. I could not handle that situation. I really thought I had something wrong with me. I could not bring myself to go to work and just put time in doing “okay” work.
During my involvement with my high school, Mount Saint Joseph in Baltimore, I got to know Brother James Kelly of the Xaverian Brothers. “Standing on the shoulders of giants” was one of his sayings. I never really understood what he meant. But as I grew older, I sure did know what he meant by that saying. My success is based on the giants who came before me. They helped shape who I am today. From my parents, family, schoolteachers, employers, friends, coworkers, and other presenters I have listened to, I am in fact standing on the shoulders of giants.
At my mother’s funeral, I requested that the song “Wind Beneath My Wings” be performed. My mother was my biggest supporter. I have had so many supporters in my life, I could not list them all. While writing this, I am thinking about my wife, daughters, my grandson Zachary, and the rest of my family. My thoughts then go to all the supportive teachers I have had. Dr. John Bryan and Dr. James Milke both shaped my professional career into what it is today. (Interestingly, both fine gentlemen have received the AFSA’s highest award, the Henry S. Parmelee award.) Ronald M. Brave took me on as a new graduate and showed me how to work hard. Even though I just graduated from college, I still had a lot to learn. Manning Strickland (another Henry S. Parmelee award recipient) and his son Jay Strickland shaped me by showing and letting me do what I needed to do at a sprinkler contractor company to manage complex projects for secure government facilities. I learned the right way to work in those environments to make our projects successful while ensuring the quality of our work spoke for itself. I learned the three items of any project: speed, quality, and cost. You never get all three. Pick two, and the project will be successful. My quality was all first-class, so pick speed or cost—the client’s choice.
My current and last employer, AFSA, is led by Bob Caputo. Bob’s advice and push are perfect. Anyone who knows Bob knows what I am talking about. Matt Klaus has recently joined AFSA, but I have known him for a long time. In his new role, I already know what I am going to get—a man who will always help me do my best while pushing AFSA in the proper direction. I would be lacking if I did not mention William Koffel, Russell B. Leavitt, and Russell P. Fleming as great presenters from whom I have each “stolen” something.
I’ve only named a few people who have supported and mentored me; I apologize that I can’t list more. Hopefully, in the future, others might say that they are standing on the shoulders of giants. They might even think of me as one of their supporters. I promise I will always push anyone I come into contact with to be their best. I know my wife, daughters, and especially my grandson can count on me if I am on this Earth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John August Denhardt, P.E., ET, CWBSP, FSFPE, is the vice president of engineering and technical services for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). He is responsible for strengthening AFSA’s engineering and technical approaches to meeting member, industry, and operational priorities, with an emphasis on service, quality, and integrity. Denhardt is a registered professional engineer (P.E.) in the District of Columbia and the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He is NICET Level III certified in water-based systems layout, NICET Level III certified in inspection and testing of water-based systems, and a certified water-based system professional through NFPA. Denhardt is a member of the NFPA 13 technical committee on sprinkler system discharge criteria, a fellow in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), a member of the SFPE Board of Directors, a member of the Board of Trustees for NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation and sits on the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering’s Board of Visitors. A native of Maryland, Denhardt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland College Park in fire protection engineering. Prior to this role, Denhardt was employed by Strickland Fire Protection in Forestville, Maryland, since 1994, overseeing large-scale projects and assisting with design and installation technical issues.