A building by another name?

When it comes to traveling in Carbon County, there are many unsung heroes who make it possible. Chief amongst those are the employees of the Carbon County Road and Bridge Department.

On September 7, Encampment resident Gary Jacobsen appeared before the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) to change that. In what Jacobsen would later call a “good precedent”, he proposed the county commissioners consider naming the road and bridge building in Encampment to honor long time employee Dave Acord.

According to Jacobsen, after Acord graduated from Encampment High School and served in Vietnam, he returned home to eventually be hired by Carbon County Road and Bridge.

“I remember the day—we were owners of the Riverside Garage and Cabins at the time—Dave was in for a cup of coffee and he received word he’s been picked to work for the road and bridge of Carbon County. Forty-four years later, he retired,” said Jacobsen. “In those 44 years, I never seen or heard of any complaints. As I wrote here, ‘A very loyal and a very professional from day one to finish’.”

Jacobsen continued, recounting how when Acord was first employed a county building had not yet been built in Encampment. The loader the new employee used to keep roads cleared was stored at his parent’s house when not in use. Since then, however, a building has been erected and houses both county equipment and the Encampment branch of the South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services.

“I have asked Dave would he accept this and it was kind of a ‘golly gee, why me?’ It’s been all those years of seeing that happy, staying busy face. It’s a little bit of small-town-ism that we’re trying to protect and enjoy. I just couldn’t think of a better person that we could dedicate a building under the road and bridge to,” Jacobsen said. “He only had one request and he says ‘I don’t want it to be a memorial’. I told him, ‘We get this passed, then it’s up to you to stay alive’.” 

The Encampment resident assured the BOCCC neither he nor anyone associated with installing letterhead on the building would seek county funds, but would seek donations from area residents. Though none of the commissioners appeared to be opposed to the idea, the initial concern expressed was setting a precedent in naming a building after a county employee.

Commissioner Sue Jones, who clarified the difference between this request and the naming of the Paul A. Zamora Coroner Building, stated Acord was not the only road and bridge employee to work for a significant period of time. Jones referenced Pete Corson, a former employee in the Little Snake River Valley, who worked for more than 40 years before retiring in 2011. Other employees mentioned by Jones included Ron Garretson and Bill Nation.

“Lester (Thompson) will probably see the day of 40 plus years in that same area,” Jones said.

Kandis Fritz, Carbon County Road and Bridge Coordinator, voiced her support for Jacobsen’s proposal.

“Mr. Acord deserves this and much more. I had the pleasure of working with him for 14 years. He is the most kind, caring, compassionate human ever. For 33 years, he kept that entire district open by himself. Over 100 miles and 80 miles of that in the winter and then Lester Thompson came in,” said Fritz. “Me speaking as the Mother Hen of the road and bridge block, Mr. Pete Corson deserves this also. He put in 42 years. Yes, Dave deserves this and more, that is your guys’ decision, but so does Pete Corson.”

As the BOCCC discussed how best to honor Acord and his years of service to the county, Commissioner Byron Barkhurst proposed a plaque outside the building listing employees who had worked for the county for a certain number of years.

“I don’t want Dave to feel like we don’t honor his service,” said Barkhurst. “I’d like to be able to recognize that but I am concerned about (precedence), unless we just agree that somebody beats 44 years we’re going to name the building after that person.”

While even Commissioner John Espy, who described Acord as a “good acquaintance” and “a great guy”, struggled with the potential precedent it would set, Chairman John Johnson focused on a different precedent.

“Yes, it is a precedent set by the small community of Encampment/Riverside coming to us,” said Johnson. “They thought enough of Mr. Acord to want to do something to that (builiding). So, I think the precedent’s been set there.”

Johnson also addressed the concern expressed by the other commissioners about naming a building and later potentially being asked to rename the building. According to the chairman, Acord working for road and bridge before the building was constructed settled the concern of being asked to name the building after anybody else in the future.

Discussion of a resolution to rename the Carbon County Road and Bridge Building in Encampment appeared on the agenda for October 5.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners will have met on October 5 at the Carbon County Courthouse in Rawlins. The next meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners will be at 2 p.m. on October 19 at the Hanna Town Hall in Hanna.