Grandfather finishes apprenticeship one year before grandson begins his

Three generations of Goddards are active members of L-667

THE BOILERMAKER TRADE is often passed down through generations. But while it’s not uncommon to hail from a multi-generational Boilermaker family, it is quite unusual for three generations of the same family to work at the same job sites, as Steve, Dale, and Patrick Goddard have done on a number of occasions. The men are all members of Local 667 (Charleston, W.Va.). Most recently, they worked together for Enerfab during an outage at AEP’s Kammer power plant in Moundsville, W.Va.

What is even more unusual is the order in which the Goddards became Boilermakers. Steve, 41, a certified welding instructor, began his career in 1991 as a permit hand working out of L-667. He completed his apprenticeship in 1999. His son Patrick, 21, began work for the lodge in 2008 and was accepted into the apprenticeship in 2010. But Grandpa Dale Goddard, 61, Steve’s father, approached things differently. After working at an aluminum plant for 38 years, Dale retired at 57, only to begin a second career, as a L-667 Boilermaker, in 2006. He completed his apprenticeship in 2010 — just a year before his grandson Patrick began his own apprenticeship.

“Pappy” Goddard has been well accepted by work crews, says Steve, and although he has come late to a career as a Boilermaker, he enjoys the camaraderie and the opportunity to share work experiences with his son and grandson.