TOM MAGRANN II CAREER DETAILS
(NOTE: Underlined areas contain links to more details)
My first business venture started in 1935 when I was in sixth grade, 13 years old. I bought a Philadelphia Bulletin Newspaper route of 30 customers for the cost of $3. In those days, the homes were spread out, and it took me one-and-a-half hours each day to make all the deliveries and earn 22¢ per day. In the summer months of 1937- 1939 I worked on Zitter’s farm, 10 hours per day, six days per week, doing various farm work. I was paid $1 per day, and half of my week’s earnings went to my mother; I still felt rich with my $3 per week share.
In 1940-41, after school I worked part-time at Sloan’s gas station in our neighborhood. In those days, when you pumped gasoline, the pump only indicated how much gas was dispensed. So we tried to pump even amounts of gallons of gas, rather than “fill it up”, since it made it much easier to figure out the final cost of the gasoline sold... we did not have calculators in those days!
My first job after I graduated from North East Catholic high in 1941 was as an office boy, working for the Smith Drum company at a salary of $15 per week. About six months later I moved on to the Cramps shipyard, where I receive $20 for a 6 day week. The downside was the two-hour trolley ride for the commute to work each day!
In the latter part of 1942, I was a welder’s helper at Nesbitt, Inc, only 2 mi. from my home, and the starting pay was 52 ½ cents per hour. I could see the need for more welders, so I enrolled at Masterbaum Vocational School, taking classes three nights a week for six months. After I received my US Navy certificate for electrical arc welding, the Nesbit Company promoted me to arc welding classification. Within a year I was in the top category of arc welding; the top pay scale was $1.13 per hour, and could go no higher because of price controls during the war years, yet I was completely satisfied.
From 1946-49, my long time school buddy, Charlie Callahan, and I formed our own business, known as “Callahan and Magrann Painting and Paperhanging”. We had a thriving business and hired five additional painters during the summer peak periods.
When the painting business got too slow, I went back to arc welding for the Yale and Towne Co. I enjoyed the work and the pay was good, but after about 10 months, they had to cut back, and as a new employee, I was one of the first laid off.
But then I landed in the new world of “Television”. TV’s were selling fast and furious, and they needed outside antennas to perform well. I was hired in December 1949 (during the Christmas rush for TVs) by Schaffer Television Company, a local company, to deliver TV sets and install outside antennas and rotors. Within a month, I enrolled at the Philadelphia Wireless Institute for 2 ½ years of night classes for Radio/Television engineering.
In 1952 I was hired by McCloy Television Company as a Television technician. I was responsible for the diagnostics, repair, and alignment of TV and radio receivers at the bench level. I also accomplished repaired on stereo amplifiers, recording equipment, record changers, and automobile radios.
In 1955 I was offered a job with Philco Corp. as a Field Engineer for overseas assignments, including installing radar systems and communications for the Iranian Air Force.
During the following four years, 1955-1959: Was assigned to programs in Norway, Morocco, and France performing installation, modification, testing, and trouble-shooting of multi-microwave relay systems. During this period, advanced through the positions of Field Engineer, Senior Field Engineer, and Field Project Engineer. In the latter position, was directly responsible for the expansion and rehabilitation of thirty-eight Microwave Relay Communication sites in France for the U.S. Air Force.
I returned to Philadelphia headquarters and was immediately sent to Alaska for six months to assist in completing the communications systems for the US Air Force in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
My next assignment was as the Field Project Engineer, directly responsible for the installation and testing of a microwave relay system for the Virginia Tel. and Tel. Company. The system connected the South Hill, Virginia sub-station to the main switching center in Blackstone, Virginia and was designed for long distance direct dialing.
1959-1960: As Project Engineer, was responsible for the Radio, Multiplex, and
Telegraph/Telephone Termination System design for projects Short Order and Puerto
Rico keying system. Prepared equipment specification, installation drawings, and
test procedures.
1960-1961: As Program Manager, Short Order, was responsible for the installation and testing of four Microwave Relay Communication Systems for the U.S. Strategic Air Command.
1961-1962: Assigned as Manager, to organize and implement a Quality Assurance Department. Supervised the preparation of Procedures and Check Lists for Manufacturing and Field Installation inspections. Was responsible for the Quality Assurance monitoring of electronic equipment installations at thirty three communications facilities in various overseas locations.
In 1962, Ford Motor Co bought our Philco Corp, so I became a Ford Employee. After several name changes, we became a Division of Ford Motor Co, called “Ford Aerospace”.
1962-1965: As Program Manager, AIRCOM Expansion Programs, was initially responsible to prepare technical and cost proposals for the U.S. Air Force to expand fourteen Communications facilities which included; Tech Control, Point-to-Point, Ground-to-Air, Telegraph/Telephone Termination, and Microwave Relay equipment. Was totally responsible to implement the resulting EF&I contract awards.
1965-1968: As Program Manager for the Blue Fortune and Spellout Programs, was directly responsible for the implementation of both contracts which included engineering, transportation, construction, installation, testing, and maintenance of the Radar and Communications Systems both in Iran and Korea.
1968-1968: As the Peace Ruby Proposal Manager, was responsible to lead an engineering team in the preparation and writing of a technical and cost proposal for the forthcoming Peace Ruby Program. The technical briefings and cost negotiations with the U.S. Air Force culminated in a contract award.
1969-1973: As Activity Manager, Iranian Programs had the prime responsibility for Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation’s overall performance on various contracts with the U.S. Air Force and the Iranian government. Major efforts included engineering, construction, installation, testing and maintenance of Aircraft Control and Warning sites, Tropospheric Scatter sites, Microwave Relay sites, Command Posts, Dial Central Offices, and Outside Telephone Cable Plants. The total value of these programs was in excess of 100 million dollars and the work force peaked at 350 personnel, plus 500 subcontractor personnel.
Was invited to see the Shah of Iran and President Richard Nixon in 1972.
1973—1974: As Proposal Manager, recruited and directed proposal teams in the preparation and writing of technical proposals, specifications, and manpower estimates.
1974—1976: As Program Manufacturing Manager of the Cougar Production contract, was responsible for the production continuity and resolution of problems encountered in production, scheduling, testing, and shipping of Secure Voice Communication equipment.
1976-1977: As Proposal Manager, had the responsibility to recruit and direct a working team to write technical proposals and specifications, and to prepare manpower estimates.
1977-1980: As Director of Operations for the Telephone Development Program (TDP) for the Iranian Ministry of Post, Telephone and Telegraph (MOPTT) had the management responsibility for the construction of the Outside Cable Plant in 55 Iranian cities. Also had the logistic support responsibility for said construction activities. The program was valued in excess of 500 million dollars.
Returned to PA in 1979, when the Iranian political upheaval was peaking, and was on THE LAST PLANE out of Iran with a harrowing story about it written up in the newspaper.
Then I returned to headquarters in 1979, when the Iranian political upheaval was peaking. The company then offered me a job at our Palo Alto, CA division, although I’d be working in Australia (most of my siblings and their families had already moved to CA over the years). Ford Aerospace bought my house in PA and relocated me to CA, but after I arrived there, the company was not awarded the Australia contract, so I opted for special early retirement that year in California in Feb 1980.
1980-1982: Self-Employed consultant and attended college to continue studies in the electronic discipline.
In January 1982 I was offered a management consultant job for three months in Saudi Arabia which I accepted, but at the final interview with the Saudi Director of Communication, he said, “Oh, no, I need you for 6 months.” So I agreed to the six month assignment. I arrived in Saudi Arabia in the city of Yanbu in February, and upon joining the Telecom O&M Department, performed duties as required in several job classifications to provide continuity while incumbent employees were processing or were on leave. These assignments included duties of the Operations Manager, Projects Interface Manager, Radio/Modem Specialist and Department Manager.
In April 1982 was assigned the additional responsibility to serve as Chairman of the Telecom Standardization working group, to expedite the preparation and implementation of Telecommunication Standards. This involved direct interface with the ministry of Posts, Telephones and Telegraph personnel assigned in the Equipment and Material Standardization Department located in the Saudi Telephone’s Riyadh Headquarters Office.
In August 1982, was assigned Department Manager and was responsible for the management of the Telecommunications Department which operates and maintains the Royal Commission’s telephone, telex, and mobile radio systems for the city of Madinat Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah. This department has a staff of 320 personnel which includes management, engineering, supervisory, technical, operational, maintenance, financial, computer, and administrative positions which services the telecommunications requirements for over 35,000 residents.
In 1984 I also received an appointment to be the primary liaison to act as the principle interface with the Ministry of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone (MOPTT), Yanbu District on all matters related to the transfer and ownership for he Telecommunications facilities at MYAS from the Royal Commission to MOPTT in accordance with the agreement signed by the respective Ministries.
In 1985 was assigned Deputy Manager to the Director of Communications Services and served as a consultant to the Director on all technical and administrative matters. Provided supervisory direction to the staff and to the Managers of Operations, Maintenance, and Postal Services. This Directorate has overall responsibility for communications services for the Royal Commission in Madinat Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah and it encompasses Mobile Telephones, Mobile and Fixed Radio Systems, Hot Lines, Data Lines, Public Address Systems, Cable Television, and the operations of the Post Office.
Well, the six month assignment turned out to be a five-year tour, but during my stay in Saudi Arabia, I also got my Master’s Degree in Overseas Project Management by correspondence courses. Then I finally retired for good in September 1986, and I reside in southern California today.