“Big Daddy” Troy Metcalfe retires after working 50,000-plus hours injury-free at DPR

“I love you, thank you,” said Troy Metcalfe, with tears in his eyes, during his retirement tribute at last year’s craft celebration. With thunderous applause and cheers, hundreds of Troy’s colleagues rose to their feet to salute the man affectionately known as “Big Daddy.” As a craftsperson with 23 years and 53,000 injury-free work hours with DPR, Troy has morphed into a legend. He accepted his fifth and final safety award during the emotional tribute, which is fitting since the award is his namesake.

THE TROY METCALFE SAFETY AWARD

Troy, who joined DPR during its infancy, always embodied the spirit of DPR’s Injury-Free Environment. In 1999, he was the first DPR craftsperson to reach 10,000 injury-free work hours. From this, the Troy Metcalfe Safety Award was born. The Bay Area award honors craftspeople who reach injury-free work-hour milestones. Troy also became the first to reach each subsequent milestone. Since its inception, almost 200 awards have been presented to Bay Area craftspeople (see sidebar).

TRIBUTE AND LEGACY

In addition to the exceptional safety example he sets in the field, Troy’s warm personality garners equal praise. “Troy is what you want in an employee,” said Doug Woods, the “D” in DPR, during the ceremony. “He is a true ambassador for DPR, even beyond safety,” he said.

During the commemoration, Jim Dolen from DPR’s Management Committee praised Troy’s long-lasting career, which began in 1973 and totals 90,000 injury-free work hours. Anthony Dimas, representative from Laborers Local 261, presented Troy with a proclamation, certificate of honor and pin for 40-plus years of union service.

Even Troy’s wife, Pat, contributed. “The last 23 years have been mighty fine,” Pat said in a letter that DPR’s Sara Worthing read to the audience. “DPR respects their employees and that’s their formula for success,” she said.

Doug Woods also recalled a story of Troy’s cheerful management of the traffic at the busy site of a recent large project: “The CEO of the hospital kept asking me, ‘Who is that man? He’s so friendly, he’s so great.’”
Troy is a reminder that great people build great things—safely.

SAFETY MILESTONES

Since the inception of the Troy Metcalfe Safety Award in the Bay Area:

142

have reached 10,000 safe-work hours;

29

have reached 20,000;

7

have reached 30,000; and

1

has reached the 40,000 and 50,000 mark: Troy Metcalfe.

Visit here to watch a video showcasing DPR’s participation in OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down.