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FEAR NOT

January 21, 2019

        The english dictionary should read the words "see Dave Bench" for the definition of fearless. This is kinda long so bear with me please. In early 2014 Dave and I were working together as electrical contractors on a multifamily housing project. Dave being the Project Manager and myself General Foreman left me under his authority. One afternoon close to quitting time Dave and i were discussing various things about the project one being our dyer need to get on the 3rd floor to take measurements and make material list and other misellaneous things. The stairwell to the 3rd floor had not been constructed yet so we put our heads together and came up with an idea. There happened to be a roofing crew on the site that day and with that crew was a sky trac fork lift. For those who dont know what this is its not your typical forklift instead has a telescoping boom which also raises up and down and shifts side to side. When Dave and i came up with this idea, lol I quickly went and jumped on the forklift because it wasnt in use at that particular moment also because our company was not autherized to use that companys equipment. When i returned to the building Dave and i were working on, Dave already had most of the crew standing around him waiting on him to give everyone an ok to go home for the day. While gettin the forklift into position i overheard one of the hands ask what i was doing and Dave responded with " I need someone to hop on those forks and Chads gonna raise u up to the 3rd floor balcony to access the 3rd floor. No one volunteered. Dave repeated again in a much louder more stern voice " i need someon to get on those forks so chad can put u on the 3rd floor. Once again no one followed his directions. What Dave asked of them trully was no big deal (for anyone havin use of their legs that is) so Dave being the guy he was, angrily called them all a bunch of scary ass pμ$$¥§ and backed himself and his wheel chair onto the forks and with his back to me pointed up and yelled lets go Chad. So up i went with Dave approximately32 feet above ground Dave having nothing to hold onto only the brakes on his chair to keep him from rolling or sliding off the forks. The lift wouldnt reach from where i set up so i had to drive forward on very uneven soft terrain to try and get Dave to the balcony platform. Now ive gotten many many hours of seat time operating various pieces of heavy equipment but i still knew this was dangerous for dave and wanted to bring him down, move forward then raise him back up but Dave wouldnt have it. So i rolled forward a few feet until i could go no more and Dave was still about a foot from the platform. Before i could say anything Dave had already rolled out to the end of the forks and somehow bunnyhopped his freaking wheel chair under the temporary hand rail and onto the balcony. My heart almost stopped beating. The crew stood around jaws wide open in aww as Dave rolled into the building on the 3rd floor. After about 15 minutes the crew gettin anxious wantin to leave for the day Dave rolled back out onto the balcony. As im trying to get volunteers togo up and help dave back onto the forks that fearless S.O.B somehow bunnyhopped himself and his chair under the handrail and back onto the forks BACKWARDS as he was on the way up. Now if you ask me, That is Fearless. Taking only a split second to think about how to do it and doing it Dave flawlessy accomplished what 18 much younger guys having full use of all extremities were too scared to do. Of course Dave didnt let anyone live that one down. 

Dave my friend, my brother, im gonna miss you greatly. Until we meet again. 

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