Letter sent to Anaconda Job Corps Civlian Conservation Center (JCCCC), from former student 17 year old Lee Westerso. Lee graduated Anaconda JCCCC in June of 1977 from the carpentry trade.

I graduated Category 1 (G.E.D. completion and graduation from Carpentry class) in June 1977. The current Anaconda CCC Carpentry honcho at the time, George Johnston, believed in me enough at the time, graduated me early soon after my G.E.D. completion (3 months with every other week a work week!) and with my Cat one graduation at the time, when I passed my G.E.D. exam at the mining college in Butte, I had the 4th highest G.E.D. score in Job Corp history!

My carpentry test scores (from hard studying) got me a mandatory Carpentry apprenticeship / labor job starting at $12.88 per hour in the Seattle area. A great wage in 1977! I’ve worked in carpentry a LOT on and off since then, and now, since I’ve grown older, I have worked at NV’s oldest casino for the last 14 years making SERIOUS money tending bar and as the maintenance supervisor. It may seem unrelated, but my experience from Dick Sanders and Bill Connolly (instructors) about professionalism really put me at the top of my game! (My take-home pay [net] is $65,000, and the main reason is – not only was I taught a trade, I was taught WORK ETHIC.)

I had quit high school because my teachers simply didn’t give a damn; they were hungover or for whatever reasons just didn’t care, and I had a 3.6 GPA!

ACCC was not co-ed then (but became so shortly after my graduation – dang!), and some of my other 399 male student friends were there because a judge said, “Jail or Job Corp.” I tried to shy away from those types because I was there simply to better myself, which I did.

I am writing this letter for several reasons:

1. I am thankful to you for starting my reasons for true learning and truly learning good work ethic.
2. Saving my life; the path I was on would not end up without me ending up in serious trouble.
3. Making me, my friends, and especially my family proud.

I graduated from ACCC June, 1977 at age 17.  Last week I turned 53 years old. I outrightly own my own house, 3 cars, all new appliances and all new furniture.

Thank you all, especially the folks that are still around.

Another success story, from the Anaconda JCCCC, showing that “Job Corps works!”