Despite what was billed as a shindig, the atmosphere was a bit somber as friends and colleagues gathered to say goodbye to Safety Center Director John Mounce and Senior Graphics Designer John Hobbs on Thursday, August 23.
After decades of working for TTI, the popular duo decided to hold their retirement farewell party at the same time. Although jovial, there was a sense of sadness that represented the end of an era for many.
Even so, when Hobbs approached the microphone to say goodbye in the wake of his retirement, you had a feeling the man known as TTI’s jokester would have something less than serious to say. “I really appreciate this,” he began. “But I have to announce that I’ve changed my mind,” he said, eliciting laughter from those present.
To give some perspective as to what the world was like when the men were first hired, Agency Director Dennis Christiansen dug back into history. “On June 1, 1973 [Hobbs’s first day on the job], Heidi Klum was born and The Beatles released their long-delayed album, Let It Be. On February 2, 1970 — John Mounce’s first day on the job — Love Story led at the box office.”
And to lighten the mood even further, Christiansen announced that Hobbs was “the first TTI employee to ever flunk the exit interview.”
“From both of us, it’s been a great ride,” Mounce told the crowd as he took over the microphone, changing the mood once more. “Most of my best friends come from TTI. It’s been wonderful, and I appreciate the opportunity to have worked with all of you.”
In Mounce’s long and productive career spanning over 40 years, he held titles that included engineer, researcher, associate professor and center director. His research focused on highway design, operations, safety and human factors.
Hobbs — whose entire career was with TTI — started out as a research assistant and research associate before taking on titles of draftsman, illustrator, graphic artist and computer graphics designer.
“They’ve made a lot of good friends and shared their lives with us… and they are going to be missed,” Christiansen told the men’s well-wishers. Then, directing his comments to Mounce and Hobbs, he said, “you did great stuff for the state of Texas.”
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