Almost two years in as Noble REMC’s fleet mechanic, Brad Lock enjoys the challenges he encounters each day in the co-op’s shop.
There is no average day for him. When Lock starts his morning, he never knows what’s waiting for him to fix. Other days, he’s asked to help the right-of-way crew with spraying vegetation or flagging for the line crew.
Every day is a guessing game he’s ready to tackle. Let’s learn more about Lock:
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS LINE OF WORK, BEING A MECHANIC?
From a young age, I always liked working on stuff. My dad has always worked on things in his barn. He was a mechanic and a body guy — he did paint and all that stuff. So, I think I started messing with things when I was about 12.
DO YOU LIKE TO WORK ON CARS WHEN YOU’RE AT HOME THEN?
I don’t necessarily want to do it at home, but yeah. My wife calls it Lock’s Junkyard because there’s at least three or four cars sitting around that are broke. I’m always working on stuff for other people.
It started out a lot more fun to work on things at home, but now that I do it for a living, there’s days I don’t want to touch a wrench when I get home.
WHAT’S SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
It takes a lot of patience, and I’m not really a patient person. There are some days that you just want to start hitting stuff with a hammer because it’s not going right. But, you have to fix it, not make it worse.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WITH YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORK?
I spend most of my time doing things for other people, fixing their stuff, but really, my family likes camping and kayaking. The kids like swimming, so we’re usually around water when we can. It mainly revolves around what the kids want, like their sports.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
I’m from Columbia City. I bought my dad’s old house in rural Churubusco, which was where he grew up. That’s how I ended up in Noble County. I met my wife, Casey, in high school. During college is when we really got together. We went to school together in Indy. Then, we moved back to Columbia City and had our kids: Parker, 10; Charlotte, 7; and Stella, 5.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR LIFE?
My family. My kids are always happy. Other people tell me they’re really good kids. They do great outside of our home.
WHAT MOVIE HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOST?
I like movies, but I don’t re-watch them usually. If we’re being honest, the one I’ve seen the most would be “Free Birds.” It’s a kids’ movie. When Parker was growing up, Casey worked as a server, so it was just me and him, and he would just cry the whole time. “Free Birds” made him not cry so I watched it every single day for easily six months.
WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
Oh man, this is embarrassing. Last book I read would have been in high school, and it was “The Notebook.” I liked those movies and books.
WHAT’S ONE BAND YOU COULD LISTEN TO ON REPEAT FOREVER?
Parkway Drive. It’s screamo/metal. Put your headphones on, you’re going to be head banging.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT?
I’m going to have to go with Señor Fajitas in Columbia City where Casey works.
