Claude Driskill

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Claude Driskill
Rohr Riverside, Chula Vista and Arkadelphia
 
 
Claude was born on October 2, 1938 in Los Angeles, California to Willette and Ira Joe Driskill, a Singer sewing machine salesman. He grew up with six siblings. The family moved around and lived in El Cajon, Alhambra, Hollywood, Los Angeles, and then Lake Elsinore for cleaner air. The family moved briefly to Mira Loma before moving to Riverside for Claude's junior year of high school (p. 31, 39, 43, 44, 49, 50, 52, 59, 64).

Claude graduated from the old Poly High School (now RCC) in 1957. According to Claude, "My single favorite memory is how welcome I was made to feel by my new classmates when I first came to Poly as a junior. Everyone was so friendly and my initial uneasiness of beginning at a new school disappeared almost immediately." Claude was involved in the National Forensic League (Speech and debate) and Tennis. Claude said "I went to Boy's State as a junior. As a senior, I was elected to represent Southern California (and Poly) in the National Student Congress in Lexington Kentucky (p. 67).

In 1956, Claude's brother Joe began working at Rohr and later became a Foreman (p. 73).

In 1959, Claude "took a job at Rohr as an aircraft assembler trainee, earning $1.65 per hour" while going to college at night. After almost a year Claude left Rohr to focus on his job at the Arthur Murray dance studio becoming the Dance Director at the Riverside studio. Claude returned to Rohr and was hired as an Assembler before transferring to Production Control as a Dispatcher. He was laid off in 1962 as manufacturing requirements slowed down (p. 71, 73, 76). 

Claude then worked at an aluminum siding company, also sold insurance and was a promotional salesman for a major tobacco company. These jobs were constant reminders about the benefits of education (p. 76).

In February of 1965, Claude returned to Rohr Aircraft in Riverside and was hired on as an Assembler. Within a year he transferred into a trainee position in Manufacturing Engineering. "I went from trainee to Manufacturing Engineer; through various Industrial Engineering roles; to supervisor and then manager of several engineering organizations."

Claude "received an associate degree in English and History from Riverside Community College in 1970." He also attended UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton taking engineering courses.
 
In 1979, Claude met Edna, who was working in the Parts Priming deparment at Rohr. They married in 1980 (p. 84).

By 1982, Claude was "manager of Industrial Engineer and Facilities at Rohr" (p. 86). Prior to retiring, Claude "had been working as an Improvement Specialist, helping the company implement the "Toyota Lean Manufacturing System"." Claude then became a consultant and worked at Goodrich (formerly Rohr) in Arkadelphi, Arkansas and then took an assignment in Chula Vista (p. 101). Claude finally retired in 2000 (p. 102).

In his retirement, Claude stated "I'm very busy as a retiree and don't know how I ever time for work. I now travel with my wife having visited Italy, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and the east coast of America in recent years. I am an oil and watercolor artist ... and enjoy spending time with my wife, children, and grandchildren."

References:
Driskill, Claude. Memories. April 2002. Riverside, California.

Claude, 4 years old in 1943. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude. Poly High School graduation photo, 1957. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude, early 1980s. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Rohr. Group includes Ralph Canterbery, Chuck Creekmore, and Claude Driskill (with HAIR). Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

GE 90 Rohr Team, circa 1981-1982. Photograph includes Greg Allen (shirt with pencil protector, Jerry Van Hulle's boss), Gary Metzger (with a beard and sunglasses), Charlie Schonerman (wearing bowtie) and Edna Driskill (in the front, long sleeved dress), Claude Driskill (wearing dark jacket) to the left of the large sign. Tom Trogodes (holding the sign on the right side), Back row: Gabe Gutierrez (very tall, by the back), (5th from the right), Dick Moore (head tilted to the left), Dwayne Black (with a beard and sunglasses). Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude is on the right. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude's Rohr anniversary pins. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude, 1983. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude is on the far right. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude on the left, circa 1980. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude's painting of the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Claude, 2007. Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.

Opinions expressed on these pages are not necessarily those of the site owner. All content is ©2006-2024 Rohr Aircraft Memories unless otherwise credited or a vintage reprint. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of material is prohibited. Contact Sue with questions or comments. Website address: rohrmemories.com Last updated: 02-20-2024

Submitted by Edna Driskill, 6/30/2023.