solitude, methodically moving
through their pre-shift drill inspection
and maintenance before beginning the
true work of drilling. Most often, Cave
drills production headings – holes that
will later be filled with explosives for
blasting. Today, he and Santee are
drilling holes for geogrid, a type of
synthetic mesh that will be hung over
the pillars and walls of the room to
prevent falling material from causing
physical harm or property damage.
“Each production heading has 39
holes, so when I’m doing that, I can
typically drill about three headings per
day,” he says. “When you’re drilling
for geogrid, you do the best you can for
speed, but the rabbit doesn’t win this
race. It’s always the tortoise.”
Santee does most of the work on
this morning while Cave offers the
occasional pointer. After five weeks
together, the trainee has heard just
about every suggestion a half-dozen
times, but Cave believes strongly in
the power of repetition.
“Shawn is smart. He takes pride in
his work, moves at his own pace and
generally does things quite well. I
couldn’t be prouder,” he says. “But I
tell him things over and over again so
that they get beat into his head. I just
really want the message to stick.”
As Cave speaks, the radio jumps to
life with a question from another
employee.
“Marv, are you around for a minute?”
the voice calls.
In addition to his duties as driller
and trainer, Cave is a miners’ representative,
a role which allows him to come
into contact with many men and
women on the team as he deals with a
variety of employee matters. He doesn’t
say why the employee called his name
over the radio because what is said
between miners and their representative
at Weeping Water is confidential.
In this role, Cave is also one of a small
handful of people who has access to
an employee suggestion box. He checks
it every day, he says, adding that most
suggestions are intended to improve
operations. It’s this work, as well as
his accomplishments as a driller and
trainer, where Cave hopes to truly
leave his mark.
As he moves through his final weeks
with Martin Marietta and recalls the
highlights of his career, it’s the trust
he’s earned and the relationships he’s
formed that stand out in his mind.
“This is the place I’ve chosen as my
home. I’ve gotten to know the people
here very well. I’ve been with them
through thick and thin just as they’ve
been with me,” he says. “I’ll miss my
friends and I’ll miss my job, but I
know I’ll come back and ask for a tour
every now and then. I’ll listen in on
a tailgate meeting and cut up a little
with the team. My home is only 3 ½
miles from here and that’s pretty
wonderful.” ▼
Editor’s note: Marvin Cave officially
retired on Friday, Oct. 20, after 46 years
of service with Martin Marietta. Nearly
all of his time with the company was
spent at Weeping Water. His final
assignment was drilling a scope hole into
the ceiling of the mine to allow the team
to hang a camera that will help monitor
conditions underground. Kaleb DiRico,
the site’s plant manager, says Cave will
always be a welcomed visitor.
www.martinmarietta.com | November/December 2017 The Conveyor 19
Marvin Cave and
Cody Fries, a coworker
at Weeping
Water, service a
single-boom drill.
Cave sits behind
the controls of
the same drill
he’s used for the
past 10 years.
PHOTO BY JASON IVERSON
/www.martinmarietta.com