Richard Durrant
durrantr@uww.edu
(262) 472-6743
Spotlight
Q: What do you do / how do you fit into ICIT?
A: My job title is Network Tech, but there is more to it than just that. As the campus’s only Journeyman/Communications Electrician, my role is to maintain and install all physical aspects of the low voltage systems on campus. In years past, when the AV department was short staffed, I also took care of and or assisted in their designs, building, and room programming of their AV systems.
Q: What is something people don’t know about you?
A: I spent eight years in the Army, most of which was over in the Middle East, back during the 80’s and early 90’s.
Q: What’s your favorite piece of technology?
A: That would have to be my first PC that my brother and I purchased together, the TRS-80 Model 1 from 1979. This started it all for me in the way of electronics and programming.
TRS-80 Model 1
Q: Tell me something interesting about yourself?
A: Around 2005 I decided to make a big change in my life. I went ahead and purchase 53 acres of bare farm land to take on the fun task of building my own home and accompanying horse facility. Once that was done, I went ahead and sold my business, my lakefront condo in Chicago, and quit my job as an Electrician to move up this way permanently.
Q: Do you have a favorite hobby?
A: Working and training my horses. I also like restoring antique horse powered equipment, everything from wagons to plows to old threshing machines.
Three of my girls and I
at a plowing demonstration at Old World Wisconsin.
Q: If you could live for only one more week, what would you do?
A: Go back to either Germany or Italy.
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: For most of my life it was my work and making money, but then I finally learned the lesson my grandfather tried to teach me so many years ago. It was after the death of my first wife 14 years ago. In the end your family and friends are all that matter in this world the rest is gravy.
Me teaching my wife who normally does dressage,
how to drive and plow with a five horse hitch.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Roller coasters. My current wife and I have traveled all across America looking for the best roller coasters.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I got my first two jobs at age 13, both in the same week. My first job was working at a garage, and my second job was working on Pinball machines.
Q: Favorite Music and or Genre?
A: Classical.
Q: Favorite vacation?
A: Back in the late 80’s when I was still in the Army, I had amassed too much vacation time and was forced to take a large block at once or lose it. My girlfriend at the time and I, along with a few other couples, rented a sail boat for 40 days. We loaded our motorcycles on the deck and sailed the Mediterranean all along the European coast, unloading our bikes whenever we could.