Employee Spotlight: Gay Buck

As a third generation employee, Gay Buck has a unique history with Spanaway Water Company.  His grandfather started the company with two other men in the late 1940’s.  In 1973, his dad took over the management.  Whenever the meters needed to be read, he would have to stop all the various projects to read meters and keep the billing up to date.  While Gay was in high school, his father approached the board of directors with the proposal of Gay reading the meters in the summers and on weekends.  After the board agreed to this proposition, the whole operation began to run more efficiently.  Gay became a full-time meter reader in 1983 after the board offered him the position.  Over the past 22 years he has worked his way up to Lead Operator.  Now his days are filled with overseeing and supervising the field crew, delegating the work, keeping the field operators supplied with parts so the projects run smoothly, checking on locates, and doing the re-reads (reading the meter again when the reading is not consistent with previous historical readings).   

According to Gay, the best part about working for Spanaway Water Company is the small company atmosphere and the flexibility that it affords.  He also likes working in the water field and public service. 

On his off hours, Gay enjoys camping with his family, golfing, playing basketball and doing yard work.  He also does some coaching for his son’s baseball and basketball teams and his daughter’s golf team.  

Gay Buck can be reached at (253) 875-5246.