okiesurveyor

Reprinted with permission from my friend and fellow surveyor, Danny Cahill Oh, the joys of Land Surveying! I almost forgot after my 6-year hiatus! After winning The Biggest Loser I was smothered with so many requests to speak that it was all I could handle, so I took a “break” from Land Surveying. But after 6 years of flying 100 times per year, it got old. What would I do if I minimized my speaking opportunities? Survey, of course! It’s in my DNA. In 1979, my father, Charlie Cahill (PLS1005) started his business. Cahill Land Surveying was part of my life at just 9-years old. Summers were no longer just riding bikes, swimming and messing around – there was work to do! I hated those times back then, except for the money in my pocket, but now I cherish those memories more than ever! Memories surveying with my sisters and watching Charla run through the woods being chased by bees. “They’re after me! They’re after me!” Well, the 15-year old girl found out you shouldn’t put perf

A friend of mine once told me that being a cowboy wasn’t about how you dressed or what kind of music you listened to but it was what was inside your heart that made you a cowboy. Naturally, cowboys might wear a certain type of clothes to accommodate the work they do. And more than not will listen to country music, mostly because of were they were raised. But those things are not what make up their cowboy personality. If you’re a cowboy, you’re a cowboy, if you’re not, then you’re not. You can’t necessarily become one. What makes a cowboy a cowboy is his way of life, his philosophy.  What does this have to do with being a Land Surveyor? Well maybe not much but it does demonstrate my point. Invariably, any time Land Surveyors gather together there are grumblings about being a professional and how we aren't treated as a profession. Some say that if you wear a tie to work you’re a professional. Some say if you require continuing education, you’re a professional. The latest idea is

I get asked this question more than any other when someone finds out that I am a surveyor. Well there isn’t an easy answer but I thought I would try to explain it the best I can. Surveying is like investigating a crime scene, the more evidence you find the more likely you will arrive at the correct solution. If you don’t gather ANY evidence you are basically guessing the outcome. If you gather evidence for weeks before making your decision you will likely come up with a different solution than someone who investigated for only a few days. I know, take it easy there CSI-okie! However, the similarities are actually quite common. Evidence that surveyors gather might be historical. Some of it might be mathematical. Some of it might even be biological. But all of it combined, will lead to a more certain solution. Let’s say that a CSI investigating a crime didn’t have access to a certain eyewitness than another CSI did have access to. The first solution is not going to be as cer

This week we lost a great American. This is his UN-official obituary Paul John Shakula, Sr. My friend Paul Shakula, Sr.  Born Aug 8, 1923 in Lake, IN Died June 4, 2019 in Edmond, OK His parents were John and Stella Shakula He was survived by his children Paul Shakula, Jr. and his wife Kelly of Edmond, OK  Paulette and her husband James West of Edmond, OK  Juliette and her husband Charles Kelley of Deer Creek, OK  Michelle and her husband Marty Hackett of Schererville, IN  "Senior" was born and grew up in Indiana and didn't have a lot, but never let than determine what he did or who he was. He told a friend of mine that he remembers his whole family sharing an onion for a meal. AN ONION! Sr. proudly served in the US Army 75th Infantry Division (the Bulge Busters) and is a recipient of the following medals and awards: Combat Infantryman Badge . Awarded to infantrymen who fought in active ground combat.  Bronze Star . A decoration awarded to mem

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