February 6, 2013 - Toasters, Tractors and Unexpected Inspiration

Ron Whitman, field admissions representative, passed away in Sept. 2012, and is remembered fondly by many.

UTI-Sacramento graduate Jason Gomes has always been mechanically inclined. Just ask his parents about the time he took apart the toaster – without permission – only to put it back together. When Ron Whitman, a Universal Technical Institute (UTI) field admissions representative, spoke at his high school in 2009, Gomes was naturally interested in learning more. Gomes talked it over with his parents, and they agreed UTI was a great post-secondary option. Whitman met with all three of them, and Gomes enrolled at UTI soon after.

Once on campus, Gomes became busy with classes and new friends, but would often run into Whitman at local tractor pulls. Whitman never failed to ask how he was doing, what projects he was working on, and always offered an encouraging word.

“Above all, he encouraged me to be my best,” said Gomes. “He genuinely cared about me.”

Whitman’s encouragement made an impact on Gomes, who graduated from UTI and soon secured employment at Peterson Tractor in San Martin, Calif. Now in his third year at Peterson Tractor, Gomes is enjoying his job, noting that his work is always changing, keeping things exciting and challenging.

“On several occasions I’ve been asked to take on additional projects, like certified rebuilds,” said Gomes. “I love the challenge of repairing large construction and mining equipment.”

It was Gomes’ love for a challenge that recently earned him recognition by his peers at Peterson Tractor. The company newsletter featured an 11-week rebuild Gomes completed, showcasing the work he did on a D9T cab that was seriously damaged by a fire. With nothing but a shell to work off of – melted plastic, broken glass, bare wires, charred sheet metal – Gomes and his co-worker brought the D9T cab back to life with a 78-page-long list of parts and a lot of hard work and dedication.

Gomes is proud of his rebuild, as are his parents – he’s come a long way from that toaster. Gomes and his parents agree that Whitman would also be proud.

“It was our intention to personally thank Ron for the gift he gave Jason: the gift of self-confidence and belief,” wrote Bill and Connie Gomes in a letter. “Life got busy, and unlike Ron, we didn’t take the time to catch up.”

On Sept. 1, 2012, Ron Whitman passed away.

Beloved by his UTI family, students and industry colleagues, Whitman will be especially missed by the Gomes family.

“Ron was a great guy,” said Gomes. “I will miss his easygoing demeanor and positive outlook on life.”

Bill and Connie Gomes echo their son’s sentiments.

“We have been blessed to have crossed Ron’s path, and that he cared enough to stop and make a difference in our son’s life,” they wrote. “We are eternally grateful to him.”

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