Day 19 - Henry

Image by Scott O'Dell via Flickr

Henry was born in Tijuana, was raised in Santa Monica, and lives now in San Diego with his wife and the younger of his eight children. He has a plumbing business with two of his older sons. He hired his son-in-law to teach him the plumbing business when his son-in-law returned from a tour with the U.S. Marines in Desert Storm and couldn't get a job that would allow him to remain at home with his wife and two young children. After two years, Henry sent his son-in-law out on his own because he knew he couldn't teach him any more. Henry encouraged his son-in-law to work for another plumbing business where he could learn heating and ventilation as well. Henry's one regret in his business is that he didn't learn HVAC. Instead, he specialized in plumbing. And he is good.

Henry was the first plumber in the San Diego area to use a video camera on a snake to allow his customers to see what is in the sewer line. He doesn't need the camera. He knows what is in the sewer by the feel of the snake in his hands as he feeds it into the pipes. But the camera shows the customers. When his boss asked if he thought an underwater video signal would be helpful, he knew he didn't need it. But he agreed to use one. When he saw his customers' reactions, he was convinced.

Image by PhylB via Flickr

Henry is a keen observer. He was in a bank where he noticed a table in the lobby where customers could pour out a cup of coffee while the waited. It was something he hadn't seen elsewhere, so it caught his attention. Then he noticed a man standing near the table who was stirring his coffee cup with a spoon. For a long time. For a really long time. And then he noticed another man standing near the door. Just standing there, scanning the room from side to side. Henry got out of line and walked to the security guard and mentioned that the two men seemed a little suspicious. The guard nodded and Henry got back into line. The guard then circled the lobby and returned to Henry to whisper that the coffee stirrer's cup was empty. The guard suggested Henry leave the bank. Henry did.

After half an hour, Henry returned to the bank to find police cars outside, a helicopter circling above, and the two men face down on the ground with policemen standing over them.

Henry is an immigrant. He is a successful businessman, a successful family man and an all around great guy. Henry is an example of the reason immigration is important for our country.