Retired Okmulgee Drafter Reflects on Lifetime of Precision Work

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Russell Ivy, a retired drafter from Okmulgee, Oklahoma, spent his career turning messy industrial reality into clean, readable order. From hand-drafting to computer-aided design, Ivy's specialty was piping drafting, routing pipe for chemical plants, refineries, paper mills, and shipyards. Now living at Baptist Village, the 75-year-old Ivy reflects on his lifetime of precision work, the changes he's seen in his hometown, and the toll the transition to CAD has taken on his hands.

Why it matters

Ivy's story highlights the evolution of drafting technology and the impact it has had on skilled workers. His ability to vividly recall the changing landscape of his hometown also provides a unique perspective on how small towns can transform over time.

The details

Ivy began his drafting career through a program at Okmulgee High School, later receiving additional training at a technical school. His specialty became piping drafting, where he would meticulously route pipe for industrial facilities. Ivy lived through the shift from hand-drafting to computer-aided design (CAD), noting that by the 1990s, hand drawing was disappearing fast and those who couldn't adapt couldn't stay employed. While the transition to CAD allowed for greater efficiency, it has taken a toll on Ivy's hands, which now suffer from arthritis-like symptoms from decades of precision work.

• Ivy was born and raised in Okmulgee, living there until around age 6.
• Ivy returned to Okmulgee for a stint in 8th grade, staying with his grandparents.
• The 'new' hospital in Okmulgee was built in the late 1960s, where Ivy's daughter was later born.
• Ivy moved into Baptist Village in Okmulgee about a year ago, after briefly staying with his daughter.
• Ivy retired in 2024 after a career spanning decades across multiple states, though he never ventured west of the Rockies.