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Chapter 14: My Career Begins


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            jobs in the Air Corps in the western states. Mr. Rathert had been noti-
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            would be responsible for classifying civilian jobs in the Army’s installa-
            tions in the eight western states. The eight western states were under the
            command of Ninth Service Command.
                   Al Rathert had earned a Master’s in Personnel Administration at
            the University of Minnesota and then had gone to work in Washington,
            DC for the Army. He was a bright and capable guy. To help him man-
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            Rathert went to the University of Utah to seek recommendations of can-
            didates for his jobs. He asked for the professor of personnel administra-
            tion. There were, of course, none. He was referred to Professor Charles
            Schleicher,  who  taught  public  administration.  Dr.  Schleicher  recom-
            mended three fellows – Francis Gasser, a recent law school graduate; a
            fellow who was receiving a Master’s degree; and me. After interview-
            ing each of us, Rathert selected me. How I happened to make the grade
            against such competition I shall never know. I think the good Lord was
            guiding me. That job directed my path into the subsequent professional
            life in human relations that I pursued. It was a blessing.
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                   A few weeks later, I was sent to the Presidio in San Francisco for
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            cally found in Ninth Service Command installations. It was appalling to
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