A Chip Off the Old OX Block

On a cool spring day in 1996, Mark Groves prepared to demonstrate proper technique installing an insulated platform. He was enrolled in NLC’s Electrical Lineworker Program and knew he would be scored on his climbing technique, positioning, and fluidity while installing the platform. True to form, Mark practiced with the discipline of a professional athlete for days in advance, driving out all potential mistakes and wasted moves. He intently observed others performing the competency and learned from their mistakes. To him, nothing but “exceptional” would be acceptable. He was ready.

With flawless performance, Mark installed the insulated platform, but he did something no one else did. With the insulated platform suspended from the handline, he used his body weight and the positioning of his skid to hold it in perfect position while he tightened the chains. It was very inventive and something one would expect from an experienced lineworker, not a pre-apprentice student with zero trade experience. With a perfect score Mark celebrated his victory with those around him.

This event was not a one-off. Mark entered the trade and rapidly progressed through his apprenticeship program in the same fashion he approached all of his work, like a professional athlete in constant pursuit of victory. He also had the remarkable quality of being humble and always viewed the world through a positive lens. In Mark’s mind, everything is possible when innovation and creativity are leveraged.

While working in the trade, Mark would regularly remain in touch with Alan Drew and me at Northwest Lineman College. As he gained experience, he began inventing tools to make the work more efficient. One early invention was a small square piece of steel with a hole in the center and an oversized nut welded on one side that was used to tighten threaded 5/8-inch lip washers on insulator pins. It fit simply in the Lowell Wrench and sped up the task of tightening lip washers.

Over the years the inventions never stopped. It seemed Mark had a new idea every quarter—and each was amazing. Early attempts to commercialize his inventions were a challenge because he worked a lineworker’s life (plenty of overtime and on-call responsibilities) and had a family. Although gains were made, the Great Recession of 2008 silenced all the manufacturers who just a few days before were highly interested.

At about the same time, Northwest Lineman College itself was planning to expand its offerings by manufacturing training components—especially those things that helped lineworkers learn or that improved safety. The industry was ripe for these components and NLC was the perfect environment to conceive, build, and test. What NLC lacked, though, was a person to lead that manufacturing, someone who could dedicate their full attention to the task at hand. After multiple discussions and several meetings over many months, Mark, his wife Leah, and their two children made the jump to NLC and helped launch NLC Manufacturing.

The first project was what was to become the Buckingham OX Block®. It had long been viewed at NLC that a handline block was needed that could serve its intended purpose, but also be used for pole-top rescue. If the block did not have to be dropped out during rescue, more than 30 seconds could be saved—and an injured lineworker would reach emergency services 30 seconds sooner. After the first meeting, Mark rushed home to his shop and leveraged his “gadgeteering” brilliance. The next morning he had a crude prototype. More than 16 revisions later, the OX Block was born. Buckingham Manufacturing earned the license to produce and distribute the product, largely due to their strong leadership team and manufacturing and distribution moxie.

With another victory behind him, Mark moved on to what became Northwest Lineman College’s TransBanker®, a unique transformer banking simulator that enabled trainees to install, bank, and connect transformers to single-phase and three-phase loads. The incredible success of the TransBanker led to two more simulators—the EPZGrounder, where trainees can install personal protective grounds on overhead and underground systems, and the GasTech mobile lab used to assist in gas operator qualification (OQ) evaluation and training.

In 2019, Northwest Lineman College staff submitted a nomination for Mark Groves’ induction into the International Lineman Hall of Fame (ILHOF). In April, we received notification that Mark Groves was selected and will be a member of the ILHOF class of 2021.

Alan Drew wasn’t surprised. “Mark Groves’ superlative contributions and accomplishments have significantly improved safety and training for the power industry. His unwavering commitment to developing the benchmark level of training delivery facilities is glaringly visible with his accomplishments such as the TransBanker and EPZGrounder. Throughout his career he continually exhibited the pride and passion of being a lineman along with a special ability for innovation. No one is more deserving of being inducted into the Hall of Fame than Mark.”

Considering Mark’s unwavering commitment to excellence and the impact his inventions have had on lineworkers in the areas of safety, training, and productivity, it is fitting that such a remarkable person be honored. This is another victory with a beautiful trophy. Hopefully he has room in his victory case.