In 1990, Victor “Tor” Larson had just graduated high school and was working in the summer hayfields of Wahkiakum County. He was looking for a job with some variety and opportunity, but wanted to stay close to his home town of Grays River. “I didn’t want to move far away; I wanted to stay in the general area until something opened up.”
Well, that year the skies opened up and caused a large landslide on State Route 4, the local transportation lifeline. Suddenly, Tor had his chance. He was hired as a temporary Maintenance employee to help clean up the slide, and he stayed on. In 1992, he was hired permanently as a Maintenance Technician in the Naselle office. He spent the next 18 years learning the ropes from the ground up.
In 2010, he was promoted into the Lead Technician position in Raymond, in northern Pacific County. His then-supervisor, Gary Aust, was happy to have him on board. “Tor is super-knowledgeable and (knows) everything WSDOT does out on the road,” says Gary. “If they had a definition of what it takes to be a great lead tech, he would be the poster child.”
In Raymond, Tor faced the unique challenges that confront all WSDOT Maintenance crews. Life can go from mowing vegetation and clearing beaver dams to emergency highway closures at the drop of a hat. But that doesn’t faze Tor; he takes on every task with the same enthusiasm and commitment to excellence. “I like it when the world falls apart during storms, and I like putting (things) back together,” he says. “We’re here to provide a safe highway and get people where they need to go, and I like being a part of that.”
In 2012, Tor transferred to the lead tech position in Cathlamet, and was once again back home in Wahkiakum County. His current supervisor, Charley Hazen, has been impressed by his knowledge and abilities. “Tor is a ‘git-r-done’ kind of person,” Charley says. “He’s resourceful; he can take anything you throw at him.”
When he’s not maintaining highways and dealing with catastrophes, Tor enjoys hunting and backpacking with his wife of seven years. They’re both accomplished archers and compete in tournaments all over the western United States.
While he travels extensively to pursue his hobbies, Tor doesn’t expect to move away from Wahkiakum County or WSDOT anytime soon: “I’m enjoying it. I don’t plan to go anywhere.”
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