Victor R. Lucero

My name is Victor Lucero. I have been a firecracker since birth, born on the 4^th of July 1942 in Cortez, Colorado. I was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and graduated from Judge Memorial Catholic High School and then from Utah Technical College in welding. I was married at 17 years old for 40 years and have 1 son and 3 daughters. In 2000, I remarried to Gail E. Smith Patik, devoted mother, grandmother and great cook. Together, we have 9 children, 27 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren.

I worked in the mechanical construction field as a welder, became a journeyman boilermaker, journeyman pipefitter/pipeline welder. I have worked in construction and maintenance of coal fired and natural gas fired power plants throughout the country. I worked on oil refinery turnarounds and overhauls, and power plant shutdowns. Eventually, I became an operations manager for several industrial mechanical contractors until retirement in 1999. I am proudly retired as a 45-year member of the United Association of Pipefitters and Plumbers of America.   

In 2003, I went to work for Smith RV, a family business ran by Gail’s son and daughter-in-law in Casper, Wyoming. It is here I met DeJoe Smith and his mother, Deb Smith. She worked for Ensign U.S. Drilling and sponsored me to represent them in the Senior Wildcatters Golf Tournament at Three Crowns. The 4-man team consisting of Dave Dundas, myself, and two other players won the tournament in 2013. I became a Senior Wildcatter Golfer. I am proud, honored and humbled to be part of this association. I still get excited to attend and meet old and new friends at the Senior Wildcatters.

I want to thank all members, officers and board members for this privilege. A special thank you to George Stewart for his work and effort.

God bless all of you