For years, he was known as a toy maker.
His wife says people thought of him as Geppetto, the wood carver from the story “Pinocchio.”
But making toys, that’s what he did for a living. That wasn’t who he was. That wasn’t what defined him.
At his core, Tim Boesch is a designer. He’s designed everything from toys to lighting products, and from lawnmowers and power tools to bicycles. But what he derives the most satisfaction from is designing houses and buildings. Architecture is what he’s most passionate about.
“Even though I designed some very highly successful toys from a financial standpoint,” Boesch said. “There were times when I was doing toy design I was miserable. When I was doing toys, I was doing it to make money. I had very little passion for it. Whereas the architecture … when I see a client happy with the layout of their house, that gives me immense pride.”
For going on the past 15 years, Boesch has called Meeker home. He operates his own business — Tim Boesch Design.
Examples and scale models of some of Boesch’s work are on display at the Meeker Public Library, which exhibits works by local artists on a rotating basis.
Boesch, who grew up in Connecticut, attended college at Auburn University in Alabama. “That was a bit of a culture shock,” he said.
It was there — at Auburn — that his interest in design was cultivated.
“I think I always had an eye for it,” he said.
Boesch’s scholarship was for engineering, but he shifted to the industrial design program, which was part of the school of architecture. It was a demanding curriculum. Thirty-some students started out in the program. Only eight or nine graduated.
“It was a no-nonsense program,” Boesch said. “(The instructors) were very brutal with their critiques. They made people cry. They would throw their prototypes on the ground. They were trying to get a methodology of design in our brains. It was the form follows function thing. They drilled that into our heads. Some of us inherently had that. It was just a gift we had.”
After college, Boesch eventually ended up working for the toy company Hasbro.
“When I moved here, I had worked for Hasbro for two and a half years as a project manager,” Boesch said. “Hasbro ended up hiring me as a consultant and I started submitting ideas for royalties. You would get paid a royalty for designs that Hasbro produced, which is great while it lasts, but it doesn’t last forever.”
Boesch considers himself an independent sort of guy, and working for a giant corporation didn’t suit him.
“I knew I was not a corporate player, but if I wanted to climb my way to the top, I would have to play that corporate game. So I decided to go off on my own,” Boesch said.
He had seen his own father play the corporate game.
“My dad worked for IBM for 42 years and I could tell he was not a happy camper,” Boesch said. “I decided I wanted to do something I am passionate about.”
And that was architecture.
Boesch has that ability to see something in his mind first, and then design it. He did that when he designed his own house. He has also designed houses for other local people.
“In my brain, I had already lived in our house a thousand times,” he said. “I don’t know why I’m blessed with that talent.”
All he knows is now he’s doing what he loves to do, and it shows.
“My architecture business is growing because of my passion,” Boesch said. “The passion is reflected in the results. If the money comes, great. But to be able to do what you want. That’s why you should do it.”
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Rio Blanco County Historical Society is taking its show on the road. Actually, the show is coming to Meeker.
The historical society will sponsor a first-time fundraising event called “Pioneer Treasures — Appraisals and Auction” on May 1.
A spinoff on the popular TV program “Antiques Roadshow.”
“What we’re planning is a little ‘roadshow,’ where people bring their treasures and have them appraised,” said historical society member Sparky Pappas. “Then they can put those items or others — or both, or nothing — in a silent auction. The whole thing will be a fundraiser for the ever-poor historical society.”
The prices, Sparky said, are as follows: General admission (non-participant) — $3; to have items appraised — $5 (maximum 5 per person); to enter something in the silent auction (that wasn’t appraised) — $2. The times are: Appraisals 9 a.m. to noon; the silent auction ends at 4 p.m.
For information, call or e-mail Sparky at 878-3432 or [email protected].
Fellow historical society members Ellen Reichert, Gayle Rogers, Chris Uphoff and Steve Wix are also “very involved” in the event.
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Rio Blanco County’s primary election will be different this time.
“This is the first year that a partisan election — primaries only — may be conducted by mail ballot,” said County Clerk Nancy Amick. “That option was provided by House bill 09-1015. Following the requirements of that bill, the Board of County Commissioners solicited comments from the public prior to a hearing on March 22. There were no comments received, and the board approved a mail ballot for the primary election.
“The county will mail ballots to all affiliated voters beginning July 19. Prior to mailing the ballots, a notice will be mailed to unaffiliated voters notifying them that the primary election will be conducted by mail ballot and providing the opportunity for them to affiliate if they want to participate in the election,” Amick said.
“Although the mail-ballot option has been available since the mid-90s, until recently the county has traditionally opted for polling-place elections. Several things have prompted the trend to mail ballot elections. The cost savings is significant — estimated to be at least $10,000 for this election — due, in part, to the U.S. Postal Service offering a low mail-out cost for official election mailings. Another factor involves the provision which became available in late 2008 for permanent mail-in voter sign-up. Currently, we have approximately 970 Republican and Democratic voters who have requested to have a mail ballot automatically sent to them for each election conducted by the county clerk. That is more than the turnout for the 2008 primary, which was 899 total.”
• • • • •
Contrary to reports, Redi Services is not closing its doors.
“No, Redi is not closing here,” said Scott Isenhour, area manager. “We did downsize in Vernal (Utah) and I took over the management of the Vernal office along with Meeker. With the economy the way it is, I’m sure a lot of companies are trimming the fat. But we are doing fine here in Meeker.”
Redi, a waste management and oilfield support company, is headquartered in Lyman, Wyo.
• • • • •
Clem Clark was flown from a hospital in Denver to Meeker on Monday, where he is now a patient at Pioneers Medical Center. Clem has been hospitalized since early January because of complications from cystic fibrosis.
“He will be on the ventilator here for a couple of days to get used to the elevation change, but hopefully by the end of the week he can be off the ventilator so he can talk and visit with visitors,” Clem’s mother, Janet, said. “All visitors need to wear a mask and gown when visiting in the room at this time just to protect Clem from any infections at this time until his immune system gets stronger.
“I’m sure he would enjoy seeing people if they only come to his room door and wave, but not too early in the morning. He is not a morning person as most of his friends know. Clem is happy to be in Meeker. We want to thank everyone again for all the prayers, thoughts and support during the last few months and especially the staff at Pioneers in helping us get him home to Meeker. I’m sure the magic of Meeker and its people will help Clem on his road to recovery. I know we are very happy the trips to Denver are over. So good to wake up to fresh air, a view of LO7, people we know and the birds singing.”
Welcome home, Clem.
• • • • •
About 400 ballots had been returned, as of Tuesday, in the mail election for Rangely District Hospital’s bond issue to build a new hospital. Ballots must be returned by May 4.
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Hal Pearce of Meeker is one of many travelers stranded because of travel restrictions caused by ash clouds from the volcano that erupted in Iceland. Planes throughout Europe have been grounded while waiting for the skies to clear.
“Hopefully, they will fly (today),” Hal said in an e-mail Monday. He has been stuck in London waiting for the all-clear. “I guess in the meantime, it’s off to a pub for another pint. Cheerio.”
• • • • •
Rio Blanco County’s master plan process is in its third and final phase. Part of that phase includes what is called “future land use scenarios” and then finalization of the master plan document itself.
Public meetings in Meeker and Rangely will give residents an opportunity to share their ideas.
A meeting is scheduled in Rangely for April 27 at 5:45 p.m. and the next day in Meeker on April 28 at 7 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the respective town halls.
“The municipalities of Rangely and Meeker both have adopted master plans and we want to know how you think we can bring all these ideas together in a cohesive land use plan that respects the efforts of the towns while complimenting the vision established in our earlier Community Visioning Workshops,” said Ryan Mahoney, a consultant for the master plan project. “The meetings are an opportunity to gather additional feedback.”
For more information, e-mail Mahoney at [email protected].
• • • • •
Vern Hughes of Meeker will celebrate his 70th birthday Monday.
Happy birthday, Vern.
Jeff Burkhead is editor of the Herald Times. You may e-mail him at [email protected].
