Tony Page, Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Operator III, has been with GUC for 20 years. He monitors all aspects of the biological treatment process and collects samples from different points in the system for laboratory testing. Tony joined GUC after working through high school at Contentnea Metro Sewerage District in Grifton. He then went on to work at Dupont’s WWTP as an operator where he achieved all four levels of the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification.  

When the economy took a downturn, Tony was laid off at Dupont and then hired at GUC in 2004. He has become such a seasoned operator that he can smell when something is amiss at the WWTP. “We use all of our senses to make sure our processes are in line. If we get to the plant and we smell a slight chemical or oil smell, we look into it,” he said. 

FUN FACT: Tony enjoys different types of music from jazz to classical to country to R&B to alternative rock. He likes to say he appreciates music from Bach to hip hop, from Aaron Hall to ZZ Top. 

What are some favorite things about your job? 
Making a difference. There are trying conditions sometimes, and what we do matters to the downstream environment. 

What motivates you to work hard? 
I grew up very poor. My mother was a single mom raising three boys. I watched her struggle and knew I wanted more. We lived in a four-room house with no bathroom and no running water – and this was in the 80s. I look back on it, and it wasn’t a bad childhood, but I didn’t want to go back to that. I kept striving to find the means to avoid that struggle in my life. All my brothers and myself own our own homes now.  

What would you like us to know about your family?
I am the oldest of Lorelei’s three boys, and we are very close! We’ve always been The Three Musketeers, all for one and one for all!  

What is your favorite childhood memory?
We didn’t get a lot of gifts for Christmas as children, but one year, my mom signed up with the Salvation Army and got approved. When we got up that morning, we had so many gifts we didn’t know where to begin. I got a tape recorder, and that was the first time I ever got what I asked for on Christmas. I was nine or ten years old. I kept that tape recorder for a long time.  

If you wrote a memoir about your life, what would you title it?
Rags to Riches 

What is the one thing that instantly makes your day better?
Seeing my daughter, Tonaya, happy and thriving. Go, Tonaya, make your daddy proud! 

What are you looking forward to?
Tonaya is a senior in high school, and she got accepted to 11 different colleges. I am looking forward to finding out what college she is going to choose. She got accepted to many HBCUs – Central, A&T, Fayetteville State – and ECU and Campbell. I look forward to watching her make her dreams come true. 

What did you want to be when you were younger?
An attorney! I like to debate. I’ll sometimes pick the opposing side just to debate an issue. I’ve always liked courtroom dramas, Perry Mason above all, and I wanted to do that. 

What is your favorite family or holiday tradition? 
Thanksgiving! Getting together with family for good food and good times. 

What are you really good at?
I am good at math and retaining information. I have a good memory.  

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Contribute more to your 401K when it is offered. 

What advice do you offer to those who are new to the utility industry? 
Find your place and be a sponge for information. There is job security in our industry because it will always be needed. 

What was your very first job?
Working in tobacco. It is not for the weak. They do it differently now, but it was a lot of sweat equity in my day. 

Have you ever had a nickname? 
I still do; it’s Tank #1. My shop teacher at Ayden-Grifton started calling me Tank because of my size and strength. There was another guy from Ayden, and they called him Tank, so I said I’m Tank #1 then! 
 
Given a chance, who would you like to be for one day? 
One of these tech billionaires so I could create a generation of millionaires and pay it forward. 
 
What have been your favorite travel destinations? 
I started cruising in 2014, mainly around the Caribbean. I’ve tried to visit all the locations in the “Kokomo” song by The Beach Boys. I have Bermuda, Martinique, and Port-au-Prince remaining. My favorite has been Belize. 
 
What would you do if you won the lottery? 
Buy an island in the Bahamas and a large boat. Relax and fish. 
 
Do you have any hobbies? 
Cruising and bottom fishing on the head boats, The Capt. Stacy and The Carolina Princess. 
 
What’s your favorite thing to do when not at work? 
Binge watching TV or reading a good book. 
 
What is at the top of your bucket list? 
Hawaii vacation. 
 
If given the chance, what time period would you like to live in? 
50s I think, with the drive ins and poodle skirts - kind of “Happy Days” vibe. 
 
What’s your favorite season of the year? 
Fall. I like the leaves changing and cooling weather. 
 
What is your favorite movie? 
Unforgiven. 
 
What’s your favorite quote? 
“The evil men do lives after them, the good is often interred with their bones.” - William Shakespeare, “Julius Ceasar”