Charles Buck, Gas Planning Engineer, has retired after nearly 35 years of service at GUC. Charles began his career at GUC as a Drafting Technician and moved up to Engineering Coordinator within five years. 

While working, Charles went back to school utilizing GUC’s tuition assistance program to earn his bachelor’s degree and ultimately become Planning Engineer in 2012. Charles managed the Utility Locating Section and provided leadership and direction over code compliance for the Gas Department. 

“Anthony Miller [Director of Gas Systems] played a key role in advancing my career by advocating for my promotion to various positions that I have held at GUC,” Charles said. “He saw something in me and helped me along the way in my career. God allowed doors to open up for me to take on new roles.” 

Over the years, Charles had some memorable experiences while working at GUC, but it was the flood and damages following Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 that sticks out the most for him. Charles was called into work on that Saturday as the waters began to overtake GUC facilities.  

"I didn’t realize at the time I was called into work, the duties that would be assigned. I thought I was going to be answering phones, but instead I rode all the way to Kinston in a Chinook helicopter to refuel and later helped with sandbags,” he said. He, along with other GUC staff, worked 12-hour shifts to fortify our structures. 

And though he touts that flood as his most memorable time in his career, his proudest accomplishment was the completion of the Hyperion Project. He, along with two people in the Finance Department, worked together to implement the budgeting system that addressed the complexity of utility allocations with efficiency and accuracy. “There were certain areas about this software where I was the only one who knew all the information. I was proud of the collaboration and to be a part of the project,” he said.  

Charles has seen GUC change and grow over the last three decades. He said there are more new faces and more of his seasoned colleagues have retired. Not only has he seen GUC grow in services and staff, but also in technology. He said as a Drafting Technician, he drew the maps of gas lines by hand, a process which has now become completely digitized using GIS. 

When asked about what he plans to do when he retires, Charles chuckled, and said “goodbye tension, hello pension.” He also said he will take the time to travel with his 86-year-old father and enjoy more time with his wife, Anita, of 34 years; daughter, Taylor, 24; son, Chandler, 28; and his new grandson, Parker, who was born in December. 

Congratulations on your retirement, Charles! You will be missed.