Mickey Brislin was one of two local heroes who helped pull a 62-year-old Lowndes County man from a burning car, last week. Brislin, who along with Derrick Beckom, a Highway Patrolman who was off duty at the time of the incident, likely saved Gregory Gabriel”s life. Brislin was headed home from work. Beckom lives near the scene of the car fire. Brislin took time out on Thursday to talk to The Dispatch about what he does on normal work days.
So tell me a little bit about yourself.
I”m 61, and I”ve lived here (in Lowndes County) for 59 years. I graduated from Lee High — the real one — in 1967. I worked with my dad (at Brislin Inc.) since ”66. Dad started the business in ”56, and I acquired it in ”85.
We”re mechanical contractors. We do heating, air, utility work, piping … We work roughly within 60 miles of here.
My son came to work six years ago. He brings new life to the business. Of course, I taught him.
It”s a family business, but everyone who works for me is family. Good employees get the credit for our success. Good, conscientious people, who get the job done. Without them, I”m nothing. My son is nothing.
We employ maybe 100 people. We do quite a bit of work around here. You name it, we”ve been there.
What kind of manager are you? Hands on or off?
I love to get out in the field every now and then. If you stay in this office, you don”t see some employees for a year.
How did your life experiences play a part in your quick action to rescue Gabrielle?
He would have been consumed in that car if we had not been able to get him out. We were very fortunate. His pants legs were smoldering, and we had to cut the pants legs off to get rid of the fire. He was still burned pretty good.
How did the economy affect your business?
We”ve been very fortunate. It hasn”t been a bed of roses, but we”ve been able to keep our workforce going. And we”ve been able to hire about 25 new people this past year for 2011.
How did you get involved in mechanical contracting?
I enjoyed what I started off doing with my father, doing engine work, drawing plans … seeing how things are put together. I”ve always loved that, and my son”s the same way. I love what I do. Building mechanical products from beginning to end and customer satisfaction — that”s what I enjoy.
What do you do for fun?
I”m a fisherman. I love the great outdoors — going to Louisiana fishing and Colorado. I”m a fly fisherman. There”s nothing better than to be in the middle of the stream, just you and the water and no other sounds.
I also hunt. I love to see kids participate in hunting. I let kids and their father who are friends of ours hunt on our land — teaches them to protect it, to be stewards of it.
So where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
I certainly hope our business continues to grow. And hopefully, I”ll retire and Uncle Sam will be giving me a monthly check. My son”s a part owner — he”ll take over the business.
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