In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, millions of people were left without power from Florida’s Sun Coast to Western North Carolina’s rolling mountains.
Augusta, Georgia, wasn’t spared from the impact of the category 4 storm that made landfall at Perry, Florida on September 26. Much of the city was left with uprooted trees, damaged homes, and of course downed power lines.
O’Bar Electric, an electrical distribution company headquartered in Azle, Texas, outside Fort Worth, sent some of their employees to The Peach State to help get power back to home and businesses so people could get back to some degree of normalcy. But for one O’Bar Electric team member, the trip to Georgia will always hold special memories.
While working, General Foreman Devin Rockholt met five-year-old Ryan Dial as he and his family were walking around their Augusta neighborhood. Dial, who has Down syndrome, was quickly drawn to the linemen and decided he wanted to dress like his new friends for Halloween.
Rockholt made it happen with Ryan’s very own O’Bar Electric shirt, hat, and tools.
Maura Dial, Ryan’s mom, told Augusta television station WRDW, Ryan “calls them ‘Light-Lights’ because they turned on our lights, and they were lights.”
Rockholt, himself a father to a three-year-old daughter, found a special connection with Ryan. His own sister, who passed away in 2012, also had special needs.
“She was only 4, so around the same age as him. I actually volunteer for the Special Olympics. I do a lot of stuff like that,” Rockholt told WRDW.
Ryan’s father highlights the impactful connection his son made with Rockholt and the team there to help restore power: “When Ryan was first born, everybody said children with special needs default to love, and that’s just what he is. He’s just pure love,” he said.
“Everyone say hi to our newest team member, Ryan!” O’Bar Electric wrote on Facebook. “Our General Foreman, Devin Rockholt and Ryan had a heartwarming encounter while restoring power from Hurricane Helene.”
“Ryan was so inspired by our crews’ work that he decided he wants to be a lineman for Halloween!” the post continues. “Devin went the extra mile and got special shirts made for Ryan and even gave him his own personal tools to complete his costume. Moments like these remind us why we do what we do.”
Rockholt isn’t returning home to Texas just yet. He and the O’Bar team are headed to Florida to help restore power to millions who lost it during Hurricane Milton’s impacts this week.