Mar 21, 2025
On March 20, 1974, less than a year after the beginning of construction on the site that would eventually become Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, a young man named Ernie Murphy began his job as a Construction Time Checker. That was the day after his 20th birthday. And with the exception of a very brief break, he really hasn’t left Watts Bar ever since.
Now, more than a half-century later, team members across the site talk about the invaluable knowledge and life lessons they’ve learned from Ernie.
“I don’t golf, fish, or hunt, so I’ve got to have something to do,” Ernie joked. “More than anything, I just truly enjoy the people here at Watts Bar.”
When Ernie started his career, Richard Nixon was the U.S. President, a loaf of bread cost 28-cents and a new car rolled off the assembly line at around $3,500. He’s been at TVA through the change of 10 different presidential administrations. Through his journey on this 1,700 acre site, Ernie went through construction stoppage and restart on both nuclear units, saw the official closure of the Watts Bar Steam Plant in 1982, and experienced the commencements of commercial operation of WBN U1 and U2 (in 1996 and 2016, respectively).
“After Three Mile Island (partial U2 meltdown near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1979), I wasn’t sure if we’d ever see the startup of nuclear units here,” Ernie recounted. “To see both Watts Bar Nuclear units go online was impressive. But the biggest change I’ve seen in my time here is the advancement in how TVA and WBN focus on Safety for the team members.”
Ernie served as a Maintenance Apprentice before moving to MMG as a Planner, Planning Supervisor, and Shop Supervisor before retiring from TVA/WBN at the end of 2004, after nearly 31 years on site. He relaxed for a couple weeks, then came right back as a contractor. That was more than two decades ago. His second stint at Watts Bar includes time in the MMG Shop, Planning, U2 Startup, and his current role with Site Services and Projects as Maintenance Services Supervisor. His experience has led him to some solid advice for fellow team members.
“I would say there are always lots of opportunities here,” Ernie explained. “But to survive in the nuclear business, you’ve got to get better every day. The bar is always being raised, and I’ve seen it here so many times.”
Ernie says one personal experience while working at WBN that has made him a better person is meeting his wife, and colleague, Donna Murphy. And today, Ernie says he’s exactly where he wants to be.
“Everybody asks me, but I really don’t have a plan.” Ernie said. “I may wake up one day and decide I’m done, but as long as I feel good and my body feels healthy, I don’t have any plan to leave. TVA has been great to me and my family, and for that I’m so appreciative.”