When Ramiro Vasquez drives down roads like I-820 or US 183, he has a different experience than most people. Vasquez, who has worked in highway construction for over a decade, has the satisfaction of knowing he helped build those roads.
Vasquez graduated from Dublin High School in 2010, a year early. He and his now-wife had a child right out of high school. After he graduated, Vasquez and his young family moved up to Dallas to be closer to Vasquez’s wife’s father, who worked in highway construction.
Soon, Vasquez joined the business. “[My fatherin- law] just thought it would be a better opportunity for me, and man, was he right,” said Vasquez. “I liked it so much. I understood it.”
Vasquez spent several years working on different crews around the southern US, spending time in Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Most of his experience focused on the “dirt” side of the highway construction process. Vasquez likens it to making a cake. “It’s like we build the cake, so to speak, and the frosting. The asphalt and everything else is the frosting,” he said.
In 2018, Vasquez was promoted to foreman of a crew in Huntsville, Texas, building I-45. “I enjoy it,” he said of being a foreman. “I’ve done all aspects of the dirt side of highway construction, and I feel like I’m more useful telling guys what to do than me being in a machine.”
Vasquez moved back to Dublin in July of last year, after ten years of living in Dallas. “I have three kids and one on the way, and I just wanted to see my parents more,” he said. “Since I’m a foreman now, and I get a company truck, driving isn’t really an issue for me. So I figured I’d move back down to Dublin; I still have to travel regardless of where I live.”
Vasquez currently works with Weber Construction, although he often takes jobs with different companies. “Believe it or not, construction is a small world,” he said. “Everybody knows everybody. I get calls from different people, general superintendents, dirt superintendents, and if the job fits, if it’s closer, if it’s a little more money, I’ll go.”
He’s currently working on a job in Frisco. “Right now, I run an excavation crew, and we are tearing down old highway walls and expanding the highway,” he said.
Vasquez finds his work very satisfying. “My favorite part would be how it looks towards the end, and being able to drive down the highway with my kids and tell them, ‘I built this road. I was here when this was built, and I coordinated everything to be built right.’” He hopes to stay in the business until he retires. “My future plan is to eventually make superintendent one day,” he said. “I don’t think I’m far off from it.”
When Vasquez is not working, he’s usually spending time with his family. “We grill out, hang out at my mom and dad’s, go to the lake, go fishing, play volleyball in the backyard,” he said.
Vasquez and his wife Amanda have three children, Dalton Noah, 13, Elaina, 11, and Elijah, 3. Vasquez’ parents, Ramiro and Soledad Vasquez, still live in Dublin.
Throughout his life, Vasquez has found inspiration in his father. “He came to the United States as an immigrant, and just watching what my dad has done for us … my dad was always there. Even after working all day, he would play with us. I want to be as good as my mom and dad were to us, to my kids and family.”
Vasquez’ advice to Dublin graduates is to “Work hard at your dream,” he said. “Everything is possible if you work hard at it, and don’t give up.”
Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@ dublincitizen. com.