Ray Sr. was a Data Processing Manager over a large MAINFRAME Computing department for a large corporation in the early 70’s. He had a large staff of programmers report to him at that time. Ray Jr. was impressed when he came to visit at a young age (13) and determined to be a programmer himself.

Mainframe Computing still exists. Very few program Mainframes in North America these days. My last assignment (Ray Jr.) for a mainframe IMS Coboll II coding job was for one of the largest Banks in Canada. I worked for them on five seperate occassions). I walked onto a floor that had over 50 workstations that were empty. All places where COBOL developers once sat. I joined 2 others that were sitting inn this empty floor to do my job. It was silent and a lonely environment. I found memorabilia in my desk. I knew the guy that used to sit in it before me. I always wonder where he went after the large downsizing that had happend before my arrival.

I hear it is a cash cow for any my age (50’s at the writing of this) to fly to China and do what we did 20 years ago for Canada. They stopped teaching the type of computer skills needed for mainframe in the universities over 15 years ago putting us dinasaaurs into an elite position with some companies. Of course new people can get into this type of computing if a company is willing for them to be mentored into it by a dinasaur like myself. There is still an ongoing need in this field. I tends to be slow and boring but for the few that are able to stay in it is a highly paid specialty.

My comments are intended to interest a future generation in the mainframe field but to also warn them that it is an elite field to be in.

If an employer reads these comments, I may help you source such an individual or I may be available for an assignment. If you are an employer in Africa that reads this or in Asia I am interested in comming to your country.

From the desk of
Ray T. Luff jr.