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26 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025 Feature Interview by Marcy LaRont I-CONNECT007 What drives someone to become an engi- neer, particularly a PCB engineer? For indus- try icon Happy Holden, it was growing up in a family that couldn't afford a TV but that lived close to a library and a movie theater. It allowed a curious boy the time and space to entertain his interests in science fiction and take things apart to see how the world really worked. As we guide and mentor today's and future generations, his counsel is definitely worth considering. Marcy LaRont: Happy, you've been in the industry for more than 50 years. How did you end up pursuing engineering? Happy Holden: In the simplest sense, it boils down to toys, time, and money. I wanted toys to play with, my family did not have much money, and I had a lot of time on my hands. Neither of my parents were scientists or engi- neers. My father was a dairy farmer in Wis- consin and attending UW-Whitewater on the GI Bill. My mother was a farmer's wife, but Happy Holden: How I Became an Engineer 26 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025