Crowder and Tarlton go ‘Over the Edge’

Patrick Tarlton (left) and Calvin Crowder go “Over the Edge” for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

(Story by Larry Jones)

Austin, Texas, takes great pride in its slogan of “Keep Austin Weird.” Consequently, it was only fitting that Electric Transmission Texas (ETT) President Calvin Crowder and AEP Texas Governmental Affairs Manager Patrick Tarlton went “Over the Edge” of a 32-story building to help raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Both had their own wish as they approached the challenge: Tarlton wanted to go as fast as possible and Crowder wanted to survive.

Crowder serves on the Central Texas board for Make-A-Wish Foundation, and ETT’s $5,000 contribution allowed two volunteers to rappel 32 stories off the One American Center building in downtown Austin. Tarlton participated in the prior year’s event and was more than willing to volunteer again. The question was finding the second volunteer.

“I looked for a second volunteer but was not able to find one, so it appeared that Patrick was going to be our only representative,” said Crowder. “Other members of the board had other ideas. When I arrived to watch Patrick, I was whisked up to the roof and suited up before I could say anything.”