Teresa Valencia and Mary (Samson) Hale circa 1974. The first two Teamsters women forklift drivers in SD and maybe all of California? This representation of the women was taken at their place of employment at Fedmart’s main distribution center on Miramar Road in San Diego. Fed Mart was the precursor to today’s Costco. (The original photo was taken by the SD Union Tribune who did a feature on the two).

Crossing the boundaries into a strictly male dominated profession was very challenging but monetarily rewarding for these two single moms. The job’s hourly wage allowed them to qualify to purchase their own condos side by side in Rancho Penasquitos; otherwise, unheard of for a single woman with children and with neither garnering spousal support.

Mary held her position for over three years until she decided to move into management with the same company later becoming a buyer for Costco.