(HUTTO, Texas) – “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” So said American writer Clarence Budington Kelland and — possibly — Chris DiLullo’s children.
Chris DiLullo is an HVAC Technology instructor at Texas State Technical College’s Williamson County campus, where two of his five children, Andrew and Anthony, are students in the program.
“Andrew wasn’t sure what he wanted to do — he just finished high school in December, and Anthony is getting ready to leave military service next year,” Chris DiLullo said. “They’ve both been under the house working since they were young.”
Anthony DiLullo is in his first semester of the program. He said he wants to be home more for his newborn son, and he knows the life that a career in HVAC can provide for his family.
“My dad used to send me into attics when I was a kid at residential jobs to get in tight spaces for him and read off what he needed,” he said. “I already know how to do most things, I just need the credentials.”
Andrew DiLullo is ahead of his brother, having already started his second semester. He said the trio spends most weekends working on projects around the family property they call “Rancho DiLullo,” and he is glad to see his older brother join the program.
“Anthony gets my help, but I don’t tell him what to do,” Andrew DiLullo said. “We work on projects at the ranch together. I know he knows what he’s doing.”
Chris DiLullo said his sons have each other’s backs in the classroom too.
“Anthony was about to be tested on a lab that Andrew said, ‘Dad, remember who did that for your house?’” Chris DiLullo said. “I remembered it was Anthony, that I’d seen him do it and that he did it right, so he tested out of that lab.”
Anthony DiLullo said it feels weird when he works on labs unsupervised.
“My dad usually watches me do HVAC work,” he said. “I don’t think it’s to make sure I won’t screw up, I think he just loves it.”
Chris DiLullo said he is excited to have his sons on campus and be following in his footsteps.
“I like having them here, and seeing Anthony more is great,” Chris DiLullo said. “I don’t get to see him as much, and now I see him more. He’s moving back to the ranch with his family in August. I take good care of the kids because they really take good care of me too.”
In Texas, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn an average annual salary of $54,050, according to onetonline.org, which forecast the number of such positions to grow 17% in the state from 2022 to 2032.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and certificates of completion in HVAC Technology at its Abilene, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses. HVAC Technology is one of TSTC’s performance-based education programs in which students can move through their training at a flexible pace.
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. To learn more, visit tstc.edu.