List of minor Black Mesa employees

 

"This is my hiding spot, and I'm not moving until the situation has drastically improved! Now go away! And don't tell anyone I'm here!"

―Smithers

 

This article lists the minor Black Mesa employees who have no direct or a minor influence on the Half-Life story arc, and often appear as mere Easter eggs.

Lockers

Anomalous Materials Lab lockers

Retail

In the locker room of Sector C's Anomalous Materials Lab visited during Half-Life’s second chapter, Anomalous Materials, each locker bears the name of a Valve employee involved in the making of the game, placed there as an Easter egg. It is probable but not confirmed that the owner of the lockers are all scientists working in the Anomalous Materials Lab. The names are listed here as placed in-game.

Casali

Nod to Dario Casali.

Coomer

Nod to Greg Coomer. Coomer's name was also nodded to for the security guard Coomer mentioned in an announcement.

Birdwell

Nod to Ken Birdwell. Birdwell's name was also nodded to for the scientist mentioned in an announcement.

Jones

Nod to Chuck Jones.

Guthrie

Nod to John or Mona Lisa Guthrie. Before the Resonance Cascade, the Black Mesa Announcement System in Sector C mentions him in the message "Dr. Guthrie, report to Inspection Lab 6 immediately.". After the Resonance Cascade, his locker is open; inside can be found two 9mm Pistol magazines on what appears to be an ammo box, as well as a US flag. The Guthries were also nodded to for the security guard Guthrie mentioned in an announcement.

Riller

Nod to Dave Riller. Riller's name can also be found hidden in the Materials Transport, under a HECU outpost in the map "c2a2c".

Teasley

Nod to Harry E. Teasley's daughter Isabel, placed there as an Easter egg. In the Half-Life texture files can also be found the name "Isabel Teasley".

Bailey

Nod to Kelly Bailey. Bailey's name was also nodded to for the security guard Bailey mentioned in an announcement.

Johnson

Nod to Brett Johnson. The next locker is not listed as it is Freeman's.

Wood

Nod to Douglas R. Wood.

Bond

Nod to Steve "Wedge" Bond.

Backman

Nod to Ted Backman. Backman's name was also nodded to for the security guard Backman mentioned in an announcement.

Laur

Nod to Karen Laur.

Stelly

Nod to Jay Stelly.

Laidlaw

Nod to Marc Laidlaw.

Cut

The following name tags were not included in the final game but can still be found in the Half-Life texture files.

Bernier

Nod to Yahn W. Bernier.

Caughley

Nod to Ian Caughley.

Cook

Nod to John Cook.

Donaldson

See Louis Donaldson.

Lundeen

Nod to Randy Lundeen.

Mark

Nod to Yatsze Mark.

Mennet

Nod to Lisa Mennet.

Myers

Nod to Cade Myers.

Theodore

Nod to Stephen Theodore.

Walker

Nod to Robin Walker.

Gallery

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  Guthrie's locker open after the Resonance Cascade.

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  Casali's name tag.

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  Coomer's name tag.

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  Birdwell's name tag.

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  Jones's name tag.

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  Guthrie's name tag.

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  Riller's name tag.

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  Teasley's name tag.

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  Bailey's name tag.

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  Johnson's name tag.

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  Wood's name tag.

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  Bond's name tag.

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  Backman's name tag.

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  Laur's name tag.

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  Stelly's name tag.

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  Laidlaw's name tag.

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  Bernier's name tag.

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  Caughley's name tag.

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  Cook's name tag.

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  Donaldson's name tag.

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  Lundeen's name tag.

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  Mark's name tag.

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  Mennet's name tag.

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  Myers's name tag.

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  Theodore's name tag.

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  Walker's name tag.

Area 3 Security Facilities lockers

In the security guard locker room of Sector C's Area 3 Medium Security Facilities visited during Blue Shift’s second chapter, Insecurity, a third of the lockers bears the name of a Gearbox employee involved in the making of the game (save for Doug Lombardi who is from Valve), placed there as Easter eggs. The other names may be nods to Sierra employees or playtesters, but it has to be confirmed. The names are listed here as placed in-game.

Jones

Nod to Steven Jones. Jones' name was also nodded to for the dead scientist S. Jones in Opposing Force, as well as two Level 3 Dormitories residents in Decay.

Trock

Kooy

The security guard tying his shoes in front of Kooy's locker may be him.

Phillips

Lombardi

Nod to Doug Lombardi, the only non-Gearbox employee nodded to there.

Veevaert

Nod to Jim Veevaert.

Hood

Nod to J. Mark Hood.

Pobst

Nod to Jeff Pobst.

Dunn

Nod to Amanda Dunn. The next locker is not listed as it is Calhoun's.

Cassello

Fase

Bass

O'Conner

Beier

Pauly

Gallery

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Level 3 Dormitories

In the personnel dormitories of Sector C's Level 3 Dormitories visited during Half-Life: Decay’s fifth chapter, Domestic Violence, each room except two is occupied by two people, all named after Gearbox employees involved in the making of the game (save for Gordon Freeman), placed there as Easter eggs. The residents are listed here by wing and shared room.

South Wing

301: Selitto / Heironimus

Nod to Robert Selitto and Rob Heironimus. Heironimus' name was also nodded to for the HECU recruit R. Heironimus in Opposing Force.

302: McArthur / VanDolen

Nod to Christopher McArthur and Matthew VanDolen.

303: Montague

Nod to Michael Montague. Him and Freeman are the only residents who don't share their room.

304: Reardon / Luna

Nod to Sean Reardon and Eli Luna. "Reardon" is used again for room 307. Reardon's name was also nodded to for the dead scientist S. Reardon in Opposing Force.

305: Cavanaugh / Armstrong

Nod to Sean Cavanaugh and Matthew Armstrong.

306: Martel / Jones

Nod to Brian Martel and Steven Jones. "Jones" is used again for room 307. Jones' name was also nodded to for the dead scientist S. Jones in Opposing Force, as well as a security guard locker name in Blue Shift.

North Wing

Room 309 is not listed as it is Freeman's, where he resides alone.

307: Jones / Reardon

Nod to Steven Jones and Sean Reardon. "Jones" is also used for room 306; "Reardon" is also used for room 304.

308: Palmer / Bahl

Nod to Stephen Palmer and Stephen Bahl. Bahl's name was also nodded to for the HECU recruit S. Bahl in Opposing Force.

310: Landon / Hess

Nod to Landon Montgomery and Brian Hess. Montgomery's name was also nodded to for the HECU recruit L. Montgomery in Opposing Force.

311: Mertz / Pitchford

Nod to David Mertz and Randall "Randy" Pitchford. Mertz's and Pitchford's names were also nodded to for the HECU recruits D. Mertz and R. Pitchford in Opposing Force.

312: Wardwell / Deupree

Nod to Mike Wardwell and Patrick Deupree. Wardwell's and Deupree's names were also nodded to for the HECU recruits M. Wardwell and P. Deupree in Opposing Force.

Gallery

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  Selitto's and Heironimus' room door.

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  Martel's and Jones' room door.

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  Wardwell's and Dupree's room door.

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  Selitto's name tag.

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  Heironimus's name tag.

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  McArthur's name tag.

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  VanDolen's name tag.

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  Montague's name tag.

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  Reardon's name tag.

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  Luna's name tag.

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  Cavanaugh's name tag.

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  Armstrong's name tag.

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  Martel's name tag.

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  Jones's name tag.

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  Palmer's name tag.

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  Bahl's name tag.

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  Freeman's name tag.

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  Landon's name tag.

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  Hess's name tag.

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  Mertz's name tag.

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  Pitchford's name tag.

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  Wardwell's name tag.

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  Deupree's name tag.

Announcements

Several announcements directed to scientists and security guards are made in Half-Life, most of the time before and after the Resonance Cascade in Sector C. Half of them are nods to Valve employees.

Backman

A nod to Ted Backman, he is a security guard Lieutenant mentioned in the message "Lieutenant Backman and cleanup team to Sub-Level 3". Backman's name was also nodded to on a locker name in Sector C.

Bailey

A nod to Kelly Bailey, he is a security guard Sergeant mentioned in the message "Sergeant Bailey to Topside Checkpoint Bravo.". Bailey's name was also nodded to on a locker name in Sector C.

Birdwell

A nod to Ken Birdwell, he is a scientist mentioned in the message "Dr. Birdwell reports superconducting interchange is activated.". Birdwell's name was also nodded to on a locker name in Sector C.

Black

Scientist mentioned in the message "Coded message for Captain Black, Command and Communication Center.".

Coomer

A nod to Greg Coomer, he is a security guard Agent mentioned in the message "Agent Coomer, report to Topside Tactical Operations Center.". Coomer's name was also nodded to on a locker name in Sector C.

Guthrie

A nod to John or Mona Lisa Guthrie, he is a security guard Sergeant mentioned in the message "Sergeant Guthrie, report to Topside Motorpool immediately.". The Guthries were also nodded to on a locker name in Sector C.

Johnson

A nod to Brett Johnson, he is a scientist mentioned in the message "Dr. Johnson, please call Observation Tank 1." in Sector C. Johnson's name was also nodded to on a locker name in Sector C.

Victor

Scientist mentioned in the message "Dr. Victor, report to Supercooled Laser Lab please.".

West

Scientist mentioned in the message "Dr. West, please report to Lambda Reactor Complex.".

Other

Louis Donaldson

Donaldson was a scientist involved in the research of creatures found on Xen prior to the Black Mesa Incident. During his work, he became the discoverer of the Barnacle creature, but unfortunately also its first victim. The Barnacle's full name, Cirripedia donaldsonia, was subsequently named after him.

Donaldson appears only in the "Half-Life Monster of the Week" feature on the now defunct website OGR.com, in the page about the Barnacle. Furthermore, his name tag is among the several that are in the Half-Life game files but not seen in-game.

His name is a nod to Louise Donaldson, thanked in the Half-Life credits.

Harrington

A nod to Mike Harrington, he is a security guard Sergeant and "Morale Officer" who apparently had to have an office somewhere in Black Mesa, since the door sign for his office can be found in the game files, but not in the game.

S. Jones

A nod to Steven Jones, he is a scientist whose corpse is seen during the Opposing Force chapter Friendly Fire, lying near his desk on which is name tag is seen. He was presumably working on the Displacer Cannon with his nearby colleague S. Reardon, also dead. He also appears to own or have been using a 9mm Pistol, as one is seen on his desk. Jones' name was also nodded to for a security guard locker in Blue Shift, as well as two Level 3 Dormitories residents in Decay.

Otis Laurey

Otis Laurey is a security guard whose name can be seen in the Hazard Course Training schedule for the spring/summer season featured in the Half-Life PlayStation 2 instruction manual. He was to take the Black Mesa Hazard Course for Security Guard Training on May 17, 200-, at 16:00, under the Miller-based holographic instructor. Hand-written notes added by Gina Cross suggest Otis could not make it; she suggests that Barney filled in for him. Whatever was decided, it never happened, Black Mesa having been destroyed that day.

Otis Laurey appears in the schedule only as "O. Laurey", "O" obviously referring to "Otis", the security guard "class" introduced in Opposing Force. Like Gina Cross and Barney Calhoun, he is a generic model with a generic first name turned into a standalone character with a surname. It is however unknown what "Otis" model Laurey would be, since he is never met in-game.

Characters from The Andy Griffith Show bear the names of Barney and Otis. It is probable, though yet to be verified, that the references are intentional. Furthermore, Hal Smith, who played the character named Otis, is also bulky like the Otis model.

Newell

A nod to Gabe Newell, he is a scientist who occupied office D-AL 101 in Sector D, visited during the Half-Life chapter Office Complex.

Left of the office door is a sign with his name, with "Scheduled Chaos Theory R&D" under it. At the time of the Black Mesa Incident, the office is flooded and electricity is running through the water. A Headcrab can also be found. Newell is presumably the scientist hanging from the ceiling.

Peters

Mentioned by another scientist in the Advanced Biological Research Lab during the chapter Half-Life chapter Questionable Ethics, Peters is said to have switched on the surgical unit and apparently died in the process. In Half-Life, only blood stains and gibs remain of Peters' corpse. In Half-Life: Source, his body was added as a retcon.

Smithers

Smithers appears in the Half-Life level Blast Pit. During the Black Mesa Incident, Silo D-02's power generator has to be started up to defeat the Tentacles in Silo D-01, and Smithers is sent to restart it. It is likely he encounters some Xen aliens on the way there, because instead of restarting the generator, he decides to hide on top of the generator until the crisis ends. Having failed to start the generator and failed to return, Smithers' colleague met below by Freeman assumes he has been killed and states he did not attempt to restart the generator himself. Later, Gordon comes down to restart the generator. Upon stepping onto the device, he encounters Smithers, who refuses to move until the situation drastically improves. Freeman restarts the generator and leaves, while Smither's fate remains unknown.

S. Reardon

A nod to Sean Reardon, he is a scientist whose corpse is seen during the Opposing Force chapter Friendly Fire, lying near his desk on which is name tag is seen. He was presumably working on the Displacer Cannon with his nearby colleague S. Jones, also dead. In Blue Shift, the same name tag can be found on the desk in the office where Harold has retreated. Reardon's name was also nodded to for two Level 3 Dormitories residents in Decay.

Isabel Teasley

In the Half-Life texture files can be found the desk name tag "Isabel Teasley". It is a nod to the daughter of Harry E. Teasley and Yatsze Mark, who both worked on Half-Life. Teasley is also nodded to in the retail game for a locker name tag in the Anomalous Materials Lab.

Isabel (born on January 3, 1998) is the baby from the picture in Gordon's locker. Her father Harry is among those who designed that part of Black Mesa, and originally put a pin-up poster in the locker (not one of the Xena images found in the game files, which are copyrighted thus unused - the original poster is not in the game files anymore but can be found in the Half-Life Alpha CD). His daughter's picture that he had added to the texture files was originally used in a ruined office only, with the "Isabel Teasley" name tag on the desk (removed from the final game), then replaced the pin-up poster when another developer revamped the locker's inside, also adding the actual books by Marc Laidlaw, The Orchid Eater and The 37th Mandala. The picture is said to have been chosen randomly by the second developer, ending up being a relative to Gordon's.

Tolman

Tolman was a scientist who worked with Doctors Rosenberg and Keller at the time of the Resonance Cascade. During the experiment on GG-3883, he was to power up the secondary magnetic charges. He was killed by the surge of destruction immediately following the incident. Rosenberg was frightened and alerted by his death, but Keller brushed it off in the face of the disaster.

Van Buren

A nod to Bill Van Buren, he is a scientist who occupied an office in Sector D's Administration Offices, visited during the Half-Life chapter Office Complex.

Left of the office door is a sign with his name, with "Diplomatic Relations" under it. When Gordon Freeman reaches the office, a scientist jumps through the window; this may be him. Inside the office are a shotgun, ammo for it and two Medkits.

Gallery

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  Sgt. Harrington's door sign.

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  S. Jones' corpse near his desk.

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  The Hazard Course Training schedule including Laurey's name.

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  Dr. Newell's door sign.

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  Outside Newell's office.

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  General view of the surgical unit in Half-Life, with Peters' gibs and blood on the floor.

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  The same spot in Half-Life: Source with Peters' corpse added.

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  Closeup of Peters' corpse.

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  S. Reardon's corpse near his desk.

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  Closeup of Smithers.

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  Smithers hiding on the restarted generator.

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  The restarted generator from above, with Smithers on it.

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  Isabel Teasley's name, cut from the final game.

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  The real Isabel Teasley, as found in Gordon's locker.

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  The original photo.

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  Isabel Teasley in New York City in November 2011.

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  Dr. Van Buren's door sign.

References