The article first ran in 1989. It was re-published in June of 2000, and this is what is currently listed at the top of the article:
"The following feature story ran in the June 1989 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical. While the prices have changed since the late 1980s, this article remains as useful now as it was then."
Note that the publisher freely acknowledges that rates have changed since that time. The $35.00/hr rate ONLY applied to the going rates in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area for 1989. Even back then I'm sure the rates varied from one part of the country to another, but they definitely have changed in the past 17 years.
Kevin
