A
Quick Fly Over of My Life
I
was born in a Quonset hut on the
campus
of Tri-State College (Tri-State College)
in Angola, IN (Angola,
IN). My father was attending
Tri-State where he
received his degree in Civil Engineering. I am the youngest of three
children. I have two sisters, Jean 13 months older and Chris 26 months
older. After my father’s graduation we immediately moved to
Illinois
where he took a job with the state highway department.
The
first house I remember was in Glenwood Addition just west of
Marseilles, IL (Marseilles,
IL).
I still have friends
from when we lived there. 
We
moved to Paxton,
IL (Paxton,
IL)
when
I was five. Dad had taken a job as the
Superintendent of Highways for Ford County. I started school in Paxton.
Because it was a rural country school, the teacher insisted that we all
learn to write right-handed. I am naturally left-handed, but write
right-hand to this day.
We
moved to Paxton,
IL (Paxton,
IL)
when
I was five. Dad had taken a job as the
Superintendent of Highways for Ford County. I started school in Paxton.
Because it was a rural country school, the teacher insisted that we all
learn to write right-handed. I am naturally left-handed, but write
right-hand to this day. Sometime
around the
third grade Dad got a new job as the Superintendent of Highways for La
Salle County. These positions were politically appointed for a term of
six years. I think dad was appointed five times before he retired at
the ripe old age of 54. We moved into a big old
two-story farmhouse outside of Marseilles. I spent most of my early
childhood going to Rutland Elementary School, a very rural school just
outside of Serena, IL. As I progressed through school I eventually went
to Marseilles High School. It no longer exists. With a shrinking tax
base it was merged some years ago into Ottawa High School seven miles
away.
After
high school I attended Tri-State
for two years in engineering. With the Vietnam War, the
re-establishment of the draft and a draft number of 5, I dropped out to
await 
my future
in the army. Having
successful survived the draft (by
not being drafted) I went back to school. This time to Bradley
University (Bradley
University).
Where as Tri-State was an
unpleasant experience, in a class of a few hundred total students, I
had 400 valedictorians and salutatorians in my class, none of which
could catch a football. Tri-state was in a small Indiana town (the
school was as big as the town) full of “townies”
that hated
“Tri-Staters”. When you went to town you normally
had to go in a group.
We found most of our entertainment was going to Ohio where the drinking
age was 18. Bradley was a breadth of fresh air. It was in the mid-size
city of Peoria, IL (Peoria,
IL)
home of Caterpillar
Tractor. Bradley students were respected and accepted. The education
and experience was great.
my future
in the army. Having
successful survived the draft (by
not being drafted) I went back to school. This time to Bradley
University (Bradley
University).
Where as Tri-State was an
unpleasant experience, in a class of a few hundred total students, I
had 400 valedictorians and salutatorians in my class, none of which
could catch a football. Tri-state was in a small Indiana town (the
school was as big as the town) full of “townies”
that hated
“Tri-Staters”. When you went to town you normally
had to go in a group.
We found most of our entertainment was going to Ohio where the drinking
age was 18. Bradley was a breadth of fresh air. It was in the mid-size
city of Peoria, IL (Peoria,
IL)
home of Caterpillar
Tractor. Bradley students were respected and accepted. The education
and experience was great. I
worked by way
through college, first as a Pizza Hut Manager, then an Orthopedic
Technician in the Saint Francis Trauma Center (Saint Francis
Hospital) .
Where I learned more about human
anatomy then I ever wanted to know. Upon completion of my degree, I
went looking for a job. There was a recessions going on in the Midwest.
I thought I would move to Atlanta for a couple for years until things
got better up north. I never left.
I
will pass
over the trials and tribulations of being an adolescent in the
“big
city” with his first real paying job. Suffice to say that
things did
not go smoothly
at first, but eventually
things ironed themselves out.
I’ve been here over 30 years. I completed my MBA at Georgia
State
University (Georgia
State University).
I am very happily married to Martha
and have a daughter, Tyler who teaches school (an honorable
profession). Martha retired from AT&T with 30 years service.
Tyler got married
a couple
of years ago and I am no longer responsible
for her financially, that task is now Billy’s (her new
husband). They
seem to be just as happy as I am. Tyler gave
birth
to my first Granchild in May of 2008. Avery is a beautiful little girl
who looks alot like he mother.
at first, but eventually
things ironed themselves out.
I’ve been here over 30 years. I completed my MBA at Georgia
State
University (Georgia
State University).
I am very happily married to Martha
and have a daughter, Tyler who teaches school (an honorable
profession). Martha retired from AT&T with 30 years service.
Tyler got married
a couple
of years ago and I am no longer responsible
for her financially, that task is now Billy’s (her new
husband). They
seem to be just as happy as I am. Tyler gave
birth
to my first Granchild in May of 2008. Avery is a beautiful little girl
who looks alot like he mother.