After graduation, I went to Gulf Coast Junior College for a couple of years, then it was on to 'HatLanta before joining the Air Force, where I served as an Air Intelligence Specialist (even investigated some for Project Blue Book). While stationed at Robins AFB, GA I met a young lady from Columbus, Ohio (having been fixed up on a blind date by my future wife's cousin's husband, but that's another story) who captured my heart. After our wedding in September1966, I was assigned duty at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

After my 4-year hitch in the Air Force was up, I managed to attend The Ohio State University and to graduate with a B. A. in Journalism/Public Relations, and served as the Director of Community Relations at the Mansfield (Ohio) General Hospital for a year before becoming a Marine Air Support Control Officer. I served with all three Marine Air Support Squadrons (at MCAS El Toro, CA; MCAS Futema, Okinawa; and MCAS Cherry Point, NC). During my Far Eastern tour, I trained Air Support Control Officers at NAS Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines. When I returned stateside (to Cherry Point, which is located in Havelock, NC), I was selected to participate in the USMC's Advanced Degree Program, and again attended The Ohio State University to pick up a Master's Degree in Journalism/Public Affairs. My payback tour was again at Cherry Point, where I served as the Joint Public Affairs Officer for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and MCAS Cherry Point. While I was in Washington, D. C. in September 1979 attending a Public Affairs Officers conference, I suffered a career-ending heart attack, which was complicated by my Western Pacific tour, and was medically retired a year later. My military duties carried me to Northern Europe (England, Sweden & Denmark--Copenhagen & Lego Land) via Gander, Newfoundland, Canada; the Caribbean (Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, Puerto Rico, Vieques & Curacao); the Far East (Japan, Okinawa, Philippines); and the Carolinas, Southern California (29 Palms & most points between there and Tijuana), southeastern Canada, the ALCAN (Alaska-Canadian) Highway, and some of Alaska, including the Kenai Peninsula, and the Denali National Park.

Shortly after our 25th Class Reunion, I went to East Carolina University for yet another degree and became a part of the English faculty teaching various writing and editing courses. In late 2005 I was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat and retired from ECU at the end of Spring Semester 2008.

My wife Mary and I have lived in Newport, NC (which is about 7 miles south of MCAS Cherry Point/Havelock) since April 1979. Both of our boys were graduated from ECU. My oldest son lives Havelock (he's a Project Manager for an outfit that does technical publications for MCAS Cherry Point, and he is the father of my 10-year old granddaughter), and my youngest son is back in grad school so that he can teach fine arts at the college level. My wife taught English and Fine Arts at Havelock High School. She was also a senior class advisor (I helped her chaperone a group of seniors when they went to Disney World and actually met a group of Bay High School folks on their senior trip in 1994). She also took another group (of parents and students) on a tour of England, Wales, and Ireland in 1999, and I got to accompany her there, too.

My interests and hobbies include watching (in 1080i) baseball and college football, light yard work (riding my John Deere), things religious, and things related to computers. Although I retired from teaching nearly three years ago, I cannot imagine having the time for a fulltime job now!