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What did you want to be when you grew up? |
After fireman and cowboy, I wanted to be an electrician. Then when I joined the Navy, I became one. That opened the doors for me to later learn instrumentation and PLC programming. That, a lot of education, and being in the right place at the right time with some help from Lynda Hargroder, opened the door at Champion. Now, although I do love my job, I still want to be a cowboy. |
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Independence Day memory? |
When my family lived in Yazoo City, Mississippi, we used to go to Johnson’s Lake which was a community swimming hole for the Fourth and barbeque and swim all day. Don’t get me started because Patriotism is not just a word to me, I still tear up just hearing the National Anthem at football games. Does anyone else out there experience that? |
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Discuss a small personal or home project? |
My next project plan is to build a small pavilion in the backyard with a hot tub at one end, seating, and a fire pit in the middle and cooking area at the other end. |
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If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? |
A mentor of mine once told me to take my job seriously but not myself so I think maybe Jim Belushi, or some other comedian. There are also some sad and dark parts so maybe a comedian with some range like Tom Hanks would be better. By the way, it’s getting to be a long movie. |
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What is your favorite author or book? |
This is an easy one for me. My Dad used to read a book almost every night. Maybe five books a week. Mother too. So I got the reading bug naturally. In 1968 when we moved overseas, my Mother gave me a book called “Fear is the Key” by Alistair Maclean. I couldn’t put it down. I ended up reading all of his fiction including ones he wrote subsequent to then. In 1971 at boarding school, I was invited to lunch by a friend who was a day student and lived nearby. At lunch, his father joined us, a distinguished gentleman, and when he walked in, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was Alistair Maclean. I told him what a fan I was of his work, and he gave me an autographed copy of another of his books, “Caravan to Vacarres.” Many of his books have been made into movies, and you probably know many of them. They include:
I recommend his books to everyone. |
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You’re happiest when? |
I am happiest when surrounded by my family, wife Diane, children Clayton, Donna, Rose, and Hillary, son-in-laws David, Danny, and Michael, daughter-in-law BJ, and grandchildren Clayton, Phillip, Jaime, Patrick, Sarah, Katie, Jasmine, Noah, Jonah, Caddie, Drake, and the memory of one who left too soon, Peter. |
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What did you want to be when you grew up? |
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved to take things apart and put them back together. I always knew I’d be an engineer. |
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Independence Day memory? |
Every Independence Day with my children is memorable. |
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Discuss a small personal or home project? |
I’m always fixing toys my wife tries to throw away. |
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If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? |
Anybody that can get my accent right. |
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What is your favorite author or book? |
Anything written by Mahmoud Darwish. |
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You’re happiest when? |
I’m happiest with my family. |
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What did you want to be when you grew up? |
I have a passion for art and creativity. I’ve always wanted to be an artist, but when I was younger, my dream was to draw caricatures at Astro World or Six Flags. I would beg my parents to let me sit with the artist while they rode rides. I hated rollercoasters…and still do, LOL. |
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Independence Day memory? |
We use to spend a lot of time on the water and BBQ with friends, but anyone that knows me well enough today would find me at a ballpark somewhere watching my children play ball. |
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Discuss a small personal or home project? |
My husband claims I have too many projects at home. However, I love to paint whether it be furniture, walls, or odd and ends. As a personal touch, I love to belly cast expecting mothers. |
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If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? |
Rachel McAdams would definitely play me. She’s a fantastic actress, but I love that she can play different characters in a variety of films. I feel like my life falls along those lines…I play a different role at work, home, church, etc. |
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What is your favorite author or book? |
I’m a Nicholas Sparks fan…anything sappy and that’ll come out on film, LOL. |
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You’re happiest when? |
I am happiest when surrounded by my family, wife Diane, children Clayton, Donna, Rose, and Hillary, son-in-laws David, Danny, and Michael, daughter-in-law BJ, and grandchildren Clayton, Phillip, Jaime, Patrick, Sarah, Katie, Jasmine, Noah, Jonah, Caddie, Drake, and the memory of one who left too soon, Peter. |
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What did you want to be when you grew up? |
A boxer. I grew up in the era of watching “Wide World of Sports” (on one of the three network channels you could get on your black and white TV). Anyone that remembers that era knows that the Great Howard Cosell was always on, taunting the biggest names in boxing with his off comments (especially to and about Muhammad Ali) and criticism of the sport. Boxing was always something my family and I all watched together. The town I came from had a Boys and Girls Club in it with a small gym designated for boxing. Me and my brother spent a lot of time there growing up. |
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Independence Day memory? |
I grew up in a small farming community in Indiana, and that’s one of the things they prided themselves on. July 4th came third only to Christmas Day and the annual running of the Indy 500. All the small towns would go all out for “The Fourth.” Parades, fireworks, small town carnivals in the park, music on the town square, and, of course, a classic car show. So, I guess there is no one specific memory. Just plenty of memories of family, fun, food, and festivities. |
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Discuss a small personal or home project? |
I’m currently rebuilding an old Ford farm truck (1988 F150 with a 4.9 liter, 300 straight 6 engine, and a 5 speed overdrive manual transmission) we brought down here on our last trip home. It’s a large project but will be worth all the time and effort when it’s completed. |
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If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? |
C. Thomas Howell |
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What is your favorite author or book? |
S.E. Hinton, author of “The Outsiders”. |
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You’re happiest when? |
I’m happiest when I’m with my family. My wife (of 23 years) and I have two sons and three grandsons. They are what makes our world go around. |
