I first came to Alaska in 1949 (a little behind some of you pioneers) to visit a courageous grandmother who moved to Anchorage after WWII.  My family followed her to Anchorage in 1951 and resided at 12^th Ave. and C St. on a lot purported to be the town’s pig farm in earlier years.  Whatever, we had a great garden complimented by salmon caught by net at Bootlegger’s Cove and canned in our yard.  Moose and caribou came to our  10^th and M locker from a bit farther.

Even though the Quonsets were closer, I walked the four blocks to Denali for grades 4 through 6.  Some of you will remember my teachers: Lucy Woodson, Edna Aleshire and Ed Tomco.  By the way, if you have pictures of school days, I’d appreciate seeing them.

After that, school was pretty well a blur.  Band became the only reason for attending and I wasn’t great shakes at that…but I was a super “coaster”.

Things changed for me at Alaska Methodist University.  Over night I turned on to learning and my coasting days were over.  I got my BA in 1964 and within fourteen years had completed an MA in Remedial Reading and a doctorate in special education.  My education served me well over 34 years as elementary teacher and in a terrific variety of consultant, director and administrative positions.

Two years into AMU I married my high school sweetheart, Diana Smith (AHS class of ’58) and within five years we had two terrific sons, Dana and Mark.  This marriage came to an end in 1975.

By 1982 I had found the love-of-my-life, Karyn Poor (EHS class of 1964).  Karyn already had five adopted children (three of whom were moderately to severely challenged).  Over the next 15 years I learned as much from these wonderful children and Karyn as I learned throughout my entire education and career.

In 1997 I retired for the second time and have devoted myself to community projects and travel, motorhoming, boating.  Karyn and I live in Central Washington “sun” country.