As I related to a few people at the reunion, I feel as if I am the quintessential Mohigan; in that I fell in love with and married a Mohiganette (MHS '68), and have worn the school colors my whole life -- RED neck and BLUE collar!  My wife has been and continues to be the greatest blessing of my life, despite the trials; with my children and grand children running a close second.  I have yet to figure out what I did right to deserve such blessings.

 

     Out of high school, I immediately started into WVU, in the Summer session of 1967.  Up through 1969, I made several half-hearted attempts, with varying successes, to pursue a degree, ultimately in Ag. Engineering.  I met Melissa, and we married in January of 1970, and have remained so, despite all the bumps, bruises and trials since then.  I managed the Burger Chef on Chestnut Ridge Road (remember it?) through 1971, when I was transferred to Fairmont (behind Jack Keener) to manage the Country Club Road store (BTW, this whole time, with our first baby on the way, we were sweating out my position in the draft lottery -- Uncle Sam quit calling with 2 numbers left for me to go).  I decided to return to WVU, and Burger Chef would not allow me to both manage and be a student; so I went to work for Beth Thorne's father at Kelly Cab Co., and returned to school.  Again, this attempt yielded only partial success (mostly due to my immature party spirit), so I left to go to work for a succession of major heavy and highway contractors as a Teamster, helping to build various sections of Rtes. 68 and 79 around Morgantown.  After the road jobs wrapped up, I went to work for a local plumbing and heating company for 2 years, after which I joined Local 1846 out of Waynesburg, and went to work in UMWA construction, beginning as a form carpenter, and ending up as an ironworker and certified all-position structural steel welder, about 1 year later.  The company I worked for, Mellon-Stuart out of Fairmont, had a major local office shake-up, so after my last job in New Martinsville, the work dried up and I left to start my own business in the oilfields, west of Morgantown around Blacksville and Waynesburg.  I worked in the oilfields for about 2 years, then transitioned my company into general contracting (residential and light commercial).  I am sure that there are several who will read this and realize the connection between the "bumps and bruises"  I mentioned earlier, and the phenomenon of owning one's own business!  Anyway, I operated the business for 17 years, and shut it down to go to work for others as a paid employee.  After a few smaller terms of employment with a local plumbing contractor, a commercial office interior contractor, and a local trucking company, I ended up with a local HVAC contractor as a "Senior HVAC/R Technician".  I kinda resent the "Senior" part of that, but then again, I started getting "AARP" literature when I was only 44 years old! 

 

     Melissa has been an employee (Budget Analyst) for the USDA Forest Service, and is currently on fire duty as a dispatcher in St. Paul, MN.  She is eligible for retirement in another 2 years.  Wish I could say the same for myself....  It's okay, though -- despite the aches and pains associated with my job at this age, I am probably in better shape than if left to my own devices!! 

 

     I don't know what else to say, other than to express my amazement at how "our" Morgantown is changing.  My job exposes me, "up close and personal", to these changes; from the "old" Hotel Morgan (now owned by Clarion), to the most exclusive homes around town, as in Greystone, Lakeside, Lakeview, and even at the summit of Sand Springs Road.  I am continually amazed at the number and quality of homes springing up in our "old stomping grounds".  I suppose the most perplexing thing about this phenomenon is looking at the business and industry around Morgantown, and trying to figure out where the finances are coming from to support such a proliferation of upscale residential construction.  Back in our college days, the prediction was that Morgantown would initially expand southward toward Grafton and Fairmont, and it has; but not nearly to the degree that it has north- and

east-ward.

 

     I guess I'm rambling, so it's time to sign off.  Please, committee members, know how much I appreciate your time and effort in putting together our 40th.  Also, since the email trail now seems to be clear and strong, keep me in the loop and let me know if there is anything I can do to support the next get-together.  Obviously, I have no plans to leave Morgantown! (LOL)   Take Care, and may God Bless, all!