ADDRESS: 3408 White Bark Pine Street
Las Vegas, Nevada 89129
PHONE #: 702 869 4168
MARITAL STATUS: While serving in the Naval Academy Band, I met, went steady with, and eventually married Denise Lavinia Basil from Annapolis, Maryland on January 17, 1961. We have two sons Bryan 48 - wife Andrea, and Steven 38 - wife Kristen. Denise & I consider ourselves unbelievably blessed that both of our sons and their families live within 10 minutes of our home. Our two granddaughters Madison 9 and Morgan 7 from Andrea and Bryan and the twins Colin and Logan now 18 months old from Kristen and Steven are the light of our life's.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR LIFE: Our lives together has been like reading a really good book ... turning page after page, always opening new and exciting opportunities. The first chapter began at the Naval Academy and upon discharge in 1963, we had a three year stopover living with my parents while attending Mason City Jr. College. In 1966 having moved on to the College of Northern Iowa, I got a call from an old friend to join the Harry James Orchestra which was based and worked in and out of Las Vegas. It was during this time with the James Band that we appeared multiple times on Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, and The Mike Douglass Shows. In 1971, I left the James Band and worked with various hotel house bands backing many of the show business luminaries of the time including Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin , Vic Damone, etc. I was also continuing work on my business degree at UNLV and graduated in 1974.
Thus began the middle chapters which would best be characterized as working up the ladder in various companies. In 1985, I had what turned into a life changing opportunity for our family by joining GTE. I would be remiss however, if I did not give appropriate credit to Denise who was extremely busy as well. She began as a key punch operator in Annapolis at the dawn of the computer age and ended up many years later as Data Bass Administrator for Don Rey Media Group. Her responsibilities included extensive traveling all over our country including Hawaii cutting over Don Ray's major systems. Somehow in the middle of all this activity between the two of us, we were able to raise a couple of very fine young men. In any event in 1988, my line of business within GTE joint ventured with Bell Atlantic, i.e., GTE provided the management team and Bell Atlantic the market which was the Chesapeake Bay area states as well as our nation's capitol. This led our family to three company moves and changes - Virginia Beach for 4.5 years, Washington D.C. another 4.5, and ending up in West "By God" Virginia for 5 years. The last nine of those years I was fortunate to serve at the Director Level as a Division Manager in extremely exciting times as our company morphed from GTE to Bell Atlantic and finally Verizon. In August of 2000, I retired from Verizon (sort of) and we returned to our home in Las Vegas. Incidentally, we both feel that we're still in the middle chapters. OK ... very late middle?
RETIREMENT FUN: We have continued our travels which began with several corporate incentive trips. On their dime, we were able to see Brazil, Mexico - Cancun & Acapulco, Hawaii - twice, Spain, and Africa. Since my retirement in 2000, we have been to Italy, on West Coast cruises to Canada and Alaska and the Mexican Riviera, and on the East Coast - cruises to New England/Canada and the Caribbean.
In 2001, Jerry & Pat Millard and Denise & I kicked off what has become our annual Rumble in Laughlin, Nevada. In 2005 (by popular demand), we brought it here to Las Vegas where we had our largest turnout to date - 28 classmates and their spouses. And our most recent Laughlin 2009 Rumble just last March, we tied that number again! These casual get-together have had an energizing effect on all concerned ... especially the hosts.
And speaking of Las Vegas, it seems ironic that a person our 1956 Lions Tale labeled as, and I quote ... "the notorious ne'er do well" ... ended up in "Sin City?" That aside ... Denise and I are appreciative that so many of my former classmates and their spouses make the effort and commitment to join us at our Rumbles in Nevada year after year.
MEMORIES FROM YOUR SCHOOL DAYS:
Got a bit of a problem here. I'm guessing that my singular focus on studying and attaining superior grades as well as exemplary deportment blocked out any and all memories of my high school days.
TYPE OF MUSIC AND ACTIVITIES YOU NOW ENJOY:
I jumped off the music creativity train at about Chicago and Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
As to our activities, Denise stays busy with water aerobics, shopping, and watching our granddaughters and twins on occasion. That worked for me for a while however in 2003, I told Denise I needed something else so I started a small pruning business. It's grown quite a bit and I really do enjoy working outside in landscaping, design, and the beautification of people's yards. Denise would want you to know that I am out of the house and out from under her feet! I also look forward to my early morning bike rides and the panoramic view of the lights of our city prior to the sun coming up over the mountains.
Living in Las Vegas, we are obviously able to take advantage of great entertainment and superior dinning experiences. Denise is a fabulous cook in her own right and we both enjoy entertaining our friends and family in our home.
