Name: Gary McDonald
Home address: Santa Ana, CA
Birthday: 8/4/41
Nickname: Garf
What's happened since 1959?
Attended Mason City Junior College, graduated 1961. Married Georgianne Kulik of Grafton, IA (met at MCJC) in 1963. After MCJC, joined the ARMY and served 4 years in the Army Security Agency with tours at Monterey CA Language School (German), National Security Agency in Ft. Meade MD, then 3 years in Berlin Germany. After Army, went to Kansas State University – Graduated in Nuclear Engineering, 1970
Worked in Western New York, south of Buffalo for 3 years, and then, fed up with winters, we moved to Los Angeles area in 1973. Worked for Southern California Edison at the San Onofre Nuclear Plant near San Clemente. After 23 years in nuclear quality assurance and regulatory (NRC) interface positions, took early retirement in 1996 and did consulting for several years. Most recently worked for Invensys Triconex in Irvine CA, supplier of digital control systems for nuclear industry. Served as Nuclear Quality Assurance Director for the Invensys Corp until my retirement in August 2006.
Currently retired, but doing part-time consulting work in the nuclear power industry. I plan to do this for a few years, as long as it’s fun. My earlier hobbies included art and genealogy and I am looking for more time to get back to those activities.
We currently enjoy traveling and family gatherings. We have one son, Sam, who lives nearby in Irvine, CA. My mother and father still live in Clear Lake and we usually get back every year to see them. Brother Larry is in San Diego and sister Connie is in Boulder, CO.
Are you planning on attending the 50th reunion?
Yes, I am looking forward to it. The last reunion that I attended was the 25th, so it’s about time. I’m glad to be getting the recent emails on the classmate activities and appreciate the efforts of Ann Minkner Millard and the others who are working on the Class activities.
Who have you kept in touch with?
Not too much contact with classmates after leaving Iowa. Off and on contact with George Sammis over the years. Jerry Nelson and Dave Wistey long time ago. Recently, some renewed contact with Jim Smalldridge.
Memories from school days:
Band (and especially the road trips), football games, partying on country roads north of town, cornering the valve oil market with George Sammis, memorable teachers like Noble, Van Puersem, Wangberg, Sponheim, Friedman.
Favorite song from the 50's:
Dede Dinah or See You in September
