Very shortly after graduation, Jim Kidder, Merle Whiteman and I left for boot camp in the U. S NAVY and we let the journey begin. We were part of  the U.S.  NAVY COMPANY 237, THE KANSAS FOR WORLD PEACE COMPANY, COMPOSED OF ALL KANSAS MEN,  (excepting Kidder's cousin from Joplin who used the Kansas address.)  Another friend I knew was Bob Burn's (class of 1962) cousin Richard Clutter from Wichita who was also in our company.  I am presently attempting to organize a 40-year reunion of the entire Navy Company.  We were sworn in by Governor Anderson in Plainville, Ks and we left for San Diego. 

 My journey included two tours in Vietnam, where we got second place.    (And even a lower place upon return.)  I worked on the Mc Donald F-4 Phantom II missile control system that shot down other aircraft, and as a matter of fact repaired and tuned the system that shot down the first Mig in 1966.  On the second tour I was the only one of a crew of 5,000 aboard the U. S. S. ENTERPRIZE that was trained to work on the device (black box) that armed the bombs we dropped (100’s of tons each week).  I got to make an around the world cruise and to see Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and a lot more.  I was in five states before joining the Navy and have been in 26 after joining.  I have been around the world, good journey except that Vietnam thing.  My most exciting fun thing in the Navy was getting to fly in an F-4.

 After returning to the states and getting my discharge, I stayed in California a while until my father became ill and passed away in 1968.  I returned to Kansas, stayed and got a degree in Social Work from Pitt State and it was there that I met and married my first wife, a Southeast High School graduate and classmate of Dennis Franchonie the football coach at Alabama.  Dennis and I were placed at Weir Elementary school a year together as Teacher Aides for our senior year.

 My first wife and I had three boys, Corey, Jason, and Zac.  Corey just finished his time in the Army and is attending the University of Hawaii and plans on going back in as an officer.  Jason is in California employed as an electrician and is the proud father of my first grandson.  Zac is a junior at the University of Missouri working on his degree in business hotel management.  After graduation he plans on attending a culinary school.  My two stepdaughters, Jessica and Shannon each have a son.

My first wife discovered a journey where the grass was greener and we divorced after 14 years.  Lucky for me, I had been employed as a Social Worker and had many in my caseload who experienced similar journeys.  But to their rescue I had began selling divorce kits, allowing them to get uncontested divorces without the cost of lawyers (sorry Cinda.)  Low and behold I had to use one myself years later.  But not until after the Kansas Attorney General got an injunction preventing me from selling them, took me to court, and he lost in the Kansas Supreme Court.  I won, and now they are legal!  The Bar Association complained, not consumers.

 I discovered a new love, my wife Beverly of 32 years, (16 for her, and 16 for me) and she presented me with two great stepdaughters.  So as a family of seven  we were referred to as the Brady Bunch.

I had a sports background and ended up coaching baseball, softball, soccer, and basketball.  I was Cub master and Beverly a den leader.

 I got my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas in 1976, and directed the Alcohol and Drug treatment program for the 11 Southeast Kansas Counties. After that program lost its funding under the Carter administration, I went into sales a for a while and then returned to work for the state in child protection, (sexual abuse,) then in the state mental hospital at Osawatomie, and then to Dean of Students at National College.  After they passed me over for President, the Prison called and I went to work in the new sexual offender treatment program (STOP) and got to work with some that I had sent there. While working at the prison, I also worked at a private Psychiatric hospital and they hired me to direct their treatment program. After a couple of years I got tired of all the red tape and government regulations and left there and returned to selling.

 I have won two national sales contests (among 700 others) won a trip to the Bahamas and one fishing trip to Canada. I was the first one at a home improvement company to sell over $100k in one month.  Was 6^th in the nation for Sears one month.

 I taught under graduate classes at Pitt State, National College, and graduate classes at the University of Kansas.  That journey didn’t pay much. 

 I was called by God and was pastor for three churches, Hepler, St.Paul and Walnut, for a couple of years, that was my John Wesley journey.

 I have enjoyed my life, think every day is a gift from God, and regret we have lost seven of our classmates.  I narrowly escaped death on three occasions and I live with the joy of each day and do what I can where I am with what I have.  Vietnam changed my values some.

 I publish a monthly newsletter for all my Sears customers.  If any one wants one e-mailed I will send it.  Click on the link to see a recent newsletter.

 After retirement I plan on starting a “WE THE PEOPLE” political action group with  attitudes and opinions that voice real down home values and agendas.  I have the desire now but not the time. 

 My hobbies are and I always have enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting and cooking.  I bottle four food products and after I retire from Sears plan on being the Colonel Sanders or the Ray Crock or the Dave Thomas of meatball sandwiches. My products are in several malls, all the Kansas gift stores on the turnpike, and the QVC network wants them. It takes a lot of capitol.   I am working on that.

 I may supply some meatball sandwiches for the get together at the Madison house, if Roger wants, and if Denny will bring some buns.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.

 Jerry Hill