Gary Corker

Well here is the History of Gary Corker since graduation in May 1978

Attended Ouachita Baptist Univeristy where I got a degree in church music.

After I left OBU in 1982 I married Julia Ferrell from Warren, Arkansas, and we moved to Garfield, Arkansas where I served a little over a year as Minister of Music and Youth at the Garfield, First Baptist Church. From there we went to Dallas where I studied at the Criswell College and earned my MA in Biblical Studies. After gradudation we spent a year waiting before a church called me to pastor and I spent 3 years in as pastor in Fisher, Arkansas, near Jonesboro, while we were their Julia finished her degree at Williams BC.

In 1992 we returned to Dallas for me to get some extra hours to fulfill the requirements for the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board appointment. In the fall of 1993 Julia left me for another man. I finished my MMiss at Criswell and then accepted an invitation from a couple who had an English School at their church to teach English and work voluntarily with the church. So I came to Brazil.

In 1996 I met Rosiléia a divorced mother of 2 girls and daughter of a local pastor. Fell head-over-heals in love and got married 4 nonth after we first met. I'm still teaching English, privately, and working voluntarily with the 1st Baptist Church of Santos. I have planted one chuirch and worked with them for 8 years. I have worked with music in various capacities and now Rosiléia and I are working with Family/pastoral ministry and assisting the pastor of our church to bring the church, which got stuck somewhere in the 70s into the 21 century.

Another project we are working on is the "Messiah Project". On the 30th and 31st of October a choir of 80 (+ or -) voices from various evangeliical churches in the area and members of a military band will present selections from Handel's Messiah.

I am serving as the General Director and Bass soloist. Rosiléia is the pianist for the event. Another brother is serving as musical director. The four fold purpose of the project is to 1) Gorify God; 2) Encourage churches not to abandon the use of choirs; 3) Serve as and Evangelistic Bridge event to the community which appreciates art music; 4) and collect non-perishable food items for 3 evangelical social agencies in the area.

The presentation will be held in local private theater here in of Santos this year. This is our second edition We hope that this will become an annual event.

Between now and the Reunion several may appear, but do any of you remember this or something similar:

"Theodore Roosevelt, the first President to win a Noble Peace Prize, started the United States Airforce." (Written 500 times for Mrs. June Norris Myrick after being caught chewing gum in the 8th grade) or

"If I had been doing what I should have been doing, I wouldn't be doing what I´m doing now." (Written, I don't remember how many times for Mr. Reding in 10th grade Geometry)

Speaking of Geometry, who doesn't know that I had trouble staying awake in class? I sat in the corner of the room near Steve Vickers, Gary Tanner and Ginger Gooch, one of them, Ginger I think, commented on my sleepyness to which I replied "I get sleepy when I'm hot" Gary and Steve had a real good time with that statement.

(Watch this space there is more to come!)

Would anyone care to comment on the stolen algebra test in Mr. Russell's class in the 9th grade?

Added
8/25/2008

Mrs. Lay`s English Class.

Gary Gill and I brought a new talent to DHS when we presented our "Of Mice and Men" Project. A puppet show of the public toilet scene.

And do you remember the day Scott Farmer explained "Mooning" to Mrs. Lay?

Remember the fun we had even as high school students playing "Hide and Seek Chase" at the Meador's house?

(Added 08/30/2008)
In spite of the "low blow" from Don Kendrick (LOL) another favorite memory was singing "Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled my Soul" as a duet with Don at church (Hey, its a small town - school church and community live were all entwined)

Do any of you remember the night I made my "Star Spangled Banner" debute? I had ridden with Tracy French (79) to Little Rock to see Dumas play basketball with one of the teams there (I forget which school), but as we stood to sing the National Anthem I notice that everyone was looking at me. I didn´t realize that I was singing so loudly (I guess I never realized) - Thank goodness I "splat" the high notes.

Sitting on the back of the band bus singing spirituals was a blast.

And what about the reaction when the band debuted "Rockin' Robin" at a home football game.

(I´m shooting for a record for the most written on this site!! LOL)

Hey, give me a break, I won´t be there to share these memories in person!!!

08/31/2008
Hey "Band Jocks" anybody got any "Drix" or Holiday Candles stored in your garage? Maybe you could sell to pay for your reunion tickets!

Let´s remember Miss Smith's World History Final - Four pieces of paper with Chapter, section and question numbers. Answer 4 you got an A; 3 a B; 2 a C; 1 a D and none an F. I'm sitting there looking at my last piece of paper, palms sweating because I hadn't studied that chapter well and I really needed the A. My last question - Who was the first Preseident of the United States?

Did anyone else notice how that when Charlotte Williams got embarassed the part in her hair looked like a thermometer?