Comments:
I went to St. Louis University after graduation. I graduated from college in 1969, and was "selected" by the Selective Service Administration to serve in the army. The army experience got me out of St. Louis for the first time. I went to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky for basic training. Then, artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Then, it was a overseas assignment in the Republic of South Korea.
I spent 15 months in South Korea. I was in an artillery battalion about 7 miles from the DMZ. (Curiously, the Korean War has never been formally ended with a peace treaty - hostilities stopped after a cease-fire agreement, but that was it)
I came home and worked for the Chrysler Corporation in Fenton for a while (on the assembly line). I then went to law school and graduated in 1975.
I practiced law for thirty-five years. Most of the time, I practiced in the State of Illinois, but close by in Belleville, Edwardsville or Fairview Heights.
I retired in 2012. I haven't missed the work life at all. My wife and I live in south city, in a neighborhood called "Lafayette Square." This is an area I never knew existed, being a north county boy. Many of the homes here are 140 years old or more. Ours'was built in 1870. We didn't plan to do it, but we have been working at restoration of the house since we moved in eight years ago.
I'm a busy guy, retirement notwithstanding. I own a horse, which is stabled at Ace Stable on Natural Bridge (I used to go there when I was a student at Normandy Jr. High). So I get over the Bel-Ridge several times a week.
We live close enough to the Scott Trade Center to walk to Blues games and I go a lot since I live close and I love hockey.
I am active in my church, St. John Nepomuk Church at 11th and Lafayette in Soulard, which is about a mile from our house.
I have a big German Shepherd dog, and she gets plenty of walks in nearby Lafayette Park.
My wife and I are fortunate enough to be in good health and travel a good bit. I took up snow skiing at age 55, and I thought sure I was too old to learn it, but it wasn't as tough as I imagined it would be.