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What have I done since 1959, you ask? Well… the short version is that after Harding, I was off to Western Carolina, where my preparation for college was found to be grossly inadequate, and my overconfidence woefully under-appreciated. Inevitably, after a couple of rarely sober and academically unproductive quarters, I was promptly and justifiably booted, and sent packing back to Charlotte with my tail between my legs. A few years later I enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and subsequently graduated with an accounting degree and a new career as a CPA. Two kids and a divorce later, I left Charlotte for New York, where I lucked into the position of Audit Manager for Otis Elevator International, auditing Otis subsidiaries around the world… a job no sane single man would ever give up, given the opportunities and temptations available in every corner of the globe. But, you guessed it… I eventually did give it all up and returned to Charlotte to be close to my kids, where I took the position of Audit Manager for Ruddick Corp. I remarried, and a decade and two more kids later, faced another divorce. This time though, I found myself raising two small boys on my own… a daunting task, but an immensely rewarding one nevertheless. Business travel was now impossible of course, so I started a small individual CPA practice in Charlotte, which gave me the flexibility I needed. The boys and I joined the chess circuit, competing in scholastic and open events throughout the country, with the 9 year-old being selected on the US scholastic team competing against Iceland. During this time I met, and eventually married Jan Duckworth, the ‘love of my life’. No more kids this time though. Jan and I finished raising our boys together, then sent them off to Carolina. My two oldest kids, Rick and Laura, and Jan’s son Chris, are here in Charlotte, as is my only grandson, Ben. My two youngest sons, Johnny and Joey, are in Phoenix and San Francisco respectively. We all get together when possible, meeting here or in Myrtle Beach or Las Vegas. Taking after their mothers, of course, the kids are all smart and good looking… and doing well in their chosen fields. And probably just like all of your kids, mine know absolutely nothing of that wonderful world we left behind in 1959. And what a pity that is. Ok classmates, that’s my story. A little bumpy you think? ... well, maybe … but the truth is it’s been a wonderful 53 years. Now, you’ve heard my story… let’s hear yours.
