Gary Utter

Graduated from High School and went to the Army same as everyone else in those days. Loved it, first duty 2 1/2 years in Key West, Florida, with Hawk Missiles. Had a Commander that told me if I wanted rank I needed college, so I got Associate in Science in Economics. Made rank and got into AUTODIN, did well and was selected for specialized training. Told if I wanted more rank I needed more college, so got a Bachelor in History from the Univ of New York. Spent 9 years in Europe over next 11 years working communications, research and development. With stateside duties in New Jersey, Georgia and Maryland. Ended with over 200 hours of Electronics training with the Army Signal.

Wanted to do something different so left Army with 20 years service as Master Sergeant and on promotion list for Sergeant Major. Wanted to Teach so returned to school and got teaching certification and taught one year of High School History and Social Studies. Was Not cut out for teaching so went back to school again and got Master's in Psychology. Spent 15 Years working in Mental Health working with adults with chronic mental illness, ran a crisis house and hotline for Frederick co., Maryland. My son and his wife and daughters moved to Pennsylvania and Patt and I followed. Rules in PA were different than MD there had to be a LSW-C to do therapy in PA my Master's was all I needed.

Worked as private contractor for a Drug and Alcohol treatment center in York Co PA. Did individual, treatment groups, couples, family and and family group education on addiction. Made more money in five years than I did in my first 18 years in the Army. So I retired again, spend my time doing genealogy and writing a book on my family history.

In 1992 got my Master's from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland at the age of 45. This was one week before my son got his Bachelor from McDaniel college in Westminster, Maryland. I told him that I could not let him catch up.