Patrick O'Mara

patbarbomara@aol.com

In Nov 1960 I joined the Air Force with classmates John Harsh and Jerry Kent. We started out in San Antonio, Texas then to Biloxi, Ms and then I went on to London, England and Wiesbaden, Germany. It was a wonderful experience and I loved it. Met my wife of 52 years in Germany and we were married there in 1964. Barb and I got out of the Air Force in 1965 and came back to Eau Claire to attend the University of Wisconsin. We both went into the banking business and made a career out of it. In 1997 we took an early retirement and moved to a lake home in NW Wisconsin. We still love Wisconsin, but got smart and now spend our winters in Florida. When not traveling, we spend our summers in Northern Wisconsin (Barnes). We bought a new motorhome and plan to do a lot of traveling in the next couple years. Will keep our home base in Florida.

Enjoyed my high school days and made life long friendships.

Marshall Barnes and coachs - John Gallager, Bernie Nelson, Cy Berg, and John Mcginnis.

In the winter I play lots of golf. Summers are traveling,camping, fishing and bow hunting.

We love traveling. After retirement we bought a Motorhome and we still travel around the good ole USA. We have traveled to all 50 states including Hawaii, Alaska, most countries in Europe and the Carribean.

In 1963 Barb & I had the opportunity to shake hands with President John F Kennedy. He landed at Wiesbaden Air Base and spent the night. The next morning he went on to Berlin where he let the people of Berlin know that we would not forget them even though the wall was erected splitting Berlin. He made his famous "Ish ben ein Berliner" speech. A few months later he was asassinated.

We would like to do some traveling in the Pacific. Would like to see places like New Zealand, Australia, and some South Pacific Islands.

My life with my wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

We have two dogs (jack russell) named Katie and Lucy. They keep us going.

I attended Lowes Creek School where for the first couple of years one teacher taught all eight grades. Mrs Chatterson sat us in 8 rows and taught us all, one row at a time. She was a remarkable woman.

The Four Corners and Sammy's Pizza. I still run into Sammy Soffaldi as he and his sons own a Sammy's Pizza in Cumberland, Wi. He is in his late 80's, but still comes to work and makes pizza. Just saw him a couple weeks ago. He said he is still good friends with Joe Torre (coach of Dodgers). Joe played for the Eau Claire Braves.

I wish I would have known the value of education more then just getting by.

Call your friends once in awhile, stay in contact with them, and let them know you care. I lost two of my best friends - John Harsh and Dynamite White, and miss them. Friendship is so important. I learned that while attending Eau Claire Memorial High School, and will always carry it with me.

Family and Friends