Don Grant

I did not graduate with my class. I wasn't the best student, and after cutting 16 gym classes with Doug Patterson my best friend, we were suspended my Deke Walters... it was near the end of Nov 1958 and he suggest we try to find job's, and see just how hard it was without a High School diploma. Then we would be welcomed back in January.

He was right, no jobs, and Doug & I made plans to join the Air Force

Why did we cut all those gym classes? We would drive to Fort Sheridan air strip as we knew a soldier who worked on air craft engines, and we found this fascinating, the hanger was so clean you could eat off the floors...the engines the same, and all the tools to do the job right...next period was lunch so we could get back unnoticed... we figured we get a pass the next day, and the next...but every day was the same... we go back and hope to get a pass the next day to cover our AWOL, with time running out, pretty soon Mrs Laswell (sic) attendance office caught us, she sent us to see Deke Walter as Mr Panther was not there that day... we told him we had cut a few gym classes to go to Fort Sheridan and why... he gives us a pass to return to class....what a stroke of luck.... but first we had to go clear it with the attendances office... Mrs Laswell couldn't believe it... so she marches us back up to The principle's office and ask Deke what did these boys tell you, his answer... they cut a few classes cut DID NOT match hers(16) that's when "he suggested" we try to find job's,and see how hard it was, without a High School diploma and the rest is history