Larry J. Huisman

I received my BS in Economics from Iowa State in 1965 and MBA from Pepperdine in 1978. I went into the Air Force in 1965 as a Budget Officer and served 4 years including Thule Greenland for one year. Left USAF in 1969 and became an accountant for General Mills for 10 years. I held 5 different accounting jobs within 10 years, in 5 different cities. They sold the subsidiary I was working for in California and I became the VP and CFO of this international wholesale travel company until 1989. I then moved back to Iowa in 1990 and became the Assistant Director for Business Service for the Iowa State University Memorial Union. I retired from ISU on 12/31/2009.

I also taught college level accounting at the local community college and at William Penn College, Ames and Des Moines Campus.

During our Junior year several of us in the class of 1960 were on the first swimming team that MHS ever had. We might not have been fast but we were the first. Now the state swim meet is held in Marshalltown more than 50 years later.

I had a real poor high school grade point, 1.80. I went to Marshalltown Jr. College one year so I could get into ISU. My ISU grade point was only 2.01 but I did graduate. I went on to night school with much, much better grades and got several accounting courses and a MBA degree and ended up a part time accounting instructor for a community college, DMACC for about 10 years. Back in our days they did not know about learning disabilities which I found out later in life I had. Must be a record for lowest grade point at MHS to receive a Masters Degree and taught college. " If there is a will there always a way".

I want to travel to the Normandy Coast in France where D Day took place. I have been close but never got there. Also want to visit where my grandmother came from in Netherlands. Again I have been nearby many times but never made it to where she was born. I did make it to my grandfathers home and the family home where they left for the USA in 1910. Due work I had to travel to Europe many times. I think I have then there about 25-30 times. Most recently in 2007 to Sweden and Norway to visit home land of my wife.

Just took care of an item on my bucket list of things I want to do. I just finished going to all 50 states. I have stayed overnight in all but 4, so I still have a bit more to do to be totally happy. Just got back from New England, 4 week trip and that topped of the last few states on June 2, 2010.

I had an office in London I was responsible for and traveled there several times a year from Los Angeles. Being in the travel business I was able to fly first class and I met many famous people flying between London and Los Angeles. I found that I would rather meet ordinary people with interesting occupations than the famous. I met a French war correspondent flying from Isreal to Paris, in 1982. I never knew his name but he was one of the most interesting persons I ever met.

My son is an intelliegence officer in the Air Force. Many of his military friends and my son are very intersting persons as to what they do and how they serve our country. Of course they can not share too much but what they can share is most interesting. My son recently was given his first command as a squadron commander for a large squadron that does the teaching of intelligence airmen and officers. He takes the command May 2011 in San Angelo, Texas.

Read, Travel, going to ISU football and basketball games and visiting my grandchildren in Washington DC.

I have a new hobby and that is removing snow from my sidewalk and driveway. This seems to be at least a daily task, "oh" I am sorry a "hobby". When I lived in California I only had to worry about earthquakes, mud slides and fires, but never snow.

I now volunteer for the VA Hospital in Des Moines and is a great reward to serve my fellow veterans.

Pacific Northwest, Europe, Western States and Florida. This last year enjoyed an extended vacation to the New England states.

Being on the swimming team, basketball pep band and the marching band.