Michael W. Slaughter Slaughter

Starting at graduating from Jefferson Moore, I went straight into the U.S. Army, Fort Ord, California with Arlis Ewing and the late Bobbie De grate. We were separated after basic training, I headed to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for Artillery School, only to be placed in Mechanized Infantry. Yes, I had to hump and ride through the bunnies and sleep in the deep forest, in the cold, and ice, and burning sun, with snakes, mosquitoes, ants etc... but, managed to make it out in 1979 with a medical condition, and at the same time fulfill my previous answer that Mrs. Mitchell our counselor, who asked while I was a senior, and that was were are you going to college, and I said, Paul Quinn College. I used to walk to Paul Quinn College campus when I was a kid, just to see their fleet basketball team, with "Sleepy" and others. Going on campus then, and being around those guys influenced me greatly.
I got married to a former A.J. Moore student-Jo An Bryant-Class of 69-70 during my college years, and the beginning of my ministry with the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Bell mead, Texas. And I re-affiliated with the Free Masonry Organization- 4 letter, Scottish Rite, after leaving Prince Hall Masonry.
I later finished Paul Quinn College in December 1989, under the direction of Dr. Weldon Walton of the Arts, and Science Department. After 4+ long years I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in professional teaching, majoring in Biology, and minoring in Physical Education.
Immediately after six months of graduating, Dr. Walton encouraged me and others to attend Prairie View A&M University Program, while on the Paul Quinn campus. I majored in Counseling Psychology, under the direction of Dr. Waymon Webster, who owned a travel business in Hemp stead, Texas, and immediately I graduated in 1993 with my masters.
Furthermore, after working at La Vega I.S.D. as a substitute, I was hired at McLennan Community College, with the Upward Bound Program, under the coordinator of Mrs. Brenda Wilkinson. I was hired as a Counseling Specialist, helping dis-advantaged students, first generation, and the first to go to college with-in their family, but later to gain entrance into their first year of college. During my 5 year stay at McLennan Community College- I travel extensively, and seen a lot of things.
After five years at M.C.C., I left, and began working for Hawk Security, and later Texas Star Security. In the beginning of 2000, I started working with Waco I.S. D. at Meadow brook Elementary, under the supervision of Mr. John Campbell. I remained there for eleven years, and acquiring-three Exemplary Statuses for the school campus, along with other teachers, workers, etc... Along these eleven years, I met some hardships and difficulties-like a divorce, cancer of both kidneys, loss of job, foreclosure, bankruptcy, the loss of my sister Lynn Smith-Hicks, sleeping in my car-trying to start on my education in getting a doctorate, first in counseling psychology at Argosy University, and switching later to clinical psychology, with Walden University,but the two attempts failed because of my financial hardship, and also the list goes on and on with numerous hardships. Getting my doctorate in Theology and being a pastor for 23 years, at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Valley Mills, Texas have helped me to move, and be closer to God, and not man, I owe it all for Him healing me, especially as a testimony to man, "that God is Supreme, and the only Wise God that spares.
At this moment God, I say again God has helped me to regain, and bounce back, by having me to take a course in Certified Financial Planning. Even though I just begun, I feel like a new man, and things are beginning to take off, even Satan to further disrupt my going, but God has my back.
Well I must say that I wouldn't give nothing for my journey, hopefully I will regain another home, wife, job, and a brighter outlook, and a brighter path in life. "To God be the Glory" for all that He has done in my life. I will never forget it.

There are not to many stories of various school incidents that occurred to me. However I do remember different occurrences, when the basketball team at the old A.J. Moore High lost one night, and the fans thought the referee made a bad call, and the team cheated, well most of us took rocks that night, and" ROCKED THE BUS". I will never forget it, but after I thought about it later as an adult, I repented, somebody could have gotten hurt.
Oh! yes, I remember the time Milton Ward Blocked me out and knocked me out cold in one of those old football helmet. Man when he ran over me and hit me hard with a block "the sun was shinning" and when I came too, and Coach Zachary waving his hand in my face asking me what day it was, all I saw was that the clouds had turned dark and the sun was covered in blackness, and it was about to rain, ha!ha!ha. Milton ward did hit me hard, I will never forget it, and he is still my best friend.