Let me tell you something about myself. I came from humble but honest and dedicated beginnings. Branches of the families I am descended from were justifiably proud of what they achieved. I intend to share some stories from the lives of my ancestors. It is my hope that those stories will encourage the readers to explore the history of their own families. Even though we are not always aware of the influence the past has on us, it is always there.
I was a depression era baby. I was also a WWII child. My experiences during those years helped shape my ethos and created a sense of communal responsibility in me.
Guidance from my family, my commanders in the Air Force, and my university professors have all contributed to making me the person I have become. Those influences continue to impress the need to work for a better society in me. I will be sharing some of those stories.
This introduction would not be complete without sharing some of my accomplishments. Please forgive me or not giving equal time, or any time at all, to my failures. Let me just admit to having failures and let it go at that.
My early adult life was spent in the United States Air Force. I was inducted in May of 1956. I liked the Air Force which probably explains my staying for 20 years. I spent those years in the Air Weather Service. During that time I had the following assignments as a weather observer:
- 1956-1958 McChord AFB, Washington State.
- 1958-1962 Naha Air Base, Okinawa
- 1962-1963 Offutt AFB, Nebraska
- 1963-1966 Naha Air Base, Okinawa
From 1966 to 1969, I served as an instructor in the Basic Weather School at Chanute AFB, Illinois.
From 1969 to 1972 I was a Weather Station Supervisor at Kadena AB, Okinawa
Beginning in 1972 and ending with my retirement in 1976, I was Air Force Technical Advisor to the 182nd Weather Flight, Texas Air National Guard, Kelly AFB and Camp Mabry, Texas.
Education has always been important to me. I began work on my Bachelor’s degree in 1965 at the University of Maryland, Far East Division. I received my BA in psychology at Our Lady of The Lake University of San Antonio in 1976, two months after I retired from the Air Force. I received the Ph.D. in sociology from the Texas Woman’s University in August 1992.
My major field of study was social organization with an emphasis on the family and community. I also consider myself both a social philosopher and an eclectic theoretical sociologist. My research focused on Childhood Socialization and the effect of differential family structure and process on the socialization of children and neighborhood as a support network for the urban and suburban family.
I was called to the office of teacher by the Community of Christ at the young age of 15 and have been ministering ever since. I have been responsible for mission work and preaching, also serving as a church school teacher and administrator, congregational pastor and counselor. I was called to the office of elder in 2009 in which office I have served since.
I taught in institutes of higher education in Texas, Kansas and Missouri for 17 years, achieving professorial status at both DeVry and Park University. The courses I taught included:
- Introduction to Sociology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Social Problems
- Principles of Behavior Management
- Adolescent Psychology
- Research Methods
- Social Change
- Human Behavior Through the Life Course
- Sociology of Childhood
- Minority Relations
- Urban Sociology
During and after my university teaching career I developed and presented seminars on:
- Child-Centered Parenting
- Couples Consensus
- Personal Development.
I have been active in community service wherever I lived.
- I served on the City of Independence, Missouri Human Relations Commission, dealing with issues of prejudice, discrimination and status relations for seven years, chairing the commission for two years.
- I served on the Issues Selection Committee of Kansas City Consensus, Kansas City, Missouri.
- I developed the Heartland Center for Community Development, a Storehouse Corporation of the Kansas City Stake, Community of Christ Church, preparing the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws and program outlines in Family Advocacy, Mediation, Volunteer Management and Neighborhood Organization.
- I organized, trained and supervised lay counselors for Central Missouri Stake of the Community of Christ Church.
- I was a charter member of the Lytle, Texas Volunteer Ambulance Association, certified Class B ambulance attendant, working as a volunteer medical attendant/driver.
- I pastored the Danville, Illinois mission of the Community of Christ Church for three years.
I want to continue the practice of being active in service to my community by means of this blog.
United We Stand 