Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Home again, home again, jiggidy jig!
We're home kiddies! And we can't wait to get our hands on Sam and Ruth's new baby girl...Anna Kay, you better brace yourself! We can't believe you came to earth the minute we left town! Game On, Baby Girl!!
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
MY CHURCH CALLINGS
"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do is increased", President Heber J. Grant quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson.
I joined the Church June 29, 1968 (19 years old). I was given the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of a Priest. My first calling was that of Deacon's Quorum assistant advisor (18th Ward). After Linda and I were married, we moved to Scottsdale 3rd Ward, where I was called as an Assistant Scout Leader. I would do my first hike in the Superstitions, and we didn't get lost. I home taught the Hurler's, which I would see later on in Gilbert. Six months later we moved backed to 18th ward. Bob Kerr was called to be Elder's Quorum President, and I was called as the Secretary. Later, I became one of the counselors.
We moved to Mesa in June 1972. I was called as a Stake Missionary. That was pretty scary, since I didn't have a clue about teaching people or explaining things. But I had some great instructors and some great companions, and with the Lord's help was of some benefit to helping others. I remember learning the missionary discussions at the Cardon Oil offices (on Broadway just east of the citrus packing shed, it's now a used car lot). Craig Cardon was also a stake missionary, only he was experienced, having served a full time mission (check out his article in this month's Ensign). He was a great missionary, with a great gift for teaching. Another great companion was Bill Richardson. We got along together well, he was a sports guy. He worked at Motorola at 52nd St. and Mcdowell, he was an design engineer, which meant he built/designed circuit boards for ????. We taught a young couple (thru referral), that lived in the Phoenix 18th Ward, they joined the Church. It was a great experience to go back to my old ward, and help this couple go through the same conversion process that I went through with the great people in 18th Ward.
When Alma 3rd Ward split, and we became Alma 5th, I was called as one of the Seven Presidents of Seventy for the Stake. I was now in charge of Missionary work for the ward. WOW. I somehow muddled my way through the next couple of years.
I had an "missed" experience that taught me a valuble lesson. Vern Fuller, a good friend and fellow softball junkie, called me one day and asked if I wanted to help out with he and his father-in-law, Len Bedford (an FBI agent), and others, to help with security when President Kimball arrived to dedicate the Mesa West Stake Center. Being the shy, a fairly new convert, and just plain chicken, I said no thanks. Oh brother, what a goof I was. I had no clue what it meant to be with a Prophet. And so, I missed an opportunity of a life time. I have sinced tried to always accept callings, service opportunities, and try to exist outside of my little comfort zone. I do remember sitting on the back row, far east side when President Kimball walked in for the dedication. He walked right in front of us, it was pretty special.
We moved to Alma 1st Ward in December 1977. I was released as one of the Presidents, but I was still a Stake Missionary. One thing I remember as a SM, we used to have 5AM Sunday Meetings in Chandler. They were like devotionals to help motivate us. Our stake, Mesa West, took in Casa Grande, Chandler north to Mesa, west of Country Club, South of Main St. We used to leave at 4:30AM to make that 1 hour meeting. Brent Hatch was called as Bishop in Alma 1st, and he called me as his Executive Secretary. Now, I had to call people to set appts for the Bishop, be with him at the Church when he did interviews, and all kinds of other "scary" new and frightening things. Dan Willoughby was in our ward, he later killed his wife down in Rocky Point, and David Thomas was in the ward, he was the "baseball boy" in My Turn on Earth. Steve and Elena Macfarland moved into the ward. He was from Utah, and was good friends with Clint Anderson. I hired Steve to work at Kerr's, and he hooked us up with Clint, who was selling an adjustable backboard. Also in Alma 1st as young marrieds were Lydia and Ron Michaels, they moved before we moved into the ward, but I remember making a visit to them with another SM. Bishop Hatch did a shake up of his counselors, and I was called as a counselor along with Steve Harms. Six months later, Bishop Hatch was released, and Steve Harms was called as Bishop and I was called as his counselor. I remember one of my first responsiblities in the Bishopric was Tithing Settlement. Back then, the counselors met with the members and asked them to donate to the building fund and the ward budget. That was a learning experience. Another experience was sitting in on Church disciplinary courts. That was a very difficult experience knowing you had something to do with that person's future and their Church membership.
Sometime around 84/85, our stake was divided. Ezra Taft Benson, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve presided. We sat on the front row, and that was another great experience. The stake was divided, the Chandler-Alma Stake was created from the Mesa West Stake. We were in the new stake, and then another suprise.....our few streets just west of Kleinman Park were realigned and put into Alma 4th Ward, and some of Alma 4th was put into Alma 1st. That was a real shocker, as now we were in a whole new ward!!!!! And what was more shocking, I was released from the Bishopric, YAHOO!!!!, but then called into the Alma 4th Bishopric......(Rey Kartchner was Bishop).
It was difficult, being in a new ward, not knowing many people, but being in a leadership position. Some names that I would know better later in life were, Vella Rose Smith, Stu Buck, Clarence Martin, Theo Heap, Tracey Kay, and Merlin Russell. Another learning experience I had was one Sunday as we met in Bishopric an hour before Church was to begin, Bishop Kartchner asked me if I had the program lined up for Sacrament Meeting. I looked at him with a blank stare. I thought he had called the people based on our discussion last Sunday, and he thought I had called them. He then called 3 young adults (7:30am with Church at 8am), and they all said yes.....and I was saved. I had a lot to learn about fulfilling my calling and being dilligent. Two and half years later, Bishop Kartchner was released, and I was also released. I was called as the Teacher's Quorum Advisor. I also coached the YM basketball and softball teams. A few months later, I got the moving bug, and we moved to Gilbert (Elliot and Las Arboleta, Gilbert 2nd Ward). President Hancock (counselor in Stake Pres.) was our home teacher. He got to know me, and the next thing I know, I am called as the Stake Financial Clerk. I did that for 2 years under President Clare and President Layton.
In August 1988, I found myself in the Neely Ward (after divorce). Bishop Stradling called me in and issued a call to me to be Sunday School President. I was somewhat hesitant, I didn't feel good about it. Not sure if it was fear, insecurity, or what; I said no to the calling. The first time in my life that I had rejected a calling. A little while later, he called me to teach the 14 year old Sunday School class. I was later called to be Stake Single Adult Male Rep. In May 1989, Mignon and I were married. We moved to Elliot Ward that fall. We were called to teach in the Primary, the Nursery. That was one of the best callings ever. We loved the little munchkins. One of those munchkins was Kimberly Knight who just married Tom Merrill (Mignon's cousin Kathy's son). After 2 years of fishies and watching our classes grow up, we were released. I was then called to Teacher's Quorum Advisor, along with Roy Daniel. We were a great team, and got along well. We had a great quorum. Then the ward and stake were realigned. We ended up in the new Elliot Ward, with a new bishop and a lot of new faces. With that, I was released as Teacher's Quorum Advisor, and called to teach the 16 year old Sunday School class.
Shortly thereafter we moved to Mesa 16th ward (June 1994). I was called to teach in Primary, the 11 year old boys. Another great calling, not because of me, because I had a great bunch of boys-- Kevin Cluff, Mike West, Isaac Ortega, Brent Lewis, Graham McIntire and Tyler Harding. Two years later, I get released, and I am called to be Teacher's Quorum Advisor. I only had that calling for a month or so, as we were realigned. We became Riverview Ward in the newly formed Mesa Maricopa Stake. I was called to be, you are right........Teacher's Quorum Advisor. Kyle Thornton was also called. We worked well together. Five years later, Bishop Dale was released, and Bishop Bodrero was called, and he called Steve Neil as a counselor (was YM Pres.), and I am called as YM Pres/Priest Quorum Advisor. Happenings included Wednesday nite activities, scouting, Sunday lessons, blessing the Sacrament, taking the Sacrament to the shut-ins, service projects, firesides, Stake Youth Conference, Snow fights with snow from the Ice Rink, caroling, softball and basketball, and the "River Trip". As Teacher's Advisor, I helped with driving, but avoided going down the river. As Priest Quorum, I helped with driving, and planned the trip with site reservations, who would drive, and arrange for adults to go with the boys. Finally, in March 2004, I go down the river. The good news was that Steve Merrill, Sr. and Steve Merrill, Jr. were taking a the food and equipment and meeting us at the 2 overnite stops, and cooking dinner. We started out at Blythe dropoff, Monday mid-day. It was sort of windy, and we got a rain shower just before we reached the first stop. I was with Jonathan Cozad, he and I were both new at this. We missed the place to get out, with the rain and wind, got separated from the others. We had to paddle back, but finally made it. The night camp was long and miserable, but it went okay, except for the bonfire that Tommy, David James, and Nathan O'Camb started with tumbleweeds that almost started a wildfire. The next day, the wind was blowing worse than the day before. So being the wise scout leaders that we were, we opted to head for home and cut the trip short by a day. Probably wimped out, but I was glad.
Then in September 2004, we were realigned, with one ward in the Stake being dissolved, and added to our ward. With that change, Bishop Bodrero decided to change counselors. Lew Smith and Mike Smith were called as counselors. Yes, that was me. So, I am in the Bishopric again. It was good, just lots of stress. Having to conduct Sacrament and Priesthood Meetings, get peopel to speak, issue callings, and speak was difficult.
I "must" confess, in the almost 40 years in the Church, I have never voluntarily bore my testimony. I have done so while conducting, teaching lessons, speaking, and even was called out of the audience 2 times, but never got up on my own. I can't say I am proud of that........but that won't make me get up the next Testimony meeting.
I also firmly believe that every member needs to be in a Bishopric/Branch Presidency, a RS Presidency or Primary Presidency to know what it is like to have to ask people to do "things". I know it changed my attitude on helping out and being more willing to offer my services having bee there.
NEPHI 3:7 helped me accomplish my stewardship.
We moved to Maricopa in November 2005, I was released from the Bishopric. In Maricopa, we were in wards with 1000 members. In September 2005, the wards were split and realigned. I was called as 1st Assistant in the High Priest group, Maricopa 4th Ward.
I joined the Church June 29, 1968 (19 years old). I was given the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of a Priest. My first calling was that of Deacon's Quorum assistant advisor (18th Ward). After Linda and I were married, we moved to Scottsdale 3rd Ward, where I was called as an Assistant Scout Leader. I would do my first hike in the Superstitions, and we didn't get lost. I home taught the Hurler's, which I would see later on in Gilbert. Six months later we moved backed to 18th ward. Bob Kerr was called to be Elder's Quorum President, and I was called as the Secretary. Later, I became one of the counselors.
We moved to Mesa in June 1972. I was called as a Stake Missionary. That was pretty scary, since I didn't have a clue about teaching people or explaining things. But I had some great instructors and some great companions, and with the Lord's help was of some benefit to helping others. I remember learning the missionary discussions at the Cardon Oil offices (on Broadway just east of the citrus packing shed, it's now a used car lot). Craig Cardon was also a stake missionary, only he was experienced, having served a full time mission (check out his article in this month's Ensign). He was a great missionary, with a great gift for teaching. Another great companion was Bill Richardson. We got along together well, he was a sports guy. He worked at Motorola at 52nd St. and Mcdowell, he was an design engineer, which meant he built/designed circuit boards for ????. We taught a young couple (thru referral), that lived in the Phoenix 18th Ward, they joined the Church. It was a great experience to go back to my old ward, and help this couple go through the same conversion process that I went through with the great people in 18th Ward.
When Alma 3rd Ward split, and we became Alma 5th, I was called as one of the Seven Presidents of Seventy for the Stake. I was now in charge of Missionary work for the ward. WOW. I somehow muddled my way through the next couple of years.
I had an "missed" experience that taught me a valuble lesson. Vern Fuller, a good friend and fellow softball junkie, called me one day and asked if I wanted to help out with he and his father-in-law, Len Bedford (an FBI agent), and others, to help with security when President Kimball arrived to dedicate the Mesa West Stake Center. Being the shy, a fairly new convert, and just plain chicken, I said no thanks. Oh brother, what a goof I was. I had no clue what it meant to be with a Prophet. And so, I missed an opportunity of a life time. I have sinced tried to always accept callings, service opportunities, and try to exist outside of my little comfort zone. I do remember sitting on the back row, far east side when President Kimball walked in for the dedication. He walked right in front of us, it was pretty special.
We moved to Alma 1st Ward in December 1977. I was released as one of the Presidents, but I was still a Stake Missionary. One thing I remember as a SM, we used to have 5AM Sunday Meetings in Chandler. They were like devotionals to help motivate us. Our stake, Mesa West, took in Casa Grande, Chandler north to Mesa, west of Country Club, South of Main St. We used to leave at 4:30AM to make that 1 hour meeting. Brent Hatch was called as Bishop in Alma 1st, and he called me as his Executive Secretary. Now, I had to call people to set appts for the Bishop, be with him at the Church when he did interviews, and all kinds of other "scary" new and frightening things. Dan Willoughby was in our ward, he later killed his wife down in Rocky Point, and David Thomas was in the ward, he was the "baseball boy" in My Turn on Earth. Steve and Elena Macfarland moved into the ward. He was from Utah, and was good friends with Clint Anderson. I hired Steve to work at Kerr's, and he hooked us up with Clint, who was selling an adjustable backboard. Also in Alma 1st as young marrieds were Lydia and Ron Michaels, they moved before we moved into the ward, but I remember making a visit to them with another SM. Bishop Hatch did a shake up of his counselors, and I was called as a counselor along with Steve Harms. Six months later, Bishop Hatch was released, and Steve Harms was called as Bishop and I was called as his counselor. I remember one of my first responsiblities in the Bishopric was Tithing Settlement. Back then, the counselors met with the members and asked them to donate to the building fund and the ward budget. That was a learning experience. Another experience was sitting in on Church disciplinary courts. That was a very difficult experience knowing you had something to do with that person's future and their Church membership.
Sometime around 84/85, our stake was divided. Ezra Taft Benson, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve presided. We sat on the front row, and that was another great experience. The stake was divided, the Chandler-Alma Stake was created from the Mesa West Stake. We were in the new stake, and then another suprise.....our few streets just west of Kleinman Park were realigned and put into Alma 4th Ward, and some of Alma 4th was put into Alma 1st. That was a real shocker, as now we were in a whole new ward!!!!! And what was more shocking, I was released from the Bishopric, YAHOO!!!!, but then called into the Alma 4th Bishopric......(Rey Kartchner was Bishop).
It was difficult, being in a new ward, not knowing many people, but being in a leadership position. Some names that I would know better later in life were, Vella Rose Smith, Stu Buck, Clarence Martin, Theo Heap, Tracey Kay, and Merlin Russell. Another learning experience I had was one Sunday as we met in Bishopric an hour before Church was to begin, Bishop Kartchner asked me if I had the program lined up for Sacrament Meeting. I looked at him with a blank stare. I thought he had called the people based on our discussion last Sunday, and he thought I had called them. He then called 3 young adults (7:30am with Church at 8am), and they all said yes.....and I was saved. I had a lot to learn about fulfilling my calling and being dilligent. Two and half years later, Bishop Kartchner was released, and I was also released. I was called as the Teacher's Quorum Advisor. I also coached the YM basketball and softball teams. A few months later, I got the moving bug, and we moved to Gilbert (Elliot and Las Arboleta, Gilbert 2nd Ward). President Hancock (counselor in Stake Pres.) was our home teacher. He got to know me, and the next thing I know, I am called as the Stake Financial Clerk. I did that for 2 years under President Clare and President Layton.
In August 1988, I found myself in the Neely Ward (after divorce). Bishop Stradling called me in and issued a call to me to be Sunday School President. I was somewhat hesitant, I didn't feel good about it. Not sure if it was fear, insecurity, or what; I said no to the calling. The first time in my life that I had rejected a calling. A little while later, he called me to teach the 14 year old Sunday School class. I was later called to be Stake Single Adult Male Rep. In May 1989, Mignon and I were married. We moved to Elliot Ward that fall. We were called to teach in the Primary, the Nursery. That was one of the best callings ever. We loved the little munchkins. One of those munchkins was Kimberly Knight who just married Tom Merrill (Mignon's cousin Kathy's son). After 2 years of fishies and watching our classes grow up, we were released. I was then called to Teacher's Quorum Advisor, along with Roy Daniel. We were a great team, and got along well. We had a great quorum. Then the ward and stake were realigned. We ended up in the new Elliot Ward, with a new bishop and a lot of new faces. With that, I was released as Teacher's Quorum Advisor, and called to teach the 16 year old Sunday School class.
Shortly thereafter we moved to Mesa 16th ward (June 1994). I was called to teach in Primary, the 11 year old boys. Another great calling, not because of me, because I had a great bunch of boys-- Kevin Cluff, Mike West, Isaac Ortega, Brent Lewis, Graham McIntire and Tyler Harding. Two years later, I get released, and I am called to be Teacher's Quorum Advisor. I only had that calling for a month or so, as we were realigned. We became Riverview Ward in the newly formed Mesa Maricopa Stake. I was called to be, you are right........Teacher's Quorum Advisor. Kyle Thornton was also called. We worked well together. Five years later, Bishop Dale was released, and Bishop Bodrero was called, and he called Steve Neil as a counselor (was YM Pres.), and I am called as YM Pres/Priest Quorum Advisor. Happenings included Wednesday nite activities, scouting, Sunday lessons, blessing the Sacrament, taking the Sacrament to the shut-ins, service projects, firesides, Stake Youth Conference, Snow fights with snow from the Ice Rink, caroling, softball and basketball, and the "River Trip". As Teacher's Advisor, I helped with driving, but avoided going down the river. As Priest Quorum, I helped with driving, and planned the trip with site reservations, who would drive, and arrange for adults to go with the boys. Finally, in March 2004, I go down the river. The good news was that Steve Merrill, Sr. and Steve Merrill, Jr. were taking a the food and equipment and meeting us at the 2 overnite stops, and cooking dinner. We started out at Blythe dropoff, Monday mid-day. It was sort of windy, and we got a rain shower just before we reached the first stop. I was with Jonathan Cozad, he and I were both new at this. We missed the place to get out, with the rain and wind, got separated from the others. We had to paddle back, but finally made it. The night camp was long and miserable, but it went okay, except for the bonfire that Tommy, David James, and Nathan O'Camb started with tumbleweeds that almost started a wildfire. The next day, the wind was blowing worse than the day before. So being the wise scout leaders that we were, we opted to head for home and cut the trip short by a day. Probably wimped out, but I was glad.
Then in September 2004, we were realigned, with one ward in the Stake being dissolved, and added to our ward. With that change, Bishop Bodrero decided to change counselors. Lew Smith and Mike Smith were called as counselors. Yes, that was me. So, I am in the Bishopric again. It was good, just lots of stress. Having to conduct Sacrament and Priesthood Meetings, get peopel to speak, issue callings, and speak was difficult.
I "must" confess, in the almost 40 years in the Church, I have never voluntarily bore my testimony. I have done so while conducting, teaching lessons, speaking, and even was called out of the audience 2 times, but never got up on my own. I can't say I am proud of that........but that won't make me get up the next Testimony meeting.
I also firmly believe that every member needs to be in a Bishopric/Branch Presidency, a RS Presidency or Primary Presidency to know what it is like to have to ask people to do "things". I know it changed my attitude on helping out and being more willing to offer my services having bee there.
NEPHI 3:7 helped me accomplish my stewardship.
We moved to Maricopa in November 2005, I was released from the Bishopric. In Maricopa, we were in wards with 1000 members. In September 2005, the wards were split and realigned. I was called as 1st Assistant in the High Priest group, Maricopa 4th Ward.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
My Softball "Career"
To play professional baseball was my childhood dream. I played baseball constantly. I played LL 
Baseball, school "softball", PE "softball", summer whiffleball, and I spent hours throwing a tennis ball against our brick fence and creating plays with the rebound to throw out the runner. When I wasn't playing outside, I played inside with an magnet/electric baseball game. I played that game for hours, I kept a scorebook and stats of all the games played. And when I wasn't playing outside or inside, I was watching the games on TV (of course this was during baseball season only). I was a baseball "fanatic".
When my baseball dreams were crushed with my ASU experience, I got hooked on "softball".
It all started with the 18th Ward team. I played with the 18th Ward starting the summer of 1968. We had a really good team, but we didn't make it out of the valley. With our final defeat, preparations began for the next year. The next year (1969) we were beat by Mesa 22nd Ward, who went on to All Church in Salt Lake City. By now, we had grown much wiser and hungrier to get to SLC. We played 2 nights a week in the fall, 2 nights a week in the winter, and 4 nights a week in the summer (city league and church league). We recruited some non-members to move into the ward to beef up our team.
Larry Nelson (who worked for APS, and was in a fairly high position), built a softball field for the stake, just about single handedly. He got all the materials (fencing, light poles, equipment to grade the field, sprinklers, etc. donated. He tore down the old backstop, graded the field, had the lights and backstop erected. It was beautiful. Our pride and joy as we (the Scottsdale Stake hosted the regional tourneys, besides our Stake play and tourney.
That year (1970) we played Mesa 22nd for the chance to go to All Church.
It was on a Saturday night, we were ahead going into the last inning, and we got dusted and rained out. So we had to suffer through Sunday and Monday awaiting the outcome. We had to finish on a Monday night, and we ended up winning. So on to SLC. We caravaned up, stayed in motels, toured Temple Square (my first time), and had a great time. We played our first game against a team from Marietta, GA. They were all huge, but they were really exhausted from the 20 some odd hour drive to make it to SLC. We beat them 3-2. They went on after that and killed everyone and won the tourney.
Our work was cut out for us. We played in leagues again in the fall, the winter, the spring, and summer (church and city). We beat Mesa 22nd again to qualify for SLC (1971). In SLC, we got beat by one run to get knocked out of the tourney. I made the last out with tying run at third, and the winning run on first. A big disappointment, it took me months to get over it. (It was just softball !!!!!) Of a more eternal note, Darrell and Wanda had joined the Church, moved into 18th Ward, and Darrell played on the team. They went thru the Salt Lake Temple for their endowments. So we all had a spiritual experience despite from "softball mania".
The next year I moved to Mesa (our first house). We were in Alma 3rd Ward. I didn't get on the Alma 3rd city team (Cardon Oilers) because I was playing with Berge Mazda (Triple A League), but I did play in the Church Tournament with them. We didn't get too far. The next year I played city ball with the Church guys, played on a Kerr sponsored team, and played Church ball. We ended up qualifying to go to Prescott. All Church was disbanded because of the cost and distance teams were traveling to get there and be there for the entire week. We blew everyone out in our round robin, including my old team Phoenix 18th. We then played Mesa 24th Ward in the semi's (Ned Brimley's team -- Crazy Sub Ned). We were down 7 to 4 in the bottom of the 7th. Our first 2 guys made outs. I was up, I got a base hit. Our next guy hit an HR. Next guy doubled, then a single, then a double, and we won the game. We played Phoenix 10th the next night, and won. We were Prescott Champs. We were the talk of Church softball for the next year.
I must say at this point, I did have a money earning job (Kerr's), a church calling as a Stake Missionary, and a family. As I look back, the family probably suffered the most from my obsession with softball.
I played fall/winter ball with a Kerr team, and summer ball with Church team and Cardon sponsored team. And any other teams that needed a player. There were no restrictions back then, but that changed in the next year or so. Our ward had guys trying to move in to be with a "championship" team. We had so many, we had to have tryouts for the A team and B team. It was too crazy. What was worse was I was coaching the team, and having make the decisions on who played and who didn't. This is Church ball, not "professional". We made it to Prescott that summer, and made it thru our round robin. We played Phoenix 33rd in the semi's. We were ahead 12 to 8 going into the bottom of the 7th. They scored 5 runs and beat us. We were devastated. We were so cocky, and got what we deserved.
The next year our ward split and we were never contenders again. I continued to play 4 nights a week on city sponsor teams and church teams. We moved to Alma 1st Ward and softball came to an end (or at least less involved, maybe I was "growing up") as I started throwing newspapers.
I played less and less. In Gilbert, I played with Gilbert 2nd and then with Elliot Ward. In Gilbet we played at Barney Park. Steele and Luke played on one diamond and Jeremy and I on the another. We spent many a night playing softball together as the rest of the family watched from the bleachers. One night as I was playing third base, I tried to impress everyone by chasing a pop fly to the fence next to the dugout. I hit the fence/brick wall, and missed the ball. I went back to my position, and my knee kind of hurt. My sweats were a little damp, like I scraped my knee. But I never checked it out. When I got home an hour or so later, I took off my sweats, and there was dried blood and a gash in my knee. I hadn't fainted back on the field because I never knew I was bleeding. So Mignon made me go to the ER, and I got 5 stitches. I was getting too old.
Moving back to Mesa, my softball career was rejuvinated in Riverview Ward with Bishop Dale. He was older than me and still playing, so why couldn't I??? Age had taken it's toll though. The game really wasn't fun anymore. One night as were playing the 54th ward, I was catching and went up the 3rd base line to catch a throw to the plate and the guy running home (who didn't have a clue what he was doing) hit me head on and knocked me over and over. I was okay, just a little shaken up. But realized that it is "just a game", and I didn't belong out there still trying to prove something. And besides, I could have gotten hurt worse than a fractured finger, two black eyes from ground balls to the face, a full speed collision with our left fielder (that broke his arm), a cut knee with stitches, and a collision with a runner that just about knocked me silly (or maybe it did).
OH, I just remembered the time we were playing legion ball in Mesa at Westwood field one summer (high school). We were all psyched out because we had heard there were pro scouts in the stands to see Jay Ray Roakey (super player from the 67 Westwood team, who bytheway Mignon knew very well). In pregame warmups I take a ground ball to the face, and my eye swells up and I have to sit out the game. So I miss my big chance to be spotted and potentially drafted to the Milwaukee Braves. "Baseball/Softball been bery good to me!!!!! "
Baseball, school "softball", PE "softball", summer whiffleball, and I spent hours throwing a tennis ball against our brick fence and creating plays with the rebound to throw out the runner. When I wasn't playing outside, I played inside with an magnet/electric baseball game. I played that game for hours, I kept a scorebook and stats of all the games played. And when I wasn't playing outside or inside, I was watching the games on TV (of course this was during baseball season only). I was a baseball "fanatic".When my baseball dreams were crushed with my ASU experience, I got hooked on "softball".
It all started with the 18th Ward team. I played with the 18th Ward starting the summer of 1968. We had a really good team, but we didn't make it out of the valley. With our final defeat, preparations began for the next year. The next year (1969) we were beat by Mesa 22nd Ward, who went on to All Church in Salt Lake City. By now, we had grown much wiser and hungrier to get to SLC. We played 2 nights a week in the fall, 2 nights a week in the winter, and 4 nights a week in the summer (city league and church league). We recruited some non-members to move into the ward to beef up our team.
Larry Nelson (who worked for APS, and was in a fairly high position), built a softball field for the stake, just about single handedly. He got all the materials (fencing, light poles, equipment to grade the field, sprinklers, etc. donated. He tore down the old backstop, graded the field, had the lights and backstop erected. It was beautiful. Our pride and joy as we (the Scottsdale Stake hosted the regional tourneys, besides our Stake play and tourney.
That year (1970) we played Mesa 22nd for the chance to go to All Church.
It was on a Saturday night, we were ahead going into the last inning, and we got dusted and rained out. So we had to suffer through Sunday and Monday awaiting the outcome. We had to finish on a Monday night, and we ended up winning. So on to SLC. We caravaned up, stayed in motels, toured Temple Square (my first time), and had a great time. We played our first game against a team from Marietta, GA. They were all huge, but they were really exhausted from the 20 some odd hour drive to make it to SLC. We beat them 3-2. They went on after that and killed everyone and won the tourney. Our work was cut out for us. We played in leagues again in the fall, the winter, the spring, and summer (church and city). We beat Mesa 22nd again to qualify for SLC (1971). In SLC, we got beat by one run to get knocked out of the tourney. I made the last out with tying run at third, and the winning run on first. A big disappointment, it took me months to get over it. (It was just softball !!!!!) Of a more eternal note, Darrell and Wanda had joined the Church, moved into 18th Ward, and Darrell played on the team. They went thru the Salt Lake Temple for their endowments. So we all had a spiritual experience despite from "softball mania".
The next year I moved to Mesa (our first house). We were in Alma 3rd Ward. I didn't get on the Alma 3rd city team (Cardon Oilers) because I was playing with Berge Mazda (Triple A League), but I did play in the Church Tournament with them. We didn't get too far. The next year I played city ball with the Church guys, played on a Kerr sponsored team, and played Church ball. We ended up qualifying to go to Prescott. All Church was disbanded because of the cost and distance teams were traveling to get there and be there for the entire week. We blew everyone out in our round robin, including my old team Phoenix 18th. We then played Mesa 24th Ward in the semi's (Ned Brimley's team -- Crazy Sub Ned). We were down 7 to 4 in the bottom of the 7th. Our first 2 guys made outs. I was up, I got a base hit. Our next guy hit an HR. Next guy doubled, then a single, then a double, and we won the game. We played Phoenix 10th the next night, and won. We were Prescott Champs. We were the talk of Church softball for the next year.
I must say at this point, I did have a money earning job (Kerr's), a church calling as a Stake Missionary, and a family. As I look back, the family probably suffered the most from my obsession with softball.
I played fall/winter ball with a Kerr team, and summer ball with Church team and Cardon sponsored team. And any other teams that needed a player. There were no restrictions back then, but that changed in the next year or so. Our ward had guys trying to move in to be with a "championship" team. We had so many, we had to have tryouts for the A team and B team. It was too crazy. What was worse was I was coaching the team, and having make the decisions on who played and who didn't. This is Church ball, not "professional". We made it to Prescott that summer, and made it thru our round robin. We played Phoenix 33rd in the semi's. We were ahead 12 to 8 going into the bottom of the 7th. They scored 5 runs and beat us. We were devastated. We were so cocky, and got what we deserved.
The next year our ward split and we were never contenders again. I continued to play 4 nights a week on city sponsor teams and church teams. We moved to Alma 1st Ward and softball came to an end (or at least less involved, maybe I was "growing up") as I started throwing newspapers.
I played less and less. In Gilbert, I played with Gilbert 2nd and then with Elliot Ward. In Gilbet we played at Barney Park. Steele and Luke played on one diamond and Jeremy and I on the another. We spent many a night playing softball together as the rest of the family watched from the bleachers. One night as I was playing third base, I tried to impress everyone by chasing a pop fly to the fence next to the dugout. I hit the fence/brick wall, and missed the ball. I went back to my position, and my knee kind of hurt. My sweats were a little damp, like I scraped my knee. But I never checked it out. When I got home an hour or so later, I took off my sweats, and there was dried blood and a gash in my knee. I hadn't fainted back on the field because I never knew I was bleeding. So Mignon made me go to the ER, and I got 5 stitches. I was getting too old.
Moving back to Mesa, my softball career was rejuvinated in Riverview Ward with Bishop Dale. He was older than me and still playing, so why couldn't I??? Age had taken it's toll though. The game really wasn't fun anymore. One night as were playing the 54th ward, I was catching and went up the 3rd base line to catch a throw to the plate and the guy running home (who didn't have a clue what he was doing) hit me head on and knocked me over and over. I was okay, just a little shaken up. But realized that it is "just a game", and I didn't belong out there still trying to prove something. And besides, I could have gotten hurt worse than a fractured finger, two black eyes from ground balls to the face, a full speed collision with our left fielder (that broke his arm), a cut knee with stitches, and a collision with a runner that just about knocked me silly (or maybe it did).
OH, I just remembered the time we were playing legion ball in Mesa at Westwood field one summer (high school). We were all psyched out because we had heard there were pro scouts in the stands to see Jay Ray Roakey (super player from the 67 Westwood team, who bytheway Mignon knew very well). In pregame warmups I take a ground ball to the face, and my eye swells up and I have to sit out the game. So I miss my big chance to be spotted and potentially drafted to the Milwaukee Braves. "Baseball/Softball been bery good to me!!!!! "
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
My "Worldly" Employments - the end is near
I am afraid I don't have a long list of jobs like Grandpa (3 pages). In fact two of them total 33 years of my 42 employable years. Here goes...........
My first job was my senior year of high school. I got a job working for Sky Chef. They did the food for airline flights, as well as running restaurants inside airports. I worked at the Snack Bar inside the main terminal at Sky Harbor (now know as Terminal 2). I worked on the weekends, during the days, as I was playing baseball during the week after school. We didn't have a big food selection -- I remember serving -- hot dogs (they were kept on the rolling machine that turned the little puppies round and round, keeping them warm and/or cooking them), tacos (hard shell, I scooped in a spoonful of taco meat, threw on some tomatoes and lettuce, and wall-la), chips in a bag, and I sure there was more, but I don't remember much else, except for the ................... ice cream machine !!!!!!!!!!!!
The only reason, I took the job (not really). I used the make the biggest milk shake at the end of my shift and savor it all the way home. Of course I had to go thru a learning experience to get to that point. My first time, and of course after I was trained, I was left on my own to work the place, I put the milk first in the metal container, then added the ice cream, and tried to stir with the auto mixer.......what a mess !!!!! with customers standing there watching me. I figured it out though, and was soon a pro. Some days, I was needed in the restaurant to buss tables. Simple, right??? I never could quite master putting the tray on one hand over my head, so I use to carry it like a laundry basket in front of me. My boss soon had me back in the Snack Bar. I quit that job as school ended, because Darrell, David, and I planned a "Senior Graduation Trip", and I had worked long enough anyway. I don't remember how much I made, but it had to have been around $1.25 an hour (minimum wage). So 16 hrs a weekend, 2 weekends per pay, netted about $45 after taxes......big money, considering gas was 25 cents a gallon, and hamburgers were 15 cents.......
So as I started college, I was jobless my freshman year. I didn't have a car (parents were back in IN) and I didn't have any "backbone" to go out and get a job close to where we lived. I was pretty much a "leach" off my parents.
After joining the Church, Bob Kerr offered me a job working for him at Kerr Sporting Goods. WOW, you mean I would get paid for telling people about baseball gloves, golf clubs, and footballs. A dream come true. The store was inside the now gone Thomas Mall at 44th St. and Thomas (kitty corner from the B of A that Rennie worked at). The store was around 2000 sq ft, not real huge. I worked the retail floor during the next couple of months. I remember working with Gary Gentry. He had just completed his first year with the New York Mets in their farm system. Wow, a real baseball player. He had played at ASU, and was a rookie with the "Miracle Mets" when they won the series in 1969. Thus, I never saw him again at Kerr's. As school started, I moved to the warehouse in shipping and receiving. The warehouse was our back room of the store, it was about 20 x 20. We were inside the mall, so deliveries had to be wheeled in thru the mall doors, then thru our back door, down a hall, and into the stock room. I would then check in the goods, and either price and put it out front, set it aside to go to Christown (our other store at 19th Ave and Bethany Home), or separate items by the school they were for. We sold directly to schools as well as retail business. So I would put boxes on the dolly, and take them back out the doors to the van for delivery. One day, as I was doing my routine, mundane back and forth loading, I had 4 cases of tennis balls on the dolly. I use to come to the glass doors, push the boxes against the door and push it open (instead of backing out), this day I must have been in la la land, as I pushed the load into the door, and broke the entire glass pane out.......what a goof!!!!
I probably made the "run" to Christown about 200 times a year for the next 3 years. I also delivered to the schools. So I got a chance to see the Valley. Glendale Community College on the far west to Mesa CC on the east. North to Paradise Valley and south to Phoenix Union HS Dist. Christmas was the craziest.
Business was good, so we expanded. We had an empty suite behind us, so it was converted into office space, and we poured a cement 2nd floor. It was a great idea, except upstairs you couldn't stand completely up strait, so it was a back breaking effort to take boxes upstairs. I had graduated from ASU (BS in Business Administration). With that I moved into the office. I helped with purchasing and did inside sales. Inside sales included Pop Warner teams, Little League team, Legion teams, softball teams, and anyone else that wanted sports equipment or uniforms. It was pretty interesting, except to have to sit there and listen to the "softball fanatics" tell about how good their teams were, when some of them didn't have a clue what they were talking about.
One sad memory I have is about Alberta McAlister who was our receptionist/bookkeeper. She was the mom of Larry McAlister, a kid I went to HS with. It seems like she was there a couple of years. One day, she went to the restroom and was gone a long time. When someone checked on her, she was on the floor. She had a stroke and died in the restroom. I don't remember who found her, but I do remember the paramedics showing up and taking her away (which brought back memories of when my dad died).
Business continued to do well. We moved up the mall to the old S&H Green Stamp store (anyone younger than Mignon and me won't have a clue). It was a huge store, maybe ten times bigger than what we were in. We had a huge stockroom, a working area for receiving, and offices for 2 people in reception, me, Tim Myers, Bob K., three outside sales, and a "showroom". The store was a amazing compared to what we had, Bob and Mary Ellen (Bodine) designed the layout, shoe dept, golf dept, hunting & fishing, and more......times were good.
One of my favorite deliveries (NOT) was from Bell Foundry -- weights. Back in the old location, we use to wheel those suckers in the doors, down the hall, and into the store.....it took forever. Now the flatbed truck would pull up to the back of our store, we would open the our double doors to the warehouse and wheel everything in. Only now, we doubled and tripled the orders to include like 48 sets of 110 lbs with the barbells, 48 pair of 25# plates, 48 pair of 50# plates, and dumbells. It was definitely a work out. It was always a "treat" to get in shipments of softball uniforms. To see the new look, colors, and styles. The same with new shoes and new equipment. I remember when aluminum softball bats came out. The first ones had a wood knob in the handle, and they weighed a "ton". As time went on they were more contoured and shaped, and made of composite material and better balanced. Then came the aluminum baseball bat. It weighed "2 tons", to withstand the speed of a baseball pitched at it. Soon they were composite made, but I remember taking back many a bat from ASU that was cracked or broken (Rawlings/Adirondak). Converse was our big shoe line when I first started. Then the whole athletic shoe industry evolved. Adidas came on the market, then Nike, Blue Ribbon Sports, New Balance, and others. Hyde/Spotbilt was no longer "the" football/baseball name--Adidas and Nike had taken over that market. The same with basketball, Nike and Adidas were the shoes to have, but Converse hung in there. While canvas was the shoe in the 60's, leather was now the best. Speaking of leather, my best glove was a Nokona kangaroo glove. It was soft, pliable, and pretty durable (I think I still have it). I am guessing it was around $50 (a pretty penny back then). Oh how times have changed. In the 70's there was no big sporting goods stores, no Sports Authority, Big Five, not even big box stores like Wal Mart, etc. All the "strickly" sporting goods stores were privately owned. The Sears and Pennys type stores didn't carry much of a selection. But that all changed as well.
Nike, in their effort to promote their shoe line, talked us into buying season tickets to the Suns. We had somewhere around 20 tickets in the nose bleed section and 4 on the 2nd row at the corner of the visiting team bench. We would give the nose bleeders to schools for promo. And the good seats were used by the employees. It was a whole new game down on the floor, seeing and "smelling" the action. The price tag was pretty huge, I don't remember how much, but costly.
One day, 3 guys came through the door from the store, carrying sawed off shotguns and hand guns, dressed grubby and long hair and beards. A robbery???? No, they were police task force working a drug bust. It was supposed to go down outside our back door. As they looked out our big glass window they determined they needed to get closer to the car in the parking lot. So we loaded them into our box delivery van and drove it out in the lot next to the car that was identified. I am not sure who drove, but it wasn't me. After waiting and watching for I don't know how long, nothing went down. A bust gone bad, but pretty exciting for a while.
11:40 I better hit the sack -- to be continued....
Tues, 2/5/08, 9:47pm ---
Linda and I had moved to Mesa in June 1972 (Michael was 2, Jeremy 1 month). We were north of Southern and West of Dobson, 4 bed, 2 ba, 1400 sq ft for $24,000. Mesa was booming. Everything to the south was being developed fast. I am not sure how much pull I had, but it was decided to open a store in Mesa. Fiesta Mall wasn't even a thought at the time we wanted to open, so we chose the NW corner of Southern and Dobson, in the Bayless shopping center. The store was 1600 sq ft. We went in and did all the wall fixtures and displays ourselves. We figured we were pros after seeing what was done at the TM store. Business was real slow at first. We hired a wrestling coach from Fremont Jr High to run the store, Steve Hirko. He was great at getting out to the schools and promoting, as well as Little Leagues and softball teams. Oh yes, softball. Mesa was growing fast, and so was their softball program. The Parks and Rec Dept soon had a Triple A League that was one of the best in the valley. The league played at Ellworth Park. Which was a decent park back then. But lots of teams developed in Mesa, busniess sponsored and church teams, men and young men. Thus our uniform business thrived. Out Kerr team was one of the best in the state. They traveled to other states to play in all the major tourneys. They went to Chicago or St. Louis to play big ball (16") and did well. They had several good players, and a guy named Al Schmeltz that had pitched for the Mets. Another was Elby Bushong, a Phoenix Fireman. He was about 6' 4" and weighed 220 lbs., built well, and in great shape. He became well known through out the West. Every guy on the team was big, except the shortstop and the center fielder. They could score 20 to 30 runs or more with just a few swings of the bat. That team gave us a great return on our investment. They always had the best uniforms and equipment, but the advertising was worth it.
I was back to being a "delivery boy". Each night I would take the van home, and drop off merchandise to the store, and pick up whatever they had to go back to the TM or CT (Christown) stores. Bob took good care of me, I will always be greatful for he and Mary Ellen. As I moved to Mesa, he fronted us money to put down on the house, and they gave me a vehicle to drive back and forth with, it was his Mom's Chevy Impala that was being retired (she had bought a newer car). An older car, but it ran. Later, when the Mesa store opened, I drove the Kerr van back and forth.
I failed to mention that Bob's dad, Dick Kerr, started the business at a small location on 16th St., just north of Thomas Rd. Then Christown was opened, and then Thomas Mall. The 16th St store was closed in the mid 60's. Mr. Kerr passed away in 69 or 70. He had health problems. So Bob took over the business (He would have been 30 or 31).
As I mentioned earlier, there wasn't a "plethera" of sporting goods stores. Marston's (central Phoenix), Pinney-Robinson (Thomas and Central), Morris Sporting Goods (Scottsdale), and nothing in Mesa. Until the population boom hit, and they it was like everyone wanted to be in the sporting goods business.
Everyone year, we would go the NSGA show. The National Sporting Goods Association show, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in October. The really big show was held at McCormick Place in Chicago in February, but it was too cold and too far for us. It never got old making the trip to Cal, and neither did Disneyland. So each year I "dragged" the family to Dland (a whole nother story). The show was a treat. Seeing the new stuff, shoes, bats, uniforms, etc. Meet the big shots from the factory, and even get to shake hands with the Pros, ie Steve Garvey. One year the show was here in Phoenix at the Civic Plaza. There wasn't enough room in the Plaza floor, so they put booths in the parking garage. It was never held here again. I did the show for 10 or so years.
With our Suns tickets and our business success, we were able to do more "promos". I got to meet Paul Westphal, Alvin Adams, and Walter Davis as they signed autographs. Pretty neat for a kid and even an adult.
As we continued doing well. A fourth store was opened at the new Paradise Valley Mall. This was late 1979 or early 1980. Bob committed to a lease, then had a little trouble getting a loan to build. We took out an SBA loan, and the store was built (Prime Interest rates were around 14 or 16%). The layout and decor was a masterpiece. Business was slow. The area had not boomed as fast as expected. The economy had slowed big time. The store was a big drain on our cash flow, and the slowing economy didn't make things any better. Things weren't going well and we were not doing well. We got behind on rent at PV, and eventually had to close the store. We were able to get everything out, without the landlord locking us out. But not so at CT. We moved out of CT on New Year's Eve without the mangement know it. We were able to get all the merchandise out, but left the fixtures. Not an honest thing to do, but necessary to survive. When the lease ran out at Mesa, we closed it as well. Actually, Fiesta Mall opened in 78 or 79, and they had a sporting goods store go in (can't remember who). Soon, all that was left was Thomas Mall store. The only reason they didn't kick us out, was that they couldn't lease the space because of the economy situation, so they allowed us to stay with partial rent payments. We had let most everyone go. I soon was worried about my future. I had made friends with Richard Gooch thru Church softball. He had played on Tempe 3rd ward team, that we had beat (Alma 3rd) to go to Prescott (another story). He was the district manager for Wang Laboratories, a computer/software company. When he heard about our/my dilema, he offered me a job. I found out later, that he really didn't have a spot open, but when Richard wanted something, he got it. I took the job. I hated to leave Bob, I always felt I should "go down with the ship" as I owed him big time. But, I did have a family to care for, so I moved on.....(1982???). Bob gave me the Kerr van as a parting gift. Which saved me with a 2nd vehicle.
Bob kept the doors opened for a little while, and then had to file bankruptcy. He then went into real estate, and other jobs. I didn't see or talk with him for years. One Saturday (early 90's), Mignon and I were at Rosa's, and there he was, with Mary Ellen. They had moved to Mesa. A few months later I went to their house, and we had a great visit, discussing old times.......
After 14 years with one employer it was difficult starting another job. I was now 34, and 14 years in a "small family owned business" was not great credentials for a large structured company. Wang had 33,000 employees in it's prime. It was headquartered in Boston, MA. Our district office in Phoenix took in LV, SLC, and Tucson. My job was order processing. We received the orders from the offices, made sure the numbers were right, that the configurations were right, and verified all the info. Then submitted the orders to Home Office (Boston). It was always down to the end of the month. The salesmen and District Managers had to make "booking numbers" to keep their jobs. So Richard would sometimes have Vance and/or me fly the orders back to Boston. Orders could be anywhere from 300K to 1 million dollars) Later, I would become a "revenue specialist", which required me to make sure orders were shipped out of the factory to make "Revenue numbers" for the sales guys and Richard as District Mgr. With that Richard would send me back to Boston to meet the people at the factory that could help us accomplish our numbers. Aren't we all working for the same company and the same goals?? It was pretty cut throat. Anyway, I got to see Boston, and Chelmsford, and Lowell. I remember being there once in early November. There was no snow on the ground, but it was the worst freezing cold I can ever remember being in. We toured the harbor, saw the old Church (Paul Revere's midnight ride, ask me about the poem), and the historic cemetary. Later when we went back for Jackson's mission tour, I revisited some of those same spots. We had District Meetings periodically. One I remember was at Heber City, UT. We had a few hours of meetings, but spent the majority of the time having fun. Going down the "ski trough ride in a cart", riding 3 wheelers in the pines, playing softball, and eating (this was summer time).
Our District Controller, had a run in with upper management, it seemed he didn't have enough schooling, and was one of Gooch's "puppets", so he quit or was forced out. Gooch lobbied for me to get the position, but the LA boys wouldn't have it. In the mean time, Richard delayed the fulfilling of the position. So, I temporarily filled the slot as District Controller. I now had to perform more duties, more communication with LA and Home Office. I also had to attend Monthly reporting meetings with Richard. Each month we had to report on the previous months business numbers. There was always big pressure on the sales force to make their numbers, bookings (orders entered), revenue (order shipped), and expenses (under budget). We every smoke and mirror, dog and pony show to dazzle the upper management. The problem was, they didn't buy into it, even though Richard thought we had been successful at snowing them. Richard was a great PR guy, and a great motivator. He adopted the Boy Scout eagle as "his own" reward trophy, and he gave them out constantly, sometimes for no reason. He did influence me to the "art" of taping great moments for use in motivating my Teachers and Priests in later years. We went to LA, San Francisco, Denver, Boston, and Dallas. Richard always made sure we saw the sites and ate good food. I had my first real lobster in Boston, not just a little tail, but the entire lobster was on a plate. We went down the famous winding curvey street in San Fran, and road the same street in Dallas where JFK was shot. Gooch should have been a travel agent. Eventually, a controller was put in place by upper management. And the controllers were now under the Area office, thus no longer influenced by their District Manager.
Wang was created by Dr. Ann Wang, a very intelligent man, who worked for IBM. He left IBM, got a patent on his word processing system, and started his own company. Wang was doing well for a few years, but they wouldn't allow their equipment to be compatible with IBM. Then they tried to fight IBM with a big advertising program. And they went down fast. That and with Dr. Wang getting older, and having a son that did not have the same desire or expertise to run the business caused the company to go downhill. In our Western Area offices were being consolidated and people were being laid off. We had the choice to relocate to Denver, or look for another job.
I might mention at this point, when I left Kerr's I took a pay cut. Richard tried to get me extra hours and overtime, but I was still under what I was used to. Our stake had been divided and ward realigned, so we were now in Alma 4th ward. Clarence Martin and I became friends. He "introduced" me to the world of adult paper carrier. I started throwing a route while I worked at Wang. I would do the route at 1am to 4 or 5am, sleep for an hour or so, and be to work by 8am (another story).
Back to Wang, so after about 3 years at Wang, the branch closed. I received a severance package, so I had a little to get by on.....as I began a quest for a new job. Vance Blair and I went to sign up for unemployment, but I didn't qualify, as I had other income as a "paperboy". Vance and I tried delivering phone books for "Dex" or whatever they were called. What an experience that was. We were in South Phoenix (scary) and Scottsdale, made very little money, so that didn't last too long.
I sent my resume out wherever I could. I remember answering an add for a assistant controller. I got a call one day from Robert Lechner, the guy that was hired as the controller for Wang (he and I became somewhat friends, as I had to fill him in on everything that was going on when he first came on board at Wang). So he had left Wang with the shakeup and had gotten a job at Eyeco (a retail eyeglass business) and was looking for an assistant controller. I went to the interview and was hired. I can't remember exactly now, but I wasn't out of work for more that a week or so, before this job. I went to the interview and was hired. One small challenge--the year before the whole Wang thing came to an end, I got this big idea to buy a new house and moved my family to Gilbert (Arboleta south of Elliot) and Eyeco was at 32nd St. and Shea in Phoenix. Ouch!!! Well, I had a job, so I gave it the old "college try". I took Lindsay north to Mckellips, then to Mcdowell, then to Pima (the 101 wasn't built yet), then north to Shea, then west to 32nd St. Oh, I was still throwing papers, now in Gilbert. I started at oneish, and ended at 4 or 5, slept an hour, and tried to make it to work by 8.....I don't know how I did it.
I worked at Eyeco for almost 3 years, 1985 to 1988 roughly. Eyeco was taken over by Lincoln Savings (who was the lender for Eyeco, so when they defaulted on their loans, LS took over the operation). Lincoln Savings was owned by American Continental Corp. or Charles Keating (look him up on wikipedia). I never met him. I was now back into the retail business, where I had some experience. Eyeco owned 5 stores in the valley, and 2 in LV. I travelled to all the stores for inventory, audits of their sales records, and equipment verification. The two LV mall stores were at Meadows and Fashion Show. The valley stores were Christown, Westridge (83rd and Thomas), Glendale Mall (59th and Glendale ??), Paradise Valley, and Tri-City. For lunch almost everyday, I would drive to the Dairy Queen on Sweetwater and 7th St (???) get a chocolate milk shake, got to an LDS Church parking lot, sleep for 30 minutes, and then back to work.
One day as I got to Pima road, it was blocked off. Only the east side was blocked off, the west side was open. It seems the Salt River Tribe owned the east side and the City of Scottsdale owne the west, and there was a dispute over their agreement. So for the next few weeks, I used Hayden north. As I became comfortable at Eyeco, things were happening. American Continental didn't want to continue running and eyeglass operation, so it was announced that Eyeco was being sold to Eyemaster. So if we wished to remain with Eyeco we would have to move to Texas, or look for another job. Texas wasn't an option, so I would be back on the job hunt.
Don (Organ) had been saying for years that Bio Huma Netics could sure use me. But they were having financial difficulties and the time was never right. When he found out I was going to be out of a job, he said I should come out to BHN and talk with Darwin Bentz. I did just that and began working at BHN in August of 1988. Who would have known that I would still be there 19 1/2 years later.
My first day at BHN was my last day with Linda. Out divorce would be finalized in November.
I started a t BHN in the same office that I am now in. Only I had a table for a desk, and Laurie Fackler worked in the same room. It took me awhile to get use to the operation. Darwin and Laurie Brewster did the invoicing, and Laurie F. processed payables. Del Stout wrote checks, as well as Darwin. It was kind of dis-jointed. The winter months were slow for business. So as spring started that next year things picked up. The management/owners had a growth agenda. And in the next months we opened offices in almost every major agriculture city in the West. Safford, Yuma, Blythe, El Centro, Indio, Tulare, Modesto, Pasco, Nampa, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Enterprise. I am sure I've left some out, but that is close for now. We set up blending plants in about 6 of the offices. That required tanks, mixing tanks, and all sorts of equipment. Our employees grew to around 110, 55 pickup trucks, and equipment galore. In the spring, I was still involved in Easter Pageant. One of the "prop people" who had lead me thru the curtain after the "Oh Jerusalem" scene because of the lighting change was Mignon Hallows. The 12 Apostles hooked us up, we dated a couple of weeks, and was married on May 5, 1989. As business grew, our accounting department needed to grow. I hired Mignon, Kenny Martin, Carrie Martin (Kenny's sister). The next thing I know we bought the building to the south of us, 203 S. Roosevelt. The owners moved into remodeled offices over there and the accounting dept. moved as well. Eventually, we added Clarence Martin, Darrell Fackler, Shawn Owens, and Lois Waters (friend of Mignon's). During the summer, Jeremy, Steele, Luke, and Melanie worked in various departments. Bruce Bach did purchasing and Bryan Foose tracked equipment. Others who came and went were Kathy Petersen, Bret Petersen, Pam Shorey, Lorna Farnsworth, Brandi ??, Jenny ??, Tamara Broadbent, and others.....such as Ray Russell, Andy Arnold, and Carl Forsberg. Diane Heath was working at 201 S. when I first started as an admin person for Don. 89 and 90 were hectic years, we hit 20 million in sales. I couldn't keep up with the growth, it was too fast and furious. The managers in the field were unskilled at running offices. We had also started at packing plant in Pasco, Wa. as well as a marketing group in Visalia to broker produce. We had a warehouse at 1 and 3 N. Roosevelt, as well as a lab. The lab had a chemist (Roy), an assistant chemist (PJ), and 2 helpers, Wendy and my son, Michael. Dave Stout was the formula guru, and quality control guy. We hired Bruce Munns (he was married to Mignon's sister Sherrie) to setup, build and maintain the mixing plants. We bought an airplane, acquired a leasing company, and did "circles" with John Dexter. We grew too big, too fast and it all came crashing down in 91-92. The next thing we were forced into bankruptcy. The trucks, equipment, and airplane were reposessed. The unsecured creditors were represented by some sleazball attorneys - Dillingham and Cross. They were after blood, or at least money for the creditors. The problem was, the attorneys got 1/2 million, and the creditors got no money, just stock. It was unbelievable. A trustee was appointed by the Bankruptcy Court. His name was Paul Snyder. He essentially oversaw the daily operations and expenditures. He ousted the original 5 owners. Lyndon Smith, Jordan's son, who was brought back on into marketing.......took over as President, Mike Boyd and I became VP's fill out the officer list.
I will write more later............
My first job was my senior year of high school. I got a job working for Sky Chef. They did the food for airline flights, as well as running restaurants inside airports. I worked at the Snack Bar inside the main terminal at Sky Harbor (now know as Terminal 2). I worked on the weekends, during the days, as I was playing baseball during the week after school. We didn't have a big food selection -- I remember serving -- hot dogs (they were kept on the rolling machine that turned the little puppies round and round, keeping them warm and/or cooking them), tacos (hard shell, I scooped in a spoonful of taco meat, threw on some tomatoes and lettuce, and wall-la), chips in a bag, and I sure there was more, but I don't remember much else, except for the ................... ice cream machine !!!!!!!!!!!!
The only reason, I took the job (not really). I used the make the biggest milk shake at the end of my shift and savor it all the way home. Of course I had to go thru a learning experience to get to that point. My first time, and of course after I was trained, I was left on my own to work the place, I put the milk first in the metal container, then added the ice cream, and tried to stir with the auto mixer.......what a mess !!!!! with customers standing there watching me. I figured it out though, and was soon a pro. Some days, I was needed in the restaurant to buss tables. Simple, right??? I never could quite master putting the tray on one hand over my head, so I use to carry it like a laundry basket in front of me. My boss soon had me back in the Snack Bar. I quit that job as school ended, because Darrell, David, and I planned a "Senior Graduation Trip", and I had worked long enough anyway. I don't remember how much I made, but it had to have been around $1.25 an hour (minimum wage). So 16 hrs a weekend, 2 weekends per pay, netted about $45 after taxes......big money, considering gas was 25 cents a gallon, and hamburgers were 15 cents.......
So as I started college, I was jobless my freshman year. I didn't have a car (parents were back in IN) and I didn't have any "backbone" to go out and get a job close to where we lived. I was pretty much a "leach" off my parents.
After joining the Church, Bob Kerr offered me a job working for him at Kerr Sporting Goods. WOW, you mean I would get paid for telling people about baseball gloves, golf clubs, and footballs. A dream come true. The store was inside the now gone Thomas Mall at 44th St. and Thomas (kitty corner from the B of A that Rennie worked at). The store was around 2000 sq ft, not real huge. I worked the retail floor during the next couple of months. I remember working with Gary Gentry. He had just completed his first year with the New York Mets in their farm system. Wow, a real baseball player. He had played at ASU, and was a rookie with the "Miracle Mets" when they won the series in 1969. Thus, I never saw him again at Kerr's. As school started, I moved to the warehouse in shipping and receiving. The warehouse was our back room of the store, it was about 20 x 20. We were inside the mall, so deliveries had to be wheeled in thru the mall doors, then thru our back door, down a hall, and into the stock room. I would then check in the goods, and either price and put it out front, set it aside to go to Christown (our other store at 19th Ave and Bethany Home), or separate items by the school they were for. We sold directly to schools as well as retail business. So I would put boxes on the dolly, and take them back out the doors to the van for delivery. One day, as I was doing my routine, mundane back and forth loading, I had 4 cases of tennis balls on the dolly. I use to come to the glass doors, push the boxes against the door and push it open (instead of backing out), this day I must have been in la la land, as I pushed the load into the door, and broke the entire glass pane out.......what a goof!!!!
I probably made the "run" to Christown about 200 times a year for the next 3 years. I also delivered to the schools. So I got a chance to see the Valley. Glendale Community College on the far west to Mesa CC on the east. North to Paradise Valley and south to Phoenix Union HS Dist. Christmas was the craziest.
Business was good, so we expanded. We had an empty suite behind us, so it was converted into office space, and we poured a cement 2nd floor. It was a great idea, except upstairs you couldn't stand completely up strait, so it was a back breaking effort to take boxes upstairs. I had graduated from ASU (BS in Business Administration). With that I moved into the office. I helped with purchasing and did inside sales. Inside sales included Pop Warner teams, Little League team, Legion teams, softball teams, and anyone else that wanted sports equipment or uniforms. It was pretty interesting, except to have to sit there and listen to the "softball fanatics" tell about how good their teams were, when some of them didn't have a clue what they were talking about.
One sad memory I have is about Alberta McAlister who was our receptionist/bookkeeper. She was the mom of Larry McAlister, a kid I went to HS with. It seems like she was there a couple of years. One day, she went to the restroom and was gone a long time. When someone checked on her, she was on the floor. She had a stroke and died in the restroom. I don't remember who found her, but I do remember the paramedics showing up and taking her away (which brought back memories of when my dad died).
Business continued to do well. We moved up the mall to the old S&H Green Stamp store (anyone younger than Mignon and me won't have a clue). It was a huge store, maybe ten times bigger than what we were in. We had a huge stockroom, a working area for receiving, and offices for 2 people in reception, me, Tim Myers, Bob K., three outside sales, and a "showroom". The store was a amazing compared to what we had, Bob and Mary Ellen (Bodine) designed the layout, shoe dept, golf dept, hunting & fishing, and more......times were good.
One of my favorite deliveries (NOT) was from Bell Foundry -- weights. Back in the old location, we use to wheel those suckers in the doors, down the hall, and into the store.....it took forever. Now the flatbed truck would pull up to the back of our store, we would open the our double doors to the warehouse and wheel everything in. Only now, we doubled and tripled the orders to include like 48 sets of 110 lbs with the barbells, 48 pair of 25# plates, 48 pair of 50# plates, and dumbells. It was definitely a work out. It was always a "treat" to get in shipments of softball uniforms. To see the new look, colors, and styles. The same with new shoes and new equipment. I remember when aluminum softball bats came out. The first ones had a wood knob in the handle, and they weighed a "ton". As time went on they were more contoured and shaped, and made of composite material and better balanced. Then came the aluminum baseball bat. It weighed "2 tons", to withstand the speed of a baseball pitched at it. Soon they were composite made, but I remember taking back many a bat from ASU that was cracked or broken (Rawlings/Adirondak). Converse was our big shoe line when I first started. Then the whole athletic shoe industry evolved. Adidas came on the market, then Nike, Blue Ribbon Sports, New Balance, and others. Hyde/Spotbilt was no longer "the" football/baseball name--Adidas and Nike had taken over that market. The same with basketball, Nike and Adidas were the shoes to have, but Converse hung in there. While canvas was the shoe in the 60's, leather was now the best. Speaking of leather, my best glove was a Nokona kangaroo glove. It was soft, pliable, and pretty durable (I think I still have it). I am guessing it was around $50 (a pretty penny back then). Oh how times have changed. In the 70's there was no big sporting goods stores, no Sports Authority, Big Five, not even big box stores like Wal Mart, etc. All the "strickly" sporting goods stores were privately owned. The Sears and Pennys type stores didn't carry much of a selection. But that all changed as well.
Nike, in their effort to promote their shoe line, talked us into buying season tickets to the Suns. We had somewhere around 20 tickets in the nose bleed section and 4 on the 2nd row at the corner of the visiting team bench. We would give the nose bleeders to schools for promo. And the good seats were used by the employees. It was a whole new game down on the floor, seeing and "smelling" the action. The price tag was pretty huge, I don't remember how much, but costly.
One day, 3 guys came through the door from the store, carrying sawed off shotguns and hand guns, dressed grubby and long hair and beards. A robbery???? No, they were police task force working a drug bust. It was supposed to go down outside our back door. As they looked out our big glass window they determined they needed to get closer to the car in the parking lot. So we loaded them into our box delivery van and drove it out in the lot next to the car that was identified. I am not sure who drove, but it wasn't me. After waiting and watching for I don't know how long, nothing went down. A bust gone bad, but pretty exciting for a while.
11:40 I better hit the sack -- to be continued....
Tues, 2/5/08, 9:47pm ---
Linda and I had moved to Mesa in June 1972 (Michael was 2, Jeremy 1 month). We were north of Southern and West of Dobson, 4 bed, 2 ba, 1400 sq ft for $24,000. Mesa was booming. Everything to the south was being developed fast. I am not sure how much pull I had, but it was decided to open a store in Mesa. Fiesta Mall wasn't even a thought at the time we wanted to open, so we chose the NW corner of Southern and Dobson, in the Bayless shopping center. The store was 1600 sq ft. We went in and did all the wall fixtures and displays ourselves. We figured we were pros after seeing what was done at the TM store. Business was real slow at first. We hired a wrestling coach from Fremont Jr High to run the store, Steve Hirko. He was great at getting out to the schools and promoting, as well as Little Leagues and softball teams. Oh yes, softball. Mesa was growing fast, and so was their softball program. The Parks and Rec Dept soon had a Triple A League that was one of the best in the valley. The league played at Ellworth Park. Which was a decent park back then. But lots of teams developed in Mesa, busniess sponsored and church teams, men and young men. Thus our uniform business thrived. Out Kerr team was one of the best in the state. They traveled to other states to play in all the major tourneys. They went to Chicago or St. Louis to play big ball (16") and did well. They had several good players, and a guy named Al Schmeltz that had pitched for the Mets. Another was Elby Bushong, a Phoenix Fireman. He was about 6' 4" and weighed 220 lbs., built well, and in great shape. He became well known through out the West. Every guy on the team was big, except the shortstop and the center fielder. They could score 20 to 30 runs or more with just a few swings of the bat. That team gave us a great return on our investment. They always had the best uniforms and equipment, but the advertising was worth it.
I was back to being a "delivery boy". Each night I would take the van home, and drop off merchandise to the store, and pick up whatever they had to go back to the TM or CT (Christown) stores. Bob took good care of me, I will always be greatful for he and Mary Ellen. As I moved to Mesa, he fronted us money to put down on the house, and they gave me a vehicle to drive back and forth with, it was his Mom's Chevy Impala that was being retired (she had bought a newer car). An older car, but it ran. Later, when the Mesa store opened, I drove the Kerr van back and forth.
I failed to mention that Bob's dad, Dick Kerr, started the business at a small location on 16th St., just north of Thomas Rd. Then Christown was opened, and then Thomas Mall. The 16th St store was closed in the mid 60's. Mr. Kerr passed away in 69 or 70. He had health problems. So Bob took over the business (He would have been 30 or 31).
As I mentioned earlier, there wasn't a "plethera" of sporting goods stores. Marston's (central Phoenix), Pinney-Robinson (Thomas and Central), Morris Sporting Goods (Scottsdale), and nothing in Mesa. Until the population boom hit, and they it was like everyone wanted to be in the sporting goods business.
Everyone year, we would go the NSGA show. The National Sporting Goods Association show, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in October. The really big show was held at McCormick Place in Chicago in February, but it was too cold and too far for us. It never got old making the trip to Cal, and neither did Disneyland. So each year I "dragged" the family to Dland (a whole nother story). The show was a treat. Seeing the new stuff, shoes, bats, uniforms, etc. Meet the big shots from the factory, and even get to shake hands with the Pros, ie Steve Garvey. One year the show was here in Phoenix at the Civic Plaza. There wasn't enough room in the Plaza floor, so they put booths in the parking garage. It was never held here again. I did the show for 10 or so years.
With our Suns tickets and our business success, we were able to do more "promos". I got to meet Paul Westphal, Alvin Adams, and Walter Davis as they signed autographs. Pretty neat for a kid and even an adult.
As we continued doing well. A fourth store was opened at the new Paradise Valley Mall. This was late 1979 or early 1980. Bob committed to a lease, then had a little trouble getting a loan to build. We took out an SBA loan, and the store was built (Prime Interest rates were around 14 or 16%). The layout and decor was a masterpiece. Business was slow. The area had not boomed as fast as expected. The economy had slowed big time. The store was a big drain on our cash flow, and the slowing economy didn't make things any better. Things weren't going well and we were not doing well. We got behind on rent at PV, and eventually had to close the store. We were able to get everything out, without the landlord locking us out. But not so at CT. We moved out of CT on New Year's Eve without the mangement know it. We were able to get all the merchandise out, but left the fixtures. Not an honest thing to do, but necessary to survive. When the lease ran out at Mesa, we closed it as well. Actually, Fiesta Mall opened in 78 or 79, and they had a sporting goods store go in (can't remember who). Soon, all that was left was Thomas Mall store. The only reason they didn't kick us out, was that they couldn't lease the space because of the economy situation, so they allowed us to stay with partial rent payments. We had let most everyone go. I soon was worried about my future. I had made friends with Richard Gooch thru Church softball. He had played on Tempe 3rd ward team, that we had beat (Alma 3rd) to go to Prescott (another story). He was the district manager for Wang Laboratories, a computer/software company. When he heard about our/my dilema, he offered me a job. I found out later, that he really didn't have a spot open, but when Richard wanted something, he got it. I took the job. I hated to leave Bob, I always felt I should "go down with the ship" as I owed him big time. But, I did have a family to care for, so I moved on.....(1982???). Bob gave me the Kerr van as a parting gift. Which saved me with a 2nd vehicle.
Bob kept the doors opened for a little while, and then had to file bankruptcy. He then went into real estate, and other jobs. I didn't see or talk with him for years. One Saturday (early 90's), Mignon and I were at Rosa's, and there he was, with Mary Ellen. They had moved to Mesa. A few months later I went to their house, and we had a great visit, discussing old times.......
After 14 years with one employer it was difficult starting another job. I was now 34, and 14 years in a "small family owned business" was not great credentials for a large structured company. Wang had 33,000 employees in it's prime. It was headquartered in Boston, MA. Our district office in Phoenix took in LV, SLC, and Tucson. My job was order processing. We received the orders from the offices, made sure the numbers were right, that the configurations were right, and verified all the info. Then submitted the orders to Home Office (Boston). It was always down to the end of the month. The salesmen and District Managers had to make "booking numbers" to keep their jobs. So Richard would sometimes have Vance and/or me fly the orders back to Boston. Orders could be anywhere from 300K to 1 million dollars) Later, I would become a "revenue specialist", which required me to make sure orders were shipped out of the factory to make "Revenue numbers" for the sales guys and Richard as District Mgr. With that Richard would send me back to Boston to meet the people at the factory that could help us accomplish our numbers. Aren't we all working for the same company and the same goals?? It was pretty cut throat. Anyway, I got to see Boston, and Chelmsford, and Lowell. I remember being there once in early November. There was no snow on the ground, but it was the worst freezing cold I can ever remember being in. We toured the harbor, saw the old Church (Paul Revere's midnight ride, ask me about the poem), and the historic cemetary. Later when we went back for Jackson's mission tour, I revisited some of those same spots. We had District Meetings periodically. One I remember was at Heber City, UT. We had a few hours of meetings, but spent the majority of the time having fun. Going down the "ski trough ride in a cart", riding 3 wheelers in the pines, playing softball, and eating (this was summer time).
Our District Controller, had a run in with upper management, it seemed he didn't have enough schooling, and was one of Gooch's "puppets", so he quit or was forced out. Gooch lobbied for me to get the position, but the LA boys wouldn't have it. In the mean time, Richard delayed the fulfilling of the position. So, I temporarily filled the slot as District Controller. I now had to perform more duties, more communication with LA and Home Office. I also had to attend Monthly reporting meetings with Richard. Each month we had to report on the previous months business numbers. There was always big pressure on the sales force to make their numbers, bookings (orders entered), revenue (order shipped), and expenses (under budget). We every smoke and mirror, dog and pony show to dazzle the upper management. The problem was, they didn't buy into it, even though Richard thought we had been successful at snowing them. Richard was a great PR guy, and a great motivator. He adopted the Boy Scout eagle as "his own" reward trophy, and he gave them out constantly, sometimes for no reason. He did influence me to the "art" of taping great moments for use in motivating my Teachers and Priests in later years. We went to LA, San Francisco, Denver, Boston, and Dallas. Richard always made sure we saw the sites and ate good food. I had my first real lobster in Boston, not just a little tail, but the entire lobster was on a plate. We went down the famous winding curvey street in San Fran, and road the same street in Dallas where JFK was shot. Gooch should have been a travel agent. Eventually, a controller was put in place by upper management. And the controllers were now under the Area office, thus no longer influenced by their District Manager.
Wang was created by Dr. Ann Wang, a very intelligent man, who worked for IBM. He left IBM, got a patent on his word processing system, and started his own company. Wang was doing well for a few years, but they wouldn't allow their equipment to be compatible with IBM. Then they tried to fight IBM with a big advertising program. And they went down fast. That and with Dr. Wang getting older, and having a son that did not have the same desire or expertise to run the business caused the company to go downhill. In our Western Area offices were being consolidated and people were being laid off. We had the choice to relocate to Denver, or look for another job.
I might mention at this point, when I left Kerr's I took a pay cut. Richard tried to get me extra hours and overtime, but I was still under what I was used to. Our stake had been divided and ward realigned, so we were now in Alma 4th ward. Clarence Martin and I became friends. He "introduced" me to the world of adult paper carrier. I started throwing a route while I worked at Wang. I would do the route at 1am to 4 or 5am, sleep for an hour or so, and be to work by 8am (another story).
Back to Wang, so after about 3 years at Wang, the branch closed. I received a severance package, so I had a little to get by on.....as I began a quest for a new job. Vance Blair and I went to sign up for unemployment, but I didn't qualify, as I had other income as a "paperboy". Vance and I tried delivering phone books for "Dex" or whatever they were called. What an experience that was. We were in South Phoenix (scary) and Scottsdale, made very little money, so that didn't last too long.
I sent my resume out wherever I could. I remember answering an add for a assistant controller. I got a call one day from Robert Lechner, the guy that was hired as the controller for Wang (he and I became somewhat friends, as I had to fill him in on everything that was going on when he first came on board at Wang). So he had left Wang with the shakeup and had gotten a job at Eyeco (a retail eyeglass business) and was looking for an assistant controller. I went to the interview and was hired. I can't remember exactly now, but I wasn't out of work for more that a week or so, before this job. I went to the interview and was hired. One small challenge--the year before the whole Wang thing came to an end, I got this big idea to buy a new house and moved my family to Gilbert (Arboleta south of Elliot) and Eyeco was at 32nd St. and Shea in Phoenix. Ouch!!! Well, I had a job, so I gave it the old "college try". I took Lindsay north to Mckellips, then to Mcdowell, then to Pima (the 101 wasn't built yet), then north to Shea, then west to 32nd St. Oh, I was still throwing papers, now in Gilbert. I started at oneish, and ended at 4 or 5, slept an hour, and tried to make it to work by 8.....I don't know how I did it.
I worked at Eyeco for almost 3 years, 1985 to 1988 roughly. Eyeco was taken over by Lincoln Savings (who was the lender for Eyeco, so when they defaulted on their loans, LS took over the operation). Lincoln Savings was owned by American Continental Corp. or Charles Keating (look him up on wikipedia). I never met him. I was now back into the retail business, where I had some experience. Eyeco owned 5 stores in the valley, and 2 in LV. I travelled to all the stores for inventory, audits of their sales records, and equipment verification. The two LV mall stores were at Meadows and Fashion Show. The valley stores were Christown, Westridge (83rd and Thomas), Glendale Mall (59th and Glendale ??), Paradise Valley, and Tri-City. For lunch almost everyday, I would drive to the Dairy Queen on Sweetwater and 7th St (???) get a chocolate milk shake, got to an LDS Church parking lot, sleep for 30 minutes, and then back to work.
One day as I got to Pima road, it was blocked off. Only the east side was blocked off, the west side was open. It seems the Salt River Tribe owned the east side and the City of Scottsdale owne the west, and there was a dispute over their agreement. So for the next few weeks, I used Hayden north. As I became comfortable at Eyeco, things were happening. American Continental didn't want to continue running and eyeglass operation, so it was announced that Eyeco was being sold to Eyemaster. So if we wished to remain with Eyeco we would have to move to Texas, or look for another job. Texas wasn't an option, so I would be back on the job hunt.
Don (Organ) had been saying for years that Bio Huma Netics could sure use me. But they were having financial difficulties and the time was never right. When he found out I was going to be out of a job, he said I should come out to BHN and talk with Darwin Bentz. I did just that and began working at BHN in August of 1988. Who would have known that I would still be there 19 1/2 years later.
My first day at BHN was my last day with Linda. Out divorce would be finalized in November.
I started a t BHN in the same office that I am now in. Only I had a table for a desk, and Laurie Fackler worked in the same room. It took me awhile to get use to the operation. Darwin and Laurie Brewster did the invoicing, and Laurie F. processed payables. Del Stout wrote checks, as well as Darwin. It was kind of dis-jointed. The winter months were slow for business. So as spring started that next year things picked up. The management/owners had a growth agenda. And in the next months we opened offices in almost every major agriculture city in the West. Safford, Yuma, Blythe, El Centro, Indio, Tulare, Modesto, Pasco, Nampa, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Enterprise. I am sure I've left some out, but that is close for now. We set up blending plants in about 6 of the offices. That required tanks, mixing tanks, and all sorts of equipment. Our employees grew to around 110, 55 pickup trucks, and equipment galore. In the spring, I was still involved in Easter Pageant. One of the "prop people" who had lead me thru the curtain after the "Oh Jerusalem" scene because of the lighting change was Mignon Hallows. The 12 Apostles hooked us up, we dated a couple of weeks, and was married on May 5, 1989. As business grew, our accounting department needed to grow. I hired Mignon, Kenny Martin, Carrie Martin (Kenny's sister). The next thing I know we bought the building to the south of us, 203 S. Roosevelt. The owners moved into remodeled offices over there and the accounting dept. moved as well. Eventually, we added Clarence Martin, Darrell Fackler, Shawn Owens, and Lois Waters (friend of Mignon's). During the summer, Jeremy, Steele, Luke, and Melanie worked in various departments. Bruce Bach did purchasing and Bryan Foose tracked equipment. Others who came and went were Kathy Petersen, Bret Petersen, Pam Shorey, Lorna Farnsworth, Brandi ??, Jenny ??, Tamara Broadbent, and others.....such as Ray Russell, Andy Arnold, and Carl Forsberg. Diane Heath was working at 201 S. when I first started as an admin person for Don. 89 and 90 were hectic years, we hit 20 million in sales. I couldn't keep up with the growth, it was too fast and furious. The managers in the field were unskilled at running offices. We had also started at packing plant in Pasco, Wa. as well as a marketing group in Visalia to broker produce. We had a warehouse at 1 and 3 N. Roosevelt, as well as a lab. The lab had a chemist (Roy), an assistant chemist (PJ), and 2 helpers, Wendy and my son, Michael. Dave Stout was the formula guru, and quality control guy. We hired Bruce Munns (he was married to Mignon's sister Sherrie) to setup, build and maintain the mixing plants. We bought an airplane, acquired a leasing company, and did "circles" with John Dexter. We grew too big, too fast and it all came crashing down in 91-92. The next thing we were forced into bankruptcy. The trucks, equipment, and airplane were reposessed. The unsecured creditors were represented by some sleazball attorneys - Dillingham and Cross. They were after blood, or at least money for the creditors. The problem was, the attorneys got 1/2 million, and the creditors got no money, just stock. It was unbelievable. A trustee was appointed by the Bankruptcy Court. His name was Paul Snyder. He essentially oversaw the daily operations and expenditures. He ousted the original 5 owners. Lyndon Smith, Jordan's son, who was brought back on into marketing.......took over as President, Mike Boyd and I became VP's fill out the officer list.
I will write more later............
Sunday, February 03, 2008
My Joining the Church
I grew up in Shelbyville, IN. I attended St. Joseph's School (Catholic) 1st thru 4th grade. My parents moved to Santa Ana, CA and I went to St. Anne's the last half of 4th grade. We then moved to Phoenix, AZ, CA wasn't that successful for my folks, and they had some friends in Phoenix that lured them over. St. Theresa's Grade School was at capacity, so I had to go to "public" school for the first time. I attended Tavan (45th St. and Osborn) in 5th thru 8th grade. I then went on to Arcadia HS. My dad never went to church, but he drove mom and I (mom didn't drive). When I was old enough to drive, I drove mom and I each Sunday at 5:30am (or 6:30??). We got out 45 minutes later, and we were done with "church" for the week. While I was in 8th grade, we bought a home at 3610 N. 44th Pl right next to an LDS church (you've all taken the "guided tour"). For the next 5 years we tried to figure out what was going on??? There were HS kids there at 7AM in the mornings, younger kids there in the afternoons at 4PM, HS kids there again in the evenings, sometimes people there on Friday and Saturday evenings, and then lots of people there on Sunday. Then some Sundays, no one showed up?? What the heck!!! (as Rennie would say) I had friends who were members, but not close friends. In 8th grade Darrell Truitt and I became best friends. I spent more time at his house than mine. As we started HS there was a group of us guys and girls that "hung out". We went to football games, Legend City, and school dances. One of the girls was Linda Carroll. We were "paired up" and kind of went together. The "relationship" was short lived, as I "opted" out, I was kind of chicken, and not a "rico suave". Darrell broke up with his girl (Ann Rost??), and then started hanging out with Wanda Rippstein (they were in band together). Darrell and I spent many a night at Wanda's (she had a pool table) and at her girlfriends house (Debbie Grubbs). At Debbie's we played "hearts" for many nights. I am talking 3 to 6 nights a week. The only nights we were not together was when we had homework/test or the nights that the girls parents said we needed to stay away. I wasn't too fond of Debbie, but I hung out because I had no better option. Now, Darrell and I are into our Sophmore year, and Wanda and Debbie are Juniors. We hung out alot!!! The girls got the idea of going to Junior/Senior Prom. I was roped in. But I never committed, and then backed out at the "last" minute (chicken me). I was banned from the Grubb's house, as I think a dress was already in progress. Somehow, Darrell and Wanda "broke up", I think her parents told them they had to. So Darrell and I had time on our hands. We started hanging out with Rob Millsap (four years younger than us), Darrell's neighbor across the street, because when were done playing whiffle ball in the 110 degree heat, he had a swimming pool. Rob was a good ballplayer, he use to pitch an hour everyday with his Dad in the off season. His dad didn't like him playing whiffle ball with us, thought it would ruin his arm, but somehow Rob still played. Darrell's sister, Susan was friends with Rob's sister Ann, and with Debbie Grubb's sister Sandra. All were the same age, just graduating from 8th grade, soon to be frosh. Darrell and I, not wanting to go out of the neighborhood, gained crushes on Ann (Darrell) and Sandra (me). That lasted June and July. And by the way, I was no longer banned at the Grubb's home, but not on good terms with Debbie. The "romance" with the frosh girls was soon to be over. Their parents weren't too keen on boys turning 16 "dating" their daughters (none of us were Church members). Darrell and Wanda got back together one month before school. While I spent months sulking over the loss of my first real girlfriend, at least in my mind, I played the field. I took Darrell's sister to Homecoming, her friend Susan Weber to Christmas formal, and then Sandra to Jr/Sr Prom. All this time trying to get back "together" with Sandra. So while all this HS "romance" is going on, I am in American History sitting next to Linda Carroll. She has had her share of romance troubles too and so we start writing notes back and forth with our troubles. This went on most of the year. Finally, I figured out that Sandra and I didn't have a "chance". So as the summer almost came to a close, I asked Linda to "go steady" (giving her my class ring). So my exposure to the Church began. We would debate religion periodically, and I found out how much I didn't know. Sometimes we argued, so we tried not to discuss religion at all. We went together our senior year, and into my freshman year at ASU. My folks had moved back to IN, so I was on my own at ASU, living with Darrell, and Dave Wood in the Happy Homer Apts. I didn't have a car, or a job. So I was a leach on my parents, and always at the mercy of others for rides. I stopped going to church, after going for years. I spent many weekends at Darrell's house, so he could see Wanda, and then I could see Linda. Linda's mom (Joyce) was to marry Don Organ sometime in January. As Christmas came that year, I was not going back to IN (no money), so I stayed at Darrell's (his parents really liked me or they were just kind). Linda invited me to go to Church with her and the family. THE REST IS HISTORY......
It was Sacrament Meeting Christmas Program. It was at the building at Mesa Dr. and University (Don's ward) and Mignon's old ward, but she had now gone to BYU. I don't remember much, except I had a really good feeling (The Spirit starting to work???). If her and I were to ever hope to get married, it would require me to become a member. So I contiuned to attend church. We went to Phoenix 18th ward, where she still lived. And the same building that was next to my home. I began playing basketball with the senior team. I wasn't that great at B ball, but I could hold my own. But then found out that they also played softball. I had been cut from ASU, and my connections with HS Legion Baseball had faded. So softball began and continued for the next 30+ years. I continued going to church every Sunday. Linda and I became more and more serious about marriage. I believed the Church was true but "afraid" to make a committment. I really became close to the guys on the team. One night in June I decided to join the Church. It was a requirement back then that you had to have taken all the discussions, so I had some that night and the rest the next morning. The Baptism was arranged for the next day (Saturday, June 28th, 1968) and most all the guys were there for the service as well as many other from the ward. My parents had just moved back from IN (too cold), and my mom wasn't too thrilled with me leaving the Catholic Church, but I was pretty much an adult now, so it was my decision. I was given the Priesthood and a calling to assist with teaching the Deacons. One of the men (Bob Kerr) on the softball team owned Kerr Sporting Goods, and offered me a job to work in the store. I gladly accepted, and worked for him the next 14 years. Another, Larry Nelson, helped me buy my first car, a 1962 VW. A year later, Linda and I are married. A year after that, Darrell and Wanda, get married, go on their honeymoon, go thru Salt Lake City, and tour temple square, and put their name in for missionaries to contact them. They join the Church a few months later. Rob Millsap thru another contact joins the Church a year or so later.
It was Sacrament Meeting Christmas Program. It was at the building at Mesa Dr. and University (Don's ward) and Mignon's old ward, but she had now gone to BYU. I don't remember much, except I had a really good feeling (The Spirit starting to work???). If her and I were to ever hope to get married, it would require me to become a member. So I contiuned to attend church. We went to Phoenix 18th ward, where she still lived. And the same building that was next to my home. I began playing basketball with the senior team. I wasn't that great at B ball, but I could hold my own. But then found out that they also played softball. I had been cut from ASU, and my connections with HS Legion Baseball had faded. So softball began and continued for the next 30+ years. I continued going to church every Sunday. Linda and I became more and more serious about marriage. I believed the Church was true but "afraid" to make a committment. I really became close to the guys on the team. One night in June I decided to join the Church. It was a requirement back then that you had to have taken all the discussions, so I had some that night and the rest the next morning. The Baptism was arranged for the next day (Saturday, June 28th, 1968) and most all the guys were there for the service as well as many other from the ward. My parents had just moved back from IN (too cold), and my mom wasn't too thrilled with me leaving the Catholic Church, but I was pretty much an adult now, so it was my decision. I was given the Priesthood and a calling to assist with teaching the Deacons. One of the men (Bob Kerr) on the softball team owned Kerr Sporting Goods, and offered me a job to work in the store. I gladly accepted, and worked for him the next 14 years. Another, Larry Nelson, helped me buy my first car, a 1962 VW. A year later, Linda and I are married. A year after that, Darrell and Wanda, get married, go on their honeymoon, go thru Salt Lake City, and tour temple square, and put their name in for missionaries to contact them. They join the Church a few months later. Rob Millsap thru another contact joins the Church a year or so later.
"My Story"
(I couldn't find the download... here are the words)
I'm the one that writes my own story
I decide the person I'll be
What goes in the plot, and what will not
is pretty much up to me
And just in case I need to erase,
it was figured out before
a thing called repentance,
can wipe out a sentence, a page, or a chapter, or more
Everyone, who writes his own story
now and then will make some mistakes
But given some care, they needn't stay there,
and this is all that it takes
You must know, you've done wrong and so
you feel very bad and then
You don't try to hide it
You do try to right it
and vow you won't do it again
This Book of Mine is very important
and so Someone is waiting right there
to help with my story, He's been there
before me, and always as close as a prayer
We will write each day and night
and do it faithfully
A wonderful story of sadness and glory
It's written by Jesus and me.
My Story, "My Turn on Earth" by Carol Lynn Pearson & Lex De Azevedo
I'm the one that writes my own story
I decide the person I'll be
What goes in the plot, and what will not
is pretty much up to me
And just in case I need to erase,
it was figured out before
a thing called repentance,
can wipe out a sentence, a page, or a chapter, or more
Everyone, who writes his own story
now and then will make some mistakes
But given some care, they needn't stay there,
and this is all that it takes
You must know, you've done wrong and so
you feel very bad and then
You don't try to hide it
You do try to right it
and vow you won't do it again
This Book of Mine is very important
and so Someone is waiting right there
to help with my story, He's been there
before me, and always as close as a prayer
We will write each day and night
and do it faithfully
A wonderful story of sadness and glory
It's written by Jesus and me.
My Story, "My Turn on Earth" by Carol Lynn Pearson & Lex De Azevedo
Saturday, February 02, 2008
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