What has been the best part of ATO? Withiout question, the association. The Brotherhood. And I have to say that it continues to today. Naturally, I have my association with my 1952-1955 contemporaries, but in all honesty, when I walk into the house today, I can relate instantly to my Brothers of today---this era. Hell, I feel welcome with my Brothers of today; not just like some tolerated old fart from whenever! I won't lose that. I CAN'T lose that! It is not something about which you say, Well, THAT was then; NOW is now." True, all of today's EG Brothers could be my Sons, (some even maybe my Grandsons----SHEEESH!)
You are my Brothers.
My fondest ATO memories? Too many to recount here. My guidance
from my Big Brother, Frank Morris, my relationship with my Little
Brother, George Morris, God Bless Him, (Frank's real little brother).
More? My relationship with "roomies" (down the hall, last room on the
right), Bill Bond,
Walt Chamblin, Steve Volchko, Bob Giffen & Jerry Sauerbrei.
(Bob Giffen, who probably put up with me more than anyone, was Best Man
at my wedding.)
As I said, too may to recount here.
ATO's Contibution to my career.
Probably very little, honestly. I left school after graduation
in '55, (Journalism) and was hell bent on joining the Maryland State
Police which I did in January '56. I left them---to my eternal and
ongoing regret,in "60--- and did several other thngs, none of which
reflect great credit on me, for the next 30 years. To be very honest,
I was really out of my element once I left the State Police. And I
can't credit---or blame---ATO for being a factor in it.
What have I been up to since......
A large variety of things: (see above) 10 years with the UMD
ast Ass't Mgr.of the Student Union, CP, (3 years), 7 years as Mgr.
Student Union, Baltimore Professional School Campus, 621 W. Lombard
Street, Baltimore. and most recently Real Estate Broker, Free State
Properties, and full time Residential Real Property Appraiser until
12/04. Whereupon I quit! (At age 72).
Oh, BTW, I graduated UMD in '55 with a 2/LT commission, USAFR,
became a SAC Navigator/Bombardier, ( you may well ask how th' hell...),
spent 15 years with the MdANG in Baltimore, serving with the likes of
Brothers Bob Mariner, Paul Fisher, Jack Prettyman, Don Mack,
Tom Ward and Don Montano. Retired as a Lt. Col., Sr. Instructor Navigator.
Brothers: We know what it means to serve!
I've been asked what are my hobbies?
That's kind of funny. Especially for those who know me well. I
love to beat the crap out of any golf ball in captivity. I don't play
golf; I play at it! Me and 100 are old friends. My other, and main
hobby is Ellen, my long suffereing Wife of 52 years(UMD '56 Tri-Delt.)
She is more fun to be around that you can ever absorb. Mother to our
three kids, Steve, UMD '80, Sally, College of Charleston, '83, and
Beth, UMD, '84.
My Bride and my kids are my hobby.
My message to my active brothers:
Recognize what you have and what you are.
That's a tough order. Asking you to step back, now, in your
active days, and look around, see what you are and build on the
relationsips you have---and will have for the rest of your lives.
Got a Brother you don't really care for and don't know too well? Hey, Holy-er than thou! Get to know him!
Initiate the interface. This guy IS your Brother.
Don't be guilty of looking yourself in the mirror 25 years from now and addmitting: