James Sewell:
CLASS OF 1972
Boyd County High SchoolClass of 1972
Ashland, KY
Cabrillo High SchoolClass of 1972
Lompoc, CA
Vandenberg Middle SchoolClass of 1968
Lompoc, CA
Buena Vista Elementary SchoolClass of 1966
Lompoc, CA
Clarence Ruth Montessori SchoolClass of 1966
Lompoc, CA
James's Story
Life
I was born in Santa Monica, California and raised along the Central Coast of California in the little town of Lompoc. I am a prison brat (My dad was a correctional officer and I grew up in prison housing).
I started High School at Cabrillo High in Lompoc. I attended school with the same people there from 4th grade until my family moved to Boyd County, Kentucky in February of 1971, halfway through my Junior year. I played football for Boyd County in 1971 season as a senior and had a great time. After graduation, I enlisted in the Army as a Military Policeman, an occupation I continue today as a sergeant on the Orange County Sheriff's Department in Southern California. I met my wife while stationed in Augsburg, Germany. We married there and my son was born there. We have a daughter too, born in California. After I got out I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons at Terminal Island for a couple years before I got hired as a Deputy Sheriff.
I started to do my family genealogy back in '96 and have been addicted to it since. I have slowed down with it a bit lately. I have been back to Kentucky a few times since we graduated. Once in '92 for the reunion and then a couple times doing genealogy research in Somerset, where much of my distant family has lived since 1804....no wonder I like Kentucky so much.
I slowed down on the genealogy bug in 2002 when I bought my new Harley Davidson motorcycle. It's a 2002 Ultra Classic Electra Glide, and is my passion! I joined a local HOG Chapter and ride almost every weekend. I love both day rides and over-nighters with my ride buddies. If only I could get my wife on it......
(UPDATE) I just retired from the Orange County Sheriff's Department on March 16, 2007. Almost 35 years of Law Enforcement, now it's time to relax!
April 19, 2008 Update:
Well I've been retired a little over a year now, and all I can say is, I feel like a ten year old boy on an endless summer vacation. All I have to do is play, and mow the lawn once a week! I hope a 40th reunion for BCHS Class of '72 will be planned. I for one will certainly be there. Seeing everyone again will be great. And y'all should be able to handle seeing me once every twenty years....
School
I moved to Ke...Expand for more
ntucky in February of '71, halfway through our Junior year. My first day of school at Boyd County was the first day of spring practice for football. Loved it! I went out a few times with Vicky Conley during the first part of my senior year, but screwed that up. Then I spent the rest of the year with a major crush on Debbie Stephens. I never asked her out, wish I did. We wrote to each other often after I joined the Army, but after a year and a half or so the letters stopped. A couple years ago I was able to get back in contact with her thanks to classmates.com and her sister, Pam. Several nice phone calls and an invitation to her wedding in Vegas. I wasn't able to make the wedding (I was moving that same week :o( ) (Debbie came to California with a friend of hers. We saw each other for the first time in almost 30 years (2004). That was great! After graduation, I hung out for awhile before joining the Army. I left Kentucky in September of '72 and never was able to return until our reunion in '92. I have been back a few times since, but only pass through Boyd County. I found family in Somerset, Pulaski County, while doing my family genealogy and spend time with them.
Workplace
I started my Law Enforcement career as a US Army Military Policeman right out of High School back in 1972. I have been a Deputy Sheriff since May 1980. I have been a Sergeant since 1988 and supervised a special investigations detail 2001-2004...best job I had in the 34 years I have worked in Law Enforcement.
I retired from the Orange County Sheriff's Department in California on March 16, 2007. Time to relax!
Military
I joined the Army right out of High School. It was the only place you could be a cop at 18. I went to Germany and loved the duty. I met my wife over there, and my son was born there. I stayed in Augsburg, Germany for just under 5 years. From there I was sent to Fort Polk, LA. Stateside duty sucked. I was lucky in so much as the three months I did there was the three months my company worked patrol, but it still sucked. There was no since of purpose like I felt in Germany. I got out after a bit under 6 years. I guess if the Army wanted me to stay in they never would have sent me to Fort Polk!!
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Reunions
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