Allen Cooke:
CLASS OF 1973
Rowan County High SchoolClass of 1973
Morehead, KY
Florida State UniversityClass of 1977
Tallahassee, FL
Florida State University - BusinessClass of 1977
Tallahassee, FL
Godby High SchoolClass of 1973
Tallahassee, FL
Allen's Story
In May 2010 we moved back to South Florida, Pembroke Pines to be exact. It's a joy to be back home. I'm still selling commercial playgrounds, but now have added synthetic grass sports fields to my arsenal of products. We're back at our church in Miami Lakes and it feels like we never left. Georgia was not a fit for this Cooke family. We loved the people we got to know, but the environment really isn't who God made us to be. We need a little faster pace and things to do. We're also more at home with the diverse cultures found in South Florida. However, I personally don't enjoy just two season, Hot and Hotter. Georgia was nicer in the winter. It's also been great being nearer my son, Zachary, now 23 as he attends college in Orlando. We've visited several times and that's been great. When we were living in Georgia, we saw him once in nearly two years. God continues to refine us as He burns out the dross from our lives. I was kind of hoping by the ripe old age of 57 that all the dross would be gone. Guess what, seems like it's still there.
Last October (2008) I took a new job in Athens Georgia (homee of the bulldogs). What a big change this was from South Florida. I now work for a company called Kidz Zone Play Systems as the Georgia Territory Rep covering the entire state. Yes, it's a lot of driving, but I do meet a lot of interesting people. I am a manufacturers representative selling commercial park and playground equipment. I sell to mostly Public Schools and Parks, Churches, Daycares and Head Starts. We, my wife, daughter & I are adjusting to life in Georgia. We love the change of seasons especially Fall & Spring and are learning how to dress for winter (in layers). We attend my brother's church in Athens and enjoy the new friends we've made their. God is good!
I'd lived in South Florida ever since I graduated from Florida State University in 1977. That's 31 years for those of you that are math challenged. I'm happily married to my wife Loida (pronounced "Lloyda) for 13 years and we have a five year old daughter Rachel. I also have a 19 year old son Zachary from a previous marriage and he's attending college in South Florida.
I've been employed as a Business Development Manager/Executive for the past five years and am now actively looking for a new job. We are interested in being in either Georgia (Atlanta/Athens areas) or Florida (Southeast Florida), so if you hear of anything please get back with me. I will forward my resume upon request.
My wife and I enjoy our Ch...Expand for more
urch family and friends. We spend a lot of time with them. We also enjoy taking vacations to: the mountains to hike or ski; Cruising the Carribean; visiting family and friends; and seeing the great wonders of the world.
God is good and I count myself a blessed man.
I always wanted to be a professional football player when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a crazy idea. As it turns out, they were right. I was size and speed challenged. I did walk on a Florida State University and I ws fortunate to walk off after evrything was said and done. After that I played Intra-mural sports, predominantly and enjoyed four more years. When I took my first job in South Florida, for Burdines (a clothing retailer) we'd play football on the weekends. It was a lot of fun and that's where I broke the bridge of my nose. So ends the saga of Allen's pro football career.
I always wanted to be a successful business man when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a good idea. As it turns out, they were right it just took me a few jobs to get there. When I graduated from college I 1st went to work for Burdines, a retailer. I was paid slightly over $10,000 per year, which was good for then. Can you imagine living on $10K now? I left that job when they wouldn't give me a $1,000/year raise, and went to a job that paid 40% more as a salesman selling boy clothing throughout the SE US. That job lasted a year and then I went to work with my family selling "Collection Services". What a stressful job and it lasted for only 2 years and then I went to work for Miami MetroZoo as their Sales Manager. I worked there for 3 years, an enjoyable job, and then was asked to help create the same job for Miami-Dade County Parks. I did and then found that my previous job was being eliminated and ended up taking the job I helped create. Go figure! I then worked for Miami-Dade County Parks for 10 years and left for a sales job selling Commercial Playgrounds and Parks equipment. I have now worked for two more companies selling the same type equipment and finally found myself as a successful business man. Only took 35 years and 8 jobs.
I always wanted to be a happily married man with a family when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a wonderful idea. As it turns out, they were right, except it took a bad marriage first before I found the wife of my dreams. I won't elaborate to much on this except to say, it is best to follow God's ways when pursuing a wife as opposed to how the world does it.
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