Bill Morrow:
CLASS OF 1978
Plano Senior High SchoolClass of 1978
Plano, TX
Haggard Middle SchoolClass of 1975
Plano, TX
University Elementary SchoolClass of 1972
Thousand oaks, CA
Pioneer Middle SchoolClass of 1971
Steilacoom, WA
Cherrydale Elementary SchoolClass of 1970
Tacoma, WA
Bill's Story
Life
I really didn't know what direction my life would go after high school. My life as a teenager was badly misguided. I had to go out on a GED rather than graduate with Plano Senior High School class of 1978. My father more or less made me go in to the US Air Force after high school. I was a bit apprehensive about the idea at first, but the Air Force remolded my character and definitely made my life change for the better . I actually made a career of it, did 20 years. Retired in 1998 but I'm still working!!! It's a good thing to stay employed I think.
I never had a high school sweetheart nor have I been married. After a couple of relationships while in the military went sour and while in my early 20's, I decided the single life is for me. My cats are the only company I have; along with other friends at work and in Denver.
Here I am in my early 50's now and still listen to the modern day heavy metal (i.e. Limp Bizkit, Staind, Linkin Park, P.O.D., Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc). Will I outgrow it?...Probably not!!!
Now an electronics assembly/troubleshooting and repair technician, for a company called Analytical Spectral Devices Inc. in Boulder CO. We (the company) build and maintain portable spectrometers.
Living in Lafayette and working in Boulder Colorado is somewhat pricy but being close to the foothills, near good skiing areas and camping. Also not to mention the military retiree benefits (i.e. BX and Commisary privileges, Billeting while traveling, Medical, etc.)life just doesn't get any better than this!!!
School
Attended kindergarten at Palm Lane elementary in Anaheim CA. Summer of 1966 moved to Vancouver British Columbia, Canada. Part of 1st grade in Vancouver then moved to Burnaby (just north of Vancouver) where I finished 1st grade at Chaffey Burke Elementary.
Moved to Tacoma Washington summer of 1967. 2nd through 4th grade at Cherrydale Elementry. 5th and part of 6th grade at Pioneer Middle School in Steilacoom Washington.
Fall of 1971, moved to Thousand Oaks California where I finished 6th grade at University Elementry. 7th grade at Waverly Middle School (that place was so dirty and run down).
Summer of 1973, moved to Turnersville New Jersey. Attended 8th grade and part of 9th at Washinton Township High.
Winter of 1975, moved to Plano Texas. Attended Haggard Middle School, finished 9th grade. 10th grade through senior year attended at the then new Plano Senior High School. PSHS was still under construction while in 10th grade and Independence parkway widened to 2 lane roadway in 1976 (Gosh, was it that long ago?).
Well whoever in my school past that thought ver...Expand for more
y low of me, reads my school synopsis, sorry to disappoint you. I actually am successful in life!!! Most of you who ranked me out and beaten me up, making you think you were so tough and thinking you'll be on top of the world are probably now low lifes, have mediocre jobs, are alcoholics and drug users! Well, good luck in those endeavors!!!
College
Took college courses sort of sporatically while in the Air Force. I did attain an associates degree in electronics technology before retiring at least. I'm hoping to, if time allows to go back to school and finally attain an EE.
Workplace
Oh Boy!!! My first real job after retiring from the U.S. Air Force!!!
Working here at ASD is a real team environment in comparison to some of the units in the Air Force. Now my electronics expertise finally came in to froition. I'm a manufacturing and production tech by job description but also perform maintenance and repair of portable spectrometers. As well as design testing devices for sub-assemblies. How much better can that be?!!!
Military
I didn't think it possible but I did it. I actually made a career of the Air Force. Having gone in after high school in 1978 I was somewhat apprehensive at first. But after being in a couple of years I decided to make it a career. Started out as a transportation specialist driving the big rigs (coach busses and tractor-trailer vehicles) for the first 6 years. Then in 1985 I cross-trained into an electronics career field, computer maintenance. I held that AFSC for the last 14 years until retirement in 1998. In 1986 I got stationed in the 12th TIS at Bergstrom AFB (which closed in 1994 and is now Bergstrom International Airport) in Austin TX. During my off duty time one weekend I drove back to Plano TX where I attended high school, spent my later teen years then enlisted into the Air Force in Dallas. Plano changed quite a bit since I left in 1978. I hear that today Plano is unrecognizable.
At least I got to see part of the overseas world, 2 short tours in South Korea (both at Osan Air Base) and one 2 year tour at RAF Chicksands in England. I think the England tour was best of all.
I developed back trouble when I returned from my second tour at Osan and being stationed back at Buckley AFB in CO. Doctors determined I had a herniated disc. 4 months before retiring, I was flown (via C9 nightengale aircraft) to Wilford Hall at Lackland AFB for surgery. Painful!! Boy that was "not" a fun experience!!
Now retired, working and living in Colorful Colorado. Its great to still be able to use the BX, Commisary and Billeting facilities though no longer active duty. I however, often flash back to the good ole military days.
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