Bobby Ballard:
CLASS OF 1967
La Marque High SchoolClass of 1967
La marque, TX
Lovenberg Junior High SchoolClass of 1964
Galveston, TX
Bobby's Story
Life
Upon my graduation in June '67, I entered Calhoon Engineering School, Baltimore, Maryland from August 67 to November 1969. Graduated as U.S. Merchant Marine Steam and Diesel Engineer aboard U.S. merchant vessels.
I sailed on ships on and off for the next 15 years, travelling around the world trying to get in as much trouble as legally possible, and had a great time in general. On one of my breaks from shipping out, I spent three years workinging in New Orleans and Houston, and ended up rooming with John Henderson for a couple of years, which was one of the highlights of my younger life. John and I are still like brothers, and those were good times.
I finally married and came ashore permanently in 1984, working for the U.S. Maritime Administration in Beaumont, Texas. Not finding Civil Service to my liking, I resigned from MARAD in October 1990, to work as a marine surveyor for the American Bureau Of Shipping. After 12 years at ABS Beaumont, was promoted and transfered to Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am now Principal Surveyor for all of Eastern Canada, and it appears I may stay here until I retire.
Nova Scotia is a beautiful place...Expand for more
to live, the city is not big nor too busy, the beer is outstanding, and the people are extremely nice, and like Americans. My office building overlooks Halifax harbour (a view to die for) and I can snow ski 100 days a year. Yes, I do ski thanks to the John Henderson school of accelerated alpine training. This course consists of getting drunk by 0700, and letting him talk me into taking the lift all the way up the mountain, for a dry rehearsal taken while watching other skiers on the way up the slopes. Upon disembarking the lift(small crash), learning that there is only one way to get down the mountain, to walk or ski down(big multiple crashes, face plants, and alternative landscaping, etc.). Now that the pain has subsided and I can walk again, skiing is my passion. It does give me a lot of pleasure to know that I finally did get it down, and am a very good skier now.
Halifax is a big tourist attraction in Canada, and between April and October, many cruise ships come this way. If any of you find yourself over here be sure to let me know, and I can offer a personalized tour or at least some guidance on where to go. I'm in the phone book.
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