Forrest Howerton:  

Life I married in 1965 and had 3 beautiful daughters all two years apart. Arlene, Jayanna, and Kristine. My first was born in 1966. All my girls went to Sequoia Jr. High and also Reseda High. Nice to know that they walked the same halls of learning as their dad. All three daughters are doing well in their chosen fields of endeavor. After Sequoia Jr. High, many of you went on to different High Schools like Birmingham, Taft, and Cleveland High. I'm sorry that that had to happen because I had so many great friends and memories from the 50's & early 60's. I had a blast. Due to family difficulties, I enlisted into the U.S. Air Force in June , 1962. I would have graduated from Reseda High, Class of 64'. But... received my G.E.D. in 1963. Got my High School Diploma one year before I was to graduate from Reseda High. I was an Administrative Medic with two technical schools besides Basic Training at Lackland A.F.B. San Antonio, Texas.. one in Greenville Mississippi ( Basic Med. ) , and the other in Montgomery Alabama , ( Administrative Med.) Just after my release from the service I attended Pierce Jr. College for a short period of time. I was a Tri Chi pledge of sorts.I left Pierce college because I got a really good paying job with great benefits at the General Motors Chevrolet Assembly plant in Van Nuys, Calif.in 1966.. and was eventually promoted into the inspection department in 1968. That was the last year at Chevrolet Division because in that same year.. I drove a factory ordered 1967 Ford GT 390 cu. in. Mustang 2+2 onto the Chevrolet Plant parking lot.The same type Mustang (color and all) Steve McQueen drove in the movie " Bullit." That was a "career ender" to say the least. But to my way of thinking, after spending 8-10 hours a day assembling Camaros and Impalas, I wasn't prepared to climb into one after a day's work on all 400+ of them. Don't get me wrong..Chevy's are great cars and make great engines. Ask any Corvette owner. Moving on... Regardless, I was always a little bit of a rebel...but everything happens for a reason..I guess. In 1968 I became a Professional Mover for Bekins Moving & Storage in Santa Monica starting as a helper and finishing as a Cartage Foreman with a Class One Drivers Lic. two years later. In 1968 I bought a brand new 4 bedroom home in Saugus, California. It was really expensive..$21,750.00 ! I was making $3.42 an hour as a driver/mover working 65 to 70 hrs. on a six day week. Great union rates ! Time and a half over 8 hours. I was clearing $550.00 every two weeks. My house payment was a whopping $210.00 per month. A lot of money back then...remember ? I went into Automotive Sales with Guy Martin Olds in Woodland Hills, Calif. in 1970. They were just building the New West Valley Mall back then. I put many years in automotive sales and became a Sales Master twice ( Buick Div.), General Moters. I treated my female clients ( especially the mothers, wife's, women in general )BECAUSE they are the decision makers. Not the men. When all is said and done , and you turn that buyers work sheet around with the final figures on the vehicle they have selected.. he ( with his arms crossed ) will look at his mate and say..." Well honey what do you think." That is the moment of truth because he just went to the FEMALE for the final OK. And of course I talked to HER not him in my presentation and selection process. The female buyers really appre...Expand for more