Jim Edmonds:  

Been awhile - will update soon 1/21/2023 - Where did the time go? It's hard to believe it has been 25 years since we graduated and while we can reminisce about it we cannot go back. But as I recall this is my story... In spite of my mom's disapproval I didn`t go to college after high school and continued to work in the clothing industry. Tom Scheetz and I did share an apartment for a short period of time but as we all know now you should never share an apartment with your friends since it has a tendency to ruin the friendship. I was also dating Beth Winters and we did get married in 1978. That same year I decided to go into the Air Force and enlisted to work in aircraft maintenance in spite of them trying to put me in computers; who would have thought back then work in computers would ever amount to anything. Anyway, after basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas we moved to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland for my technical training. By 1979 we were off to Beale Air Force Base in California about an hour north of Sacramento. Worked on SR-71 and U2 spy aircraft. Didn't know it at the time but these were two very special aircraft and a really great assignment for Beth and I. I have to say these were really great years for Beth and I and we would both agree were probably pretty close to a story book marriage at that time. Great friends, great location, and a great job. Had an opportunity to stand up a new facility at RAF Alconbury United Kingdom in 1982 to support the then new TR1 spy plane so off we went. Beth was now expecting our first one, Edward, so that made the move all the more hectic but we got settled in and had a pretty enjoyable assignment. Have to say the British people are very nice once you get away from the military bases but sometimes it is hard to believe a lot of our heritage originates from them but made some pretty interesting conversations. Wish we would have taken more time to travel (my fault) but hey I just thought this was business as usual and didn`t see any big deal. 1984 it was time to move again. This time to Travis Air Force Base California located between San Francisco and Sacramento. This move was a little tougher and was probably when the first signs of trouble started to crop up with Beth and I. Still it was a good assignment and we had our second child, Emily in 1986. Beth and I became Christians here and we ended on a pretty high note while I was flying through the ranks working on C5 and C141 aircraft. In 1987 Beth and I decided we wanted to leave California and the surest way for me to do that was to volunteer for a 1 year unaccompanied tour (you leave your family behind) so I went to Kunsan Air Force Base in South Korea while Beth moved back to Maryland to live with her mother for the year. Worked on F4s and F16s. Work wise this was a great assignment but it is tough being there without your family. We also decided to have our third child during this time so Beth was pregnant while I was gone. In 1988 Elise, our youngest was born. When my year was up at the ROC, as we called it, I was assigned to Carswell Air Force Base in Texas in 1988. Flew to Maryland and picked up Beth and the kids and what, a mother in-law also. I can't say I was thrilled to get the Texas assignment but I have to say within 30 days Beth and I really fell in love with the Fort Worth, TX area. We had a wonderful Church family there and Beth and I were constantly surrounded by great friends. For the first time we started thinking about retirement from the Air Force and that Texas may be "the place" to live. Worked on B52s and KC-135s. But as fate would have it congress decided they should close Carswell Air Force Base so we were off again this time to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and we arrived there in 1993. In hindsight that was a very trouble filled assignment starting off with Beth being in a bad car accident 3 days before we left Texas. This assignment took a big toll on Beth and I. Beth's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1994 and we took care of her until her passing in 1995. While her mother was with us Beth went to have her 4 year mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cancer. 1995 was a tough year and we lost the support of having a good Church family during these troubling times. I worked on C5s and was promoted into a senior quality manager's position while there. An opportunity came up to work at Headquarters Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base Illinois, just east of Saint Louis, MO, in 1996 so off we went. Once again work wise this was a very rewarding although frusturating job for me. I worked on several projects with one that made it to congress. I wouldn`t trade the time I had working on "Staff" level projects but I also would never want to do that again so after 3 years I decided it was probably time to retire from the Air Force in 1999. I am very proud of the time I served and both Beth and I had met many absolutely genuine loving and caring people and I would do it all over again if I could. The last year I was in the Air Force I was trying to decide on what I wanted to do for a living now that I had to grow up. Everyone said, "Jim, are you an idiot?" (yes I am but that is beside the point) you are a natural at working on computers that is what you should do. I took a few College Level Examination Program tests and passed without studying so I decided maybe they were right. I did take some college classes in Information Systems Technology but never finished and instead concentrated on getting my Microsoft Certified System Engineer certification. I finished working for the Air Force March 30th but officially retire on 1 Aug 1999. I thought I was going to take a month or two off but I landed my first IT job the day of my retirement ceremony so I never did get that break. We decided to stay in the area and moved to a rental while I started my new career. I did find that I was a natural at this computer stuff and change jobs...Expand for more