James (Jim) Stagner:
CLASS OF 1955
Delano High SchoolClass of 1955
Delano, CA
University of Virginia - BusinessClass of 1994
Charlottesville, VA
FAA Aeronautical AcademyClass of 1980
Oklahoma city, OK
FAA Aeronautical AcademyClass of 1973
Oklahoma city, OK
Cecil Avenue Middle SchoolClass of 1951
Delano, CA
James (Jim)'s Story
Life
I was born in Texas in 1937 and my folks moved us to California in 1941. My Dad was a Church of Christ preacher and my Mom became an accountant at various car dealers. My dad passed away in 1983, but my Mom lived until she was 87. I attended the 50th High School reunion of my Delano Joint Union High School class (Alert and very much alive, thats the class of 55) earlier this year (took our RV across the country).
After high school I joined the USAF for four years. I had a story on navigational aids published nationally in the USAF, and was hired as an Electronic Technician with the Federal Aviation Administration. After passing the state Professional Engineering exam, I became an Electronic Engineer. I worked at Burbank/Van Nuys Airports, Half Moon Bay Long Range Radar, Oakland Air Route Traffic Contol Center, Western-Pacific Regional Office (with a field office in Honolulu tough duty that!), and Washington Headquarters where I retired as a Deputy Service Director. I have been a member of Mensa, USCF, NHRA, PPA, a Master Photographer, and I am proud to be a Christian.
My Wife is named Mary Ann (married three times, took a while for me to get it right), and we have 8 kids, 16 grandkids, and 9 great grandkids. My first wife was my high school steady (Barbara Ann from Porterville High--we had a daughter Elizabeth Ann and a son Tony). My second wife was Margaret Ann from the San Francisco Bay area, and we had a daughter named Melissa Ann. Liz works at a Borders Book store in the San Diego area, Tony is a church missionary and lives in Idaho (when not on a mission), and Melissa is a Staff Sergeant in the USAF stationed at Vandenberg AFB.
I have visited 49 of the 50 states and 22 countries. I collect Classic Cougar Muscle Cars (I own three of them). My wife and I sell Photographic Art and travel in our RV in our retirement. We own a cat named Isis and two dogs (Yorkies named Bridgett and Misty).
In September of 2000 I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and given four months to live. They put me on steriods hoping that I might last as long as two years. Well, I fooled them all when within a couple of months I was off of oxygen, and within a little over a year off of steroids. The doctors said I had a phenominal recovery. I told them I prefer the term miraculous. I had several churchs praying for me, and the doctor said it must have been that because it was nothing he did.
Last year we retired to a Del Webb community just outside Fredericksburg, Virginia. Between church, cars, photography, and all the "active adult community" acitvities we have a pretty full life.
Drop me an email some time. This area is full of history and has four pretty seasons a year. Stop by if you are in the area.
School
I went to six different schools from kindergarden to fourth grade (Bakersfield, Rosedale, Wasco, La Habra and then Delano, CA). We moved to Delano in the late 40s and I went to Cecil Ave Elementary School, and Delano Joint Union High School. I was a bit of a nerd in High School. I was on the school newspaper staff (Live Wire), a CSF member, and nicknamed "four eyes" or "Walking Encyclopaedia"). My first car was a 1951 Hudson Commodore with "three on the tree" and overdrive. It was actually pretty fast for it's day, but I wanted a "younger" car so I got a 1947 Plymouth Coupe that was all fixed up (nosed, decked, lowered, fender skirts, dual spot lights, dual exhausts etc.). My Mom worked at the local Lincoln Mercury Dealer so getting used cars was easy. I drove their 1954 Lincoln when I could (and wanted to go fast). I dated a girl from Porterville High School I later married (first wife). School was way too easy, and didn't take any work at all. Got an interest in fast cars which I still have (I own two CJ428 Mercury Cougars). My first race car was a 1964 Comet Cyclone I raced in the 1966 Winternationals. My Dad was a Church of Christ preacher, and I was active in church. We had a pretty good youth group. I enjoyed attending the 50th anniversary of the Delano High class of 55 (in 2005) we drove out to CA in our RV. I look forward to the 55th Anniversary of the class of 55. That just seems poetic.
College
I went to Bakersfield Junior College right after High School. I quit college, joined the USAF, and got married (in that order). I went to technical school during the USAF, and also took some correspondence courses. Went to Cal State LA Valley night school and later I went to night school in Fremont, CA after I got started working for the FAA. I found school really dull so I challenged and passed the State Professional Engineering Exam (I like challenging exams and have passed the private pilot's written exam, the Radio Telephoney written exam, and the Certified Photographers exams to...Expand for more
o). Much better than finishing school. Studied many engineering courses at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, and management courses at various locations (Cal State, Lawton Oklahoma, FAA Executive School). Attended Graduate school at the University of Virginia (Darden College). I have attended several photography schools, and am now a Certified Professional Photographer, a Master Photographer, a Photographic Craftsman, and A Virginia Fellow of Photography. I was a guest lecturer at Cal State Los Angeles when I worked for the FAA, and we both teach photography classes now (in Las Vegas, Maryland, Delaware, and throughout Virginia).
However, nothing beats the Christian upbringing my parents provided me, and after straying for a few years I am now again a churchgoing Christian.
My third wife Mary Ann not only got me started in photography, but also got me back to going to church.
Workplace
My first jobs were while I was in Delano High School and Bakersfield College. I worked in the office at McMahans Furniture (where my Dad worked), at our Malt shop in Delano, and at Morris Department store also in Delano.
After serving for 4 years in the USAF, I joined the FAA as a GS5 Electronic Technician Trainee in Beautiful Downtown Burbank. I went to many tech schools in OKCity at the FAA Academy (CE,RADAR,ATCBI,RML,SMMC). I later worked at the Half Moon Bay Long Range Radar Site. I became a first level Supervisor at the Oakland ARTCC in 1973 (and from then on went to many classes at the FAA Management school in Lawton OK). I passed the state professional engineering exam and became an Electronic Engineer in 1977. I was promoted to Middle Manager in 1978 at the FAA Western Regional Office in Los Angeles, CA (after that I went to several Exec School Classes), and I became a Service Director (Senior Executive Service) in 1988 (In Washington DC). The FAA sent me to China and to India. In China I presented a seminar to the Chinese Government on how to modernize their Air Traffic Control system, and in India I evalutated their Radar service in New Delhi. While in LA I was an official spokesperson for the FAA, a guest lecturer at many professional organizations and Cal State LA, and a briefer to many Flag Grade (Generals and Admirals) all over the US.
I retired in 1994 as a GS-15 Deputy Service Director, and I have worked off and on as a consultant (Dimensions International and Flight Explorer). I have also become a Master Photographer and Certified Professional Photographer. My wife Mary Ann was a professional portrait photographer for many years. We are both retired now and travel in our RV around the USA taking photographs. We display and sell them in Fine Art shows and galleries. We also like to go overseas and take photographs there too. We have been to 22 countries. The FAA sent me to Texas and Alaska to teach Strategic Planning. We own a time share in Maui and have exchanged it for lots of neat locations.
However, my son Tony is a church missionary (Church Planter), and so he has the most productive job of any of us.
Military
I joined the USAF in 1956. After 5 week basic at Parks AFB in Calif I got married. I went to Electronic Instrument Trainer school at Chanute AFB in Ill (33 weeks long). Graduated top of my class as Honor Graduate. I spent a short assignment at Portland Airport in Oregon, and the remainder of my career at McChord AFB Tacoma Washington. I taught Pilots how to fly by Instruments, and published an article on it in a national magazine (Flying Safety). It became part of the USAF and FAA Instrument Pilot License Exam. I left USAF in 1960 at the rank of Airman First Class (now called Senior Airman and in the old days Buck Sergeant). I remained in the reserves for two more years, and joined the FAA as a career civil servant. I retired w/38 years service I am now a Fine Art Photographer. While with the FAA I traveled to many military installations briefing them on the National Airspace System. My equivalent rank was O6 (full Colonel), and I got to stay in VIP quarters which was kind of neat. The FAA sent me to China where I briefed the CAAC, and to India where I helped evaluate their RADAR service. As an odd turn of events, while working in Los Angeles the team of FAA electronic engineers and technicians that updated the super secret R2508 complex (including Edwards AFB) worked for me, and while in FAA Headquarters the Program Manager for taking over military airspace when bases were closed worked for me. I just couldn't seem to get away from USAF work throughout my career.
My youngest daughter (Melissa) is in the USAF and has already worked her way up to Staff Sergeant. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree (she was honor grad at a tech school she went to also).
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