Gary Sanford:  

Life I GRADUATED IN 1979, THE SUMMER OF 79 I SPENT ALOT OF TIME AT GULF SHORES AND THOUGHT THAT ONE DAY, I WOULD LIVE THERE. IN SEPTEMBER OF 79, I GOT BACK WITH CINDY LONG WHOM AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT WAS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. WE DATED FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND EVEN GOT ENGAGED BUT MY IMMATURE STATUS AT THE TIME PREVENTED US FROM LASTING. CINDY WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL WHOM I LOVED DEARLY BUT DRINKING AND BROKEN TRUST HELPED END OUR RELATIONSHIP. IN OCTOBER OF 1980 I JOINED THE NAVY TO HELP GET AWAY AND GET OVER THE PAIN OF A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP. I WAS STATIONED IN ORLANDO FLA. I DIDN'T STAY BUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I HURT MY KNEE AND THEY MEDICALLY DISCHARGED ME. IN APRIL OF 1981, I MOVED TO FAYETTE ALA., THIS IS WHERE I WAS BORN. I WORKED FOR A COMPANY THAT MADE HOSPITAL PRODUCTS. IN MAY, I HAD A DATE WITH DENISE CHAMPION, THE GIRL THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE MY WIFE. WE WERE MARRIED ON OCTOBER 17,1981. THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS WERE HARD AS I'M SURE ALOT OF MARRIAGES ARE, BUT IN 83 WE DECIDED TO TRY TO HAVE A BABY. IN APRIL OF 84 HAD OUR FIRST CHILD, DUSTY. DUSTY IS 20, HE LIVES IN GULF SHORES. HE IS WORKING AND GOING TO COLLEGE THERE. IN JANUARY OF 1986, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A JOB AT THE B.F.GOODRICH TIRE COMPANY PLANT IN TUSCALOOSA. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH GREAT PAY AND BENEFITS. MY WIFES FATHER DIED IN FEBUARY OF THAT SAME YEAR AND HER SISTER DROWNED IN THAT SAME YEAR. THE CAREER MOVE WAS GREAT, BUT YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE TRADGEDIES LIKE WE WENT THRU TO TRULY KNOW THE DEPTH OF PAIN, THESE WERE HER FAMILY MEMBERS AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS THERE FOR HER, I WAS HELPLESS IN ANSWERS FOR HER PAIN. IN FEBUARY OF 87, WE FOUND OUT THAT DENISE WAS PREGNANT. IN SEPTEMBER OUR 2ND CHILD, ASHLEY WAS BORN. WHEN SHE ...Expand for more