Jerry Chapman:
CLASS OF 1966
W.W. Samuell High SchoolClass of 1966
Dallas, TX
Jerry's Story
After high school, my HS sweetheart, Susie W., and I got married and had a son in 1967, Todd, who is now 43, and a great "kid". Unfortunately, our marriage lasted only until 1970.
From 1970 to 1988, I was a senior officer in a small Dallas-based company with 500 employees. That company was subsequently bought by another... then that company acquired by yet another: Electronic Data Systems (EDS).
In 1987, I had my first "major" motorcycle accident on Belt Line Road in Addison. My left tibia was crushed at the knee... 62 days in the hospital... three operations... seven years using "helpers"... walker, crutches and canes. Three plates and 14 screws remain as a reminder.
I tried the marriage thing again from 1977 to 1990... I guess I'm not the "marrying type". :o)
I had quite a tour with EDS from 1988 to my retirement (early incentive!) in November, 2007. I was in the banking side of EDS in Dallas, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and San Diego until my return to the Dallas area in 1998.
1992 - News Flash - Salt Lake City, Utah endures the worst winter in recorded history. Who was the dumba$$ Texan trying to drive a Corvette with 11 feet of snow on the ground? Yep - me.
1994 - News Flash - Northridge, California experiences a maj...Expand for more
or earthquake (Northridge Earthquake) with a magnitude of 6.7, and $30 billion in damages. Who was the dumba$$ Texan who had just moved to Woodland Hills... 3 miles from the epicenter... and worked in Northridge... the actual epicenter? Uhh - me, again.
In December, 2002, I had another motorcycle accident (Update: As of 4/1/2011, the motorcycles have been retired) but this one was totally my fault (you play, you pay). My left pelvis was broken in two places... 90 days in a wheelchair... two seven-inch bolts are still in place. I'm close to being called the "Bionic Man".
From 1998 to 2007, I developed and ran a risk management program for EDS' global operations... over 130,000 employees in 60 or so different countries. That was fun! That risk program is still in use today at "EDS, a Hewlett-Packard Company".
In preparation for an early retirement at the end of the year, I sold my Plano McMansion in mid-2007, and purchased a smaller house in Allen, Texas. Timing is everything because shortly thereafter, the housing market started it's downward spiral.
Now, I am fulfilling my dreams... no debt, sleeping late, being an inventor, piddling around the house, etc. No more schedules... I haven't worn a watch in almost four years!
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