Jim Williams:  

I graduated from high school a year early and started school at Tech in the fall of 1973. That lasted about 1 semester on the first go around. I had way too much energy to sit and study at 16. I soon joined the United States Air Force. I was trained as a flight line mechanic and after a year I was given the chance to go on flight status as a Flight Engineer. I spent the next five years keeping a fleet of aging Vietnam era C 130's flying missions around the world. I logged almost 1700 hours of flight time during this period. I also did a hell of a lot of growing up while I was out and about the planet. I met a lot of really inspiring people in the Air Force that I'll never forget. I also started distance running after basic training and joined the base pistol team to do some competition shooting. After 6 years of fun and games in 3rd world countries and Europe, I decided to get out of the military and help with the family business. Things were dull and boring until I met up with the best-looking gal on the river,...Expand for more