Luke Gilpin:
CLASS OF 1979
Captain Shreve High SchoolClass of 1979
Shreveport, LA
Southern Methodist UniversityClass of 1983
Dallas, TX
Youree Drive Middle SchoolClass of 1976
Shreveport, LA
University Elementary SchoolClass of 1973
Shreveport, LA
Luke's Story
Graduated SMU with BS's in Mechanical Engineering, Geology, and Geophysics with a mathemagics (no typo) minor in 1985 (6 years...egads!). My Dad probably paid for the new Engineering Building with all of that tuition! What did I REALLY learn? That I had my own opinion, I can truly work my ass off, don't plagiarize (even if you're in the midst of fraternity Hell Week), and that girls can break your heart...
Went to work for Mobil in Hobbs, NM as a petroleum engineer right out of school, hanging in the oil fields. Look up the term "Fish out of water" and you'll see my color picture there. My Dad (an oil field veteran) offered one last piece of unsolicited advice: Save one year's worth of salary. Hey...what about all the stuff I want? After one year, the oil business crashed and since I was the 'new kid on the block' (and the SMU boy and well, it didn't help matters that I rolled into that lil' ol' smelly town in a Lincoln with a sunroof and an 'SMU Engineer' sticker on the window), I was on the receiving end of the ax. I really enjoyed that job! As I was leaving Hobbs, I stopped to take the final picture (sentimental, yes), and much to my amusement, (I kid you not) tumbleweeds were rolling across the highway....... The only thing missing was the theme song to "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." I proceeded to duck back into my Lincoln replete with 'SMU Engineer' sticker and said, "Good Riddance!" as I waved goodbye with a single digit through my open sunroof. What did I learn there? There are interesting people from all walks of life, I can cook Cajun/Creole food like nobody's business and that I can break girls' hearts (retribution!). Scurried back to Dallas and partied like a rock star for 4 months (hey...I had one year's worth of salary, right?), then (my Mom) decided it was time to get back to work.
Went to work at General Dynamics in Fort Worth, TX (Now Lockheed Martin) as an Environmental Engineer (grandma's bridge club network was my saving grace..another story)...keeping your environment clean. That was to be a 1 or 2 year gig, while waiting patiently for the oil business to rebound. There were more people in that one manufacturing plant (32,000) than the entire population of Hobbs NM. 22 years later, I'm still here having a great time! So do me a favor....don't buy or do anything good for the environment because if you do....I won't be able to put food on my table. We build (the best) fighter jets in the world for US and foreign governments.
Married in 1990 to a Fort Worth Graphic Designer, Amber Brown (not the color) and had our first boy, Sawyer Luke in 1993. Before we knew it, 7 years had passed and thought we'd better have another before we hit 40. Then, little Seth Clark appeared. Amber and I divorced a couple of years ago, but remain best friends. We've gotta raise two boys, you know......well, not sure WHAT the teenager is, now. He's mutated into some kind of alien. The boys are very artistic, like their Mom and my Mom, and they are nice-looking like their.....Mom.
I still play tennis and guitar (traded in the Fender for a classical Ramirez, tho), took up cycling, and am a gym rat. Went to Wimbledon once and US Open twice. Australian Open and French Open are next. I do not watch, nor am I interested in any other sport than tennis. That may be a contributing factor to my sons' zeal in NOT being very interested in tennis. I keep in touch with and see several friends from the early daze, most notably, Don Ingersoll (since 4th Grade) and David McNaughton (since 7th, plus we were college roommates and roommates after I got laid off. Dave won the contest as to whom would make more money by 30. Drat!). I also frequently see my good buds Jon Mamula and Greg Guillot from college-era daze.
My big bro, Kert, is married with a little boy, living in San Francisco, working for a software company. He's the only one of us that earned a graduate degree. Yeh...THAT Kert Gilpin. I'm very proud of him! Tim, my lil' bro, lives in Dallas, graduated from North Texas State with a music degree, and is married with two little girls. He is still an incredible jazz keyboardist and plays local gigs, but decided selling keyboards/pianos is ...Expand for more
a more secure way to raise a family than touring and hanging in bars. What happened to 'money for nothing and chicks for free?"
What did I learn from marriage? I can be wrong.....regularly....without even opening my mouth! I thought higher edumacation was supposed to solve alladat. Wonder if SMU has an Office of Refunds?
What have I learned from parenthood? PATIENCE. Forget about getting anything done around the house. It's not really that important. I've also learned that kids can have opinions and a 9-year-old can be right (which means....I can be....wrong? Hmm, maybe Amber was on to something there). I learned a lot about myself: I can be "the best Dad in the world" and "the worst Dad in the world" all within moments of each other! I can also belly laugh...and belly cry.
My favorite quote and I believe it: "I cannot help but think that childhood friends are the bedrock of all one's future relationships, and that you move away from them at your own risk. There is an old African proverb in which I believe: Hold on to your friends with both hands." Arthur Ashe, 'Days of Grace'. I've recently located and reacquainted myself with two friends I haven't seen nor heard from in 40 years (we moved). Picked up where we left off.
My biggest regret(s)? I didn't go back and visit with two of my most influential teachers before they passed away: Ms. Caroline Fullilove from University Elem and Ms Zulma Borders from Youree Jr. High. They took interest in me (read: teacher's pet), got in 'my dark head and lit a match'*, and I was suddenly excited about learning and excelling. Mom TOLD me I'd regret it.....Plenty of time , Mom.
Bragging Rights: I was the first person to ever work at Counter Culture Yogurt Shop in Shreveport! I was also a member of the Youree Drive Jr. High School Stage Band. We won first place at the Hawaiian Festival of Music in 1976. We were the only Jr. High band competing against nothing but high school bands. However.....when we won the whole blasted competition, all the losing bands went out on the island and partied. Our principal, Mr. Willie, was so proud of us, he took us all out for ice cream. We were limited to only one scoop and one topping. Reggie Vaughn did a fantastic job.
My most noteworthy accomplishments (We're STILL raising the boys):
1) Built a 16'x40' two-level deck at our first house. Never built anything before (except that GI Joe torture chamber). Decklights, planters....the works. It was a beautiful thing and most likely still has vestiges of my flesh, blood and spilled alcoholic beverages on it.
2) I coached my youngest's 1st grade soccer team. I'd never coached anything before nor played nor knew anything about soccer (recall the tennis admission above). We scored our first goal at the end of the season (THAT was the accomplishment). Those little boys needed that goal so badly. It was a beautiful goal.....yeah Carter!
3) Served as President of two non-profit environmental organizations. One educated Texas corporations on recycling options, while the other promoted environmental awareness/education in local elementary schools and hosted an annual summer camp entitled 'Camp Earth'. That was some of my most rewarding work; however, even non-profits have politics of which I have very little patience.
4) I learned 'Koyunbaba' on the classical guitar. Took about a year to learn and play reasonably well.
5) I won my first tennis tournament (mixed doubles with Amy) at age 45. It was a grueling 5 matches over two days in the August TX heat, beating the top seeds in third-set tiebreaker final. It took me 31 years and lots of blood, sweat, tears, sprained ankles, and broken racquets (but only when Dad was purchasing them) to get there.
6) I came in second place in the Central Market gumbo contest. Second? She won because she had naturally curly hair. It's a conspiracy I tell ya....
7) Cancer survivor.
8) Update Jan 1, 2009. Amber and I moved back in to raise the boys.
That's my life.....tiz a simple one!
Thanks to everyone for making the Capt. Shreve Class of '79 30-year reunion a HUGE success! I didn't drink for 3 weeks afterwards......
*Life of Pi, Martel. (don't plagiarize!)
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