Richard Finley:
CLASS OF 1962
Englewood High SchoolClass of 1962
Chicago, IL
Hyde Park Career Academy High SchoolClass of 1964
Chicago, IL
Richard's Story
Life
Registered at Englewood, Tilden, and Hyde Park because of circumstances. Was with Lewis Champlain graduating class of 1958. Most of my classmates went to Englewood. Who can forget Nick and Angels? I attended Tilden but I was living in Woodlawn surrounded by Hyde Parkers.
60's- Graduated from Tilden in '62 and joined the Navy. After Boot Camp, stationed in San Diego, then attended school in Millington, TN. In '64 I married a girl that I met just before leaving home. She was pregnant. Her folks were pissed. I didn't have time to worry about it. I had to go to Quonset Point, RI. and meet up with the aircraft carrier USS. Lake Champlain. There, I was ships company, V6-Division. During flight Ops I drove a NC-2 power unit. My CO thought that I was good enough to be transferred to one of the squadrons that came abord so I was transferred to Helicopter antisubmarine squadron 5 (HS-5) out of Quonset Point. We did cruises on the carriers Wasp, Essex, Randolph, Lake Champlain, Boxer, Guadacanal. Came home in September 1966 and grabbed the first job I could find, working at CTA. Got an apartment on 82nd Ellis. Had another son in early '68 before getting a divorce. Continued to work and go to college at Loop and Olive Harvey part time, some time. It just wasn't possible to socialize without smoking some weed and listening to some Sly and the family Stones. Went to dances at McHenry Hall, Chicago Confidential, Peppermint and a few places whose names I can't recall right now.
70's- In 1973 I remarried. She had two boys. We had two children together. I continued to work and go to college. In January '79 graduated from Roosevelt University with honors and a double major of Geography and En...Expand for more
vironmental Management. The VA was great! I was already working as an environmental protection specialist at HUD under the work study program so when I graduated I was hired full time. I was happy. Then, in July 1979 I agreed to a divorce. I left with basically my turntable and receiver. No vehicle, so I found an apartment where I only needed to take one bus to get to my kids.
80's- I learned a lot at HUD. During that time I wrote environmental impact statements and later on some block grants for the West Garfield Park area. In 1984 I went to the Illinois EPA located in Maywood as an inspector. I had the toughest area in the state which included the southeast side of Chicago. I learned a lot. In '86 I started going out again. The new thing was "Steppin" and when I saw it for the first time I thought "This is what they are talking about? Heck, I can do that".
90's to now- I work and enjoy life. My dad passed away so I take care of my mom. My children are grown and on their own. I have a friend that I hang out with. She has her own house and her children are also grown and on their own. We do stuff together but she don't care nothing about "going steppin" and it's OK with me. I still like reading, arty kind of movies, and I like being entertained. I have had a lot of computers. At home and at work. In 2000 my office moved to DesPlaines. I don't like the drive but I am not thinking about retirement. I manage a bunch of IEPA inspectors that I think are tops. I do get a chance to go downtown whenever I want. I train and certify solid waste inspectors that work for the City (CDOE), so I have occasional meetings with them. I am a CERT volunteer at the Office of Emergency Communications.
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