Ronald Tappan:
CLASS OF 1976
Haworth High SchoolClass of 1976
Kokomo, IN
Indiana University - Arts & SciencesClass of 1980
Bloomington, IN
Maple Crest Middle SchoolClass of 1972
Kokomo, IN
Ronald's Story
Life
Life has taken numerous twists and turns during the years since high school. I went to Indiana University, majored in Forensic Science minored in Psychology. I also entered the ROTC program to assist financially and found that I really enjoyed the military atmosphere.
After graduation, I entered the US Army as a 2nd LT and was stationed at Ft. Bragg NC with the 82nd Airborne Infantry and later with 1st Special Operations Command as a Captain. I was fortunate enough to travel all over the Middle East and Africa.
During this time I married a woman that I had dated in college. We were married for nearly 9 years and had a beautiful daughter, Alison, before we divorced in 1989.
After I left the military, I entered the business world in Sales and Marketing; primarily in the beverage industry (Miller Brewing, Gatorade, Coca-Cola). After leaving Coca-Cola, I opted to take a slightly different route; off of the Fortune 500 and go with more of the entrepreneurial path and have worked in much smaller companies. I guess you could say that I got burned out of the corporate BS. I am very happy with this direction and it is significantly more personally rewarding.
Shortly after I left Miller in '94, I met Goldie, my lovely bride of 15 years, and after a very brief courtship we married and now have a beautiful daughter, Phoebe.
We now live in a small residential neighborhood outside of San Antonio TX with our black lab, Basset Hound, and ...Expand for more
a 'daschador' (half dachshund/half lab) puppy. My wife teaches special education at the intermediate school in Poteet TX.
I travel nationally quite a bit (the life of a 'road warrior'). I stay in close contact with my parents in Indiana; and, in general am very happy with my current station in life.
Workplace
Since leaving the service, I have primarily been involved in the sales and marketing of various beverages. Right out of the Army, I worked for Miller Brewing as a Military Sales Manager, an Area Manager, and a Sales and Marketing Manager.
After leaving Miller Brewing, I have had the fortune to work for several large and small companies - from Coca Cola to small start up companies. I currently work for an organic fruit juice company named Lakewood Juices out of Miami FL. I am responsible for the sales and marketing in about a 15 state area in the southwest US.
Military
After ROTC at Indiana University, I received a commission as a 2LT in the US Army Infantry and went to Fort Benning GA for Officer's Basic then was stationed at Fort Bragg NC and assigned to the 82nd Airborne (2/505th C Company). After a couple of years, I decided to move down the road to the 1st Special Operations Command.
As a 1LT, I was sent to Defense Language School for Arabic. Afterwards, I was assigned to a SpecOps team and traveled to Africa and the Middle East. I got out as a captain and dearly loved ALMOST every moment of my time in service.
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