Dennis McCray (Gramm):
CLASS OF 1960
Highland Park High SchoolClass of 1960
Highland park, MI
Michigan State UniversityClass of 1967
East lansing, MI
Henry Ford Community CollegeClass of 1965
Dearborn, MI
Henry Ford High SchoolClass of 1964
Detroit, MI
Ferris SchoolClass of 1956
Highland park, MI
Dennis's Story
Life
Consider this the "Dennis & Sharon" profile. My girl (Sharon Gramm McCray) graduated from Henry Ford HS in 64.
NOTE: We have lots of visitors but would love to know who is reading. How about an email or click visitor? I never bite! Well, seldom!
Recapping the past 46 years: After graduating from Highland Park HS in 1960, I spent 7 years as a truck driver for the Detroit News before & while attending college. Graduated from MSU in 1967. The next 2 years were spent in the Peace Corps (PC). Can't say I really enjoyed the Philippines but returned with strong sense of achievement. The PC allowed me to serve our Country while remaining out of Vietnam. I hasten to add I was not anti-military; just opposed to the Vietnam war.
After PC, I worked in housing marketing in Detroit. Decided what I really liked was developement; pointing my career in that direction lead to a move to California in 1972. I have been in the building of apartment complexes since then and run a small developement company.
As for Sharon, she worked for a dentist as his receptionist & office manager after graduating from Henry Ford HS in 1964. Three years later, thanks to the encouragement of her 1st serious beau, Ken, she enrolled at Wayne State reducing work to part time. Three and one half years into Wayne she became bored with school, applied to Delta Airlines as a stewardess, and was accepted in late 1970.
Be it work or school, Shari led an active social life dating an impressive number of diverse guys; not to mention parties,dance clubs, & social events (e.g. Young Republicans). She may be the only girl I've known who fits two opposite types; i.e. "party girl" and "All American Girl". She dated & had a good time but kept the values of a (my) girl next door. Her outgoing fun style, the opposite of mine, was one reason I was so taken with her.
My dating was similar to Shari's. A few less people but longer term relationships. Judy from Missouri was my 1st love who motivated me to get a degree. Ano...Expand for more
ther was Kathy from MSU via Boston; she had many traits I admired & recognized in Sharon.
After PC, I met Shari in Nov. 1969 while she was dating a friend. In 1970, after the two parted, I called. She was 23; me, 28. We hit it off big time from the first and dated for 5 months between her applying to Delta & leaving for training. She instantly became the uptown girl to this downtown inner-city guy. Though we had nuclear chemistry from the get-go & adored each other she needed an adventure outside Detroit for personal growth.
In Jan. 1971, she split for Daddy Delta's "coffee/tea/or (but not) me" job with stays in Atlanta, Houston, & Miami. Shari enjoyed all three but was most fond of Houston; her room mates & a group of neighboring guys lead to fun times. My thanks to one, a Texas law student, who, inadvertently, helped Shari realize I was her "Mr. Right".
While Sharon was on her airline adventure I became involved in the marketing of a housing venture with national exposure that advanced my career and social life. Shari was always in my mind, though.
We kept in touch & she (thankfully) agreed to relight our fireworks with a vacation to Nassau in Dec. 71; the chemistry still approached nuclear fusion! Between her airline adventures & Nassau she concluded as I had: each was "it" for the other. She simply needed to "catch up" with me on life experiences. I moved to San Diego in Feb.,72 & Shari came in May. We married in 74 and our chemistry set produced two fine sons; now 28 & 25.
We have lived in Sacramento since 1974 building our own home in the 80s. For fun I rode street bikes for 30 years. Then in 2003 I bought a 350Z. Shari & I enjoy weekend "speed runs" & country drives/dinners.
Our oldest son is married with two young sons. The youngest graduated from Cal in 2006.
I was not close with the HPHS kids after graduation but have good memories of many. The same can be said for Shari and her Henry Ford schoolmates. Shari & I enjoy hearing from all who find us on Classmates.
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