Daryl Cottrell:
CLASS OF 1964
Central High SchoolClass of 1964
St. louis, MO
Webster Elementary SchoolClass of 1961
St. louis, MO
Daryl's Story
I graduated 8th Grade from Webster Elementary School in Jan. 1961. I remember some of the teachers on the 3rd floor. Ms. Goudie, Mr. Harrison, Mr.Schucart, Ms. Wilson, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Pettibone, Ms McLain. And the principal Mr Ingerson. I made a lot of friends at Webster, but today can not remember all their names. Bruce Cantrell, Carl Famous, Joann Russo, Sharon Jones, Sandra Cottrell, John Collins, Clarence Price, Tom Gentry are some of the people I remember.
A lot has transpired in the 48 years since I took those first wary steps from the schoolyard of Webster into the halls of Central High School. I regret to say that I did not graduate from Central. It was partly because like a lot of teenagers I thought I did not need to be there, and partly due to being one of the oldest kids from a family of 11 kids. So, to make things easier at home, in Oct. 1963 at the age of 17 I joined the U.S. Air Force. I achieved my GED while in the USAF.
During the next 20 plus years I was assigned to various duty stations,
Oct. 1963 to Dec. 1963 basic training, Lackland AFB, TX.
Dec. 1963 to Sept.1964 technical training, Keesler AFB, MS.
Sept. 1964 to Aug. 1965 305th AEMS, Bunker Hill AFB,IN.
Aug. 1965 to Aug. 1968 6486th AEMS, Hickam AFB, HI.
Sept. 1968 to Mar. 1970 5th AEMS, Minot AFB, ND.
Mar. 1970 to May 1971 305th AMS, Grissom AFB, IN. (renamed from Bunker Hill)
May 1971 to Sept. 1972 I had left the AF and lived in St. Louis county, MO. Re-entered AF in Sept. 1972.
Sept. 1972 to June 1973 technical training, Keesler AFB, MS.
June 1973 to July 1977 1st Aerospace Com Gp., Offutt AFB, NE.
July 1977 to Oct. 1978 55AMS, Offutt AFB, NE.
Oct. 1978 to Oct. 1981 305th AMS, Grissom AFB, IN.
Oct. 1981 to Jul...Expand for more
y 1985 55th AMS, Offutt AFB, NE.
During my Air Force career I performed radio maint. on B-58 Hustler Bombers, KC-135 Strato-tankers, and flew as a crew member on EC-135 Airborne Command Post aircraft.
When I went into the Air Force I had no intention of making it a career, that sorta just happened.
I retired from active duty in the USAF on 1 July, 1985 and moved to Florissant, MO.
My family:
I was married Feb. 13, 1965 to Wanda Roberts of Jennings, MO. 44 years later we are still together. We have three children, 2 sons and 1 daughter,
Daryl Lawrence was born in Hawaii on Apr. 9, 1966.
Daniel Lee was born in Minot, ND. on Feb.17, 1970.
Donna Marlene was born at Keesler AFB, MS. on Apr.26, 1973.
Both Daryl and Daniel live in Florissant, MO. Donna lives in Medina, TN.
We have 3 grandsons, 4 granddaughters.
After my retirement from the military I was employed repairing and calibrating electronic medical equip. and did that until Feb. 2008 when I decided to take my social security early while it was still there.
My hobbies have always been cars, in particular the 60's muscle cars, and drag racing.
I still have my 1969 Plymouth Road Runner that I bought new. I had restored it to show room condition and entered it in many car shows over the years. But the racing bug in me was not dead, just dormant. It is now set up as a full time drag car and should have it's maiden trip down the drag strip this spring (2009).
I have often wondered what ever became of the people I knew when I was just a kid, those friends from my youth. Those friends I graduated with at Webster School in 1961. Those friends that I met at CHS. I hope to hear from some of my friends from my youth or from my time at CHS.
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