Jeff Rockwell:  

I was born in Portsmouth, Ohio and spent my early preschool days in Lucasville with my mother and grandparents while my father was in the Navy. When my father ended his active duty, the family moved to Alexandria, VA in 1967. We lived in the Shirley Duke area where I attended Patrick Henry Elementary. I would spend my kindergarten (Mrs. Robinson), 1st grade (Miss Fenton), and part of my 2nd grade (can't remember the teacher's name) years there until my father landed a job in Columbus, Ohio. We moved Whitehall, Ohio in 1971 where I attended Beechwood Elementary. I was in Mrs. Snyder's 2nd grade class. I lived on Virginia Circle West with my two younger sisters until we again decided to move during the middle of my 3rd grade year. We finally ended up in Groveport in 1973, in the Westport housing area. We lived on Benson Drive. I attended my 3rd grade year at the old Groveport Elementary school in Mrs. Pilliar's class. I can still remember how those old floors used to creak. After my 3rd grade year, I attended Glendening Elementary. I was in Mrs. Humphrey's 4th grade class, and Mrs. Friedman's 5th grade class. During my 6th grade year the Groveport Middle School was under construction. The district went on split shift at what is now known as the Freshman School. That was rough going to school in the evenings. Coming home on the bus when it was dark outside made it feel like you lost the whole day. I would spend that year in Mrs. Rinehart's class. I finished my 7th and 8th grade years at the middle school when construction was completed. Mr. Brelsford was one of my favorite teachers. I also remember Mr. Dobos as a favorite science teacher. Around 1979, we moved once again to Sims Rd. in a more rural part of Groveport. The move got us out of a declining neighborhood and in the country where we had 5 acres. The move wasn't as tough of a transition this time as we were able to stay in the same school district. I can still remember the long hours mowing that yard, plumbing problems, a yard that would flood like a lake in the spring and mosquitoes the size of pterodactyls. I loved it there, though. I remember only a few of the names of the teachers from my freshman year and high school. I will always remember Mr. Kitchen as my early mentor, however. He was my art teacher and helped me expound on the talents I had. Although I never pursued art as a career, I still remember a lot of what he taught me. I graduated from Groveport in 1981 and spent a few years working odd jobs around the Columbus area trying to figure out what it was I wanted to do with my life. Knowing I n...Expand for more