Thomas Oliver:  

I am retired from the Federal Government for over 16 years now. My career was awesome and I got to do some very interesting work for several agencies. The career allowed me to see every state in the good ole US of A. Most of my career was in managerial positions. As a party animal throughout school and afterwards the upstart of my career was rocky. After my mother died in 1978 I went into a rehab for addictions and stayed sober for over 18 years. I met my life mate at an AA meeting. He was from Boston, Ma. and he was a former Xaverian Brother. He left his religious order and went back to school for his Doctorate. Brian's career resulted in us moving all over the country where he managed Psychiatric Units. He became a Hospital Director when we lived in Indianapolis, IN. I managed the Payroll Dept. for the Audie L. Murphy VA in San Antonio, TX., I was a personnel specialist and an Employee Development Specialist and eventually managed the Midwest Collection operation for the IRS. When we moved back to Texas from Indy I got a job with the US Environmental Protection Agency where I was an External Affairs Specialist. I interacted with all the governors from Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. I met and became friends with Ann Richards and Bill Clinton. LOL can you imagine?? I gained a significant amount of "Hill Experience and Federal Grant experience in that job. My job was a high visible position. Was always on the TV, radio and in the newspapers. LOL I worked with all the Native Americans in New Mexico who needed help starting up their own Superfund Program. Crawled around all the pueblos, fished for turtles in Lousiana and went on possum hunts with the Cajuns. LOL Brian and I moved back to Boston and lived on the ocean. He managed a Psychiatric Hospital and I became the Administrative Officer for the Chief of all the VA Research. Spent lots of time in Washington, DC and traveled extensively to all the VA facilities all over the country. Got to know DC very well and gained more Hill Experience. Brian passed on from a he...Expand for more