Tina Knepper-smith:  

After I graduated St. Augustine's in '77 I went to Belleville West. I graduated from there at age 16. I hurried through because I didn't like high school. Then I went to Belleville Area College and graduated with an Associate's Degree in welding technology in '82. If you know me, you know that the daughter of a professional race car driver would definitely try to master a man's job. Oddly enough, even though I was the first woman at BAC (now SWIC) to earn a degree in welding, I never did work as a welder. I got married in 1983 and promised my ball and chain, er, I mean, the man of my dreams, that I wouldn't pursue such a dangerous career. Steve and I had a son, Rick, in '84. I didn't like having babies so I never had any more. Today Rick is an emergency medical technician and a fireman. I'm the mom of a real-life hero! Steve works for the city, and I work for Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis as a medical transcriptionist in the surgical pathology laboratory. I work with the smartest MDs and PhDs from all over the world. I love the job and I love the people I work with. I love gourmet cooking and baking. Baking cookies is one of my favorite things. If you're on my Christmas list, you can expect some wonderful morsels! ...Expand for more