Andrew Elliott:
CLASS OF 1975
Placer High SchoolClass of 1975
Auburn, CA
Arizona State University WestClass of 1993
Phoenix, AZ
Glendale Community CollegeClass of 1992
Glendale, AZ
Phoenix CollegeClass of 1991
Phoenix, AZ
Glendale High SchoolClass of 1976
Glendale, AZ
Andrew's Story
"Mark" is the name I used in high school.
Wow! It has been 41 years since I attended Placer High School. I didn't graduate there because my folks moved around a lot (and I do mean a lot.) I was at P.H.S. from 1971 until 1973. Then my folks moved to Chico, where I briefly attended Chico High School. Then they moved all the way to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and I attended Ft. Walton Beach High School for a few months. Then they moved all the way back to Sacramento, and I dropped out of school. (I was getting a little frustrated.) The following year I started my junior year over again at Brownwood High School in Brownwood, Texas. That lasted a couple of months. Then my folks moved to Glendale, Arizona and I finished my junior year at Glendale High School. (And as if that weren't already enough...) My folks moved again and I started my senior year at Springwoods High School in Houston, Texas. Two months later I was back in Arizona, attending Peoria High School. (I didn't want to graduate from a school by that name.) I insisted upon returning to Glendale High School, and I finally graduated there in 1976. Is this not the most bizarre story?
I didn't know it at the time - in fact I didn't know it at all until 2007 - but I had a condition called Asperger's Syndrome. This is a type of high-functioning autism. Because of that I had a difficult time making and keeping friends. I also had a difficult time keeping jobs. I changed jobs often and changed careers twice. I started out as an electronic technician while I was attending Placer High School. I worked at Electronic Laboratories in Sacramento during the summer of 1972. I abandoned that career in 1981 and went to a trade school in Phoenix, where I learned how to repair air conditioners. I stuck with that until 1995. Then I became an accountant after spending four years at Phoenix College, Glendale Community College, Arizona State University (West), and Excelsior College (where I took a B.A. degree in 1993.)
I have been married four times. Again th...Expand for more
e Asperger's Syndrome has negatively affected my relationships at all levels. My first marriage lasted only four years, and I have one daughter from that. She is married and she lives in Denver, Colorado and has a daughter of her own, now six years old. My second marriage was even shorter, only two years. My third marriage lasted eleven years. My fourth marriage has lasted nine years (and counting.) It has been a rocky road learning about Asperger's Syndrome and how to work around it. People with Asperger's Syndrome have a lot of feelings. They just are not able to express those very well.
Even though I graduated at Glendale High School I have fond memories of Placer High School. I recently purchased a 1974 Potpourri on eBay. (The seller told me he bought it in an estate sale, down in Modesto I think.) I will be scanning and posting some pictures from it here. (I'm on page 116.) I found a website where the names of deceased Hillmen are memorialized. I will pass it along to anybody who is interested. Sadly, 23 names from the Class of 1974, 10 names from the Class of 1975, and 15 names from the Class of 1976 are all listed there.
I now live 35 miles outside of Portland, Oregon. I have lived around here for 21 years. I have an aunt and two cousins who live near Auburn. Three of my cousins graduated from Placer High School; Honey Barrett (Class of 1976), Alan Barrett (Class of 1978 I think), and Laree Barrett (Class of 1982 I think.) Philip Porter was my friend the last year I was at P.H.S. My neighbor down the road was Keith Zimmerman. I had crushes on at least three girls at P.H.S. But, I never told any of them because of the Asperger's Syndrome. Sadly, one of them is now deceased.
When I rode the school bus from Ophir there was a girl who tried to be my friend and I wasn't very nice to her. I regret that. (Again it was the Asperger's Syndrome.) Her name was Clare Polansky. She was really sweet, kind girl.
The only club I was ever in was the Electronics Club, which was run by Mr. Rutherford.
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