David Roberts:
CLASS OF 1970
Denton High SchoolClass of 1970
Denton, TX
David's Story
It’s 2023, a new year and time to update this story.
I grew up in the North Texas area and graduated from Denton Senior High in 1970. In September 1970 I enrolled in Cook County Junior College, but due to the Vietnam War and the military draft I elected to enlist in the U.S. Navy in February 1971. For over 26 ½ years I had a rewarding career as a Navy Air Traffic Controller; Airport and Airspace Administrator; Carrier Air Traffic Control Supervisor and Combat Supporting Arms Supervisor. I retired as a Senior Chief Air Traffic Controller October 1, 1997 while serving at the Federal Aviation Administration, Navy Representative’s Office, SW Regional Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.
I attended Basic Air Traffic Control; Radar Air Traffic Control; Carrier Air Traffic Control; Naval Amphibious Warfare School, the Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, OK; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and received formal training and certifications in Naval Air Traffic Control Tower Procedures; Radar Air Traffic Control Procedures; Amphibious Combat Air Operations and Support; Airport and Airspace Development & Management; Aviation Weather and many other military leadership and management schools.
During my career I was stationed in San Diego, CA; Virginia Beach, VA; Naval Air Pilot Training in Kingsville, TX (twice); Naval Ship Yards, Bremerton, WA; Naval Air Pilot Training in Meridian, MS; and FAA Regional Headquarters, Fort Worth, TX. On Command and Control ships I sailed the Caribbean Sea visiting Puerto Rico and conducted operations in Central and South America. On an aircraft carrier (USS Constellation) I sailed the South Pacific for seven months crossing the International Date Line and the earth’s equator. Visited Hawaii (several times), the Philippines multiple times, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Japan. On a Helicopter Assault Ship (USS Guadalcanal) I Sailed the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea for six months, visiting Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Tunisia, the Spanish island of Mallorca and the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Engaged in naval combat operations on two separate occasions in 1985 & 1986.
I retired from the Navy after 26 ½ years. Did some subs...Expand for more
titute teaching and quickly discovered that was not my calling in life. I went to work very briefly for TSA at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, I knew almost right away this was not for me. I worked for Fujitsu North America until I received an offer to work for the DFW Airport Board, Department of Public Safety. I retired from there in September 2016 and now I have my navy retirement, my airport retirement and our our social security retirements. We are very blessed.
After I retired from the airport we sold our house in Keller and moved to Ponder to take care of Cheryl’s mother and her property. We have made trips overseas to London, England; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Istanbul, Turkey; all over Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania. We’ve made road trips all over the Mid-West, from Texas to Virginia to South Dakota to Colorado and back again. Also, I enjoy my 13 grandchildren, they bring great joy to my life every day. Two are in St. Louis right now and seven are nearby in Decatur. Two are in Belton, TX attending the University of Mary Hardin Baylor and the youngest two are in Garden City, GA.
Cheryl’s mother passed away in April 2021 so her house had to be sold and her estate settled. We built a new house in a new subdivision called Big Sky Estates, about 12 miles west of Denton on highway 380. Now days I have a knife collection of over 1045 folding and fixed blade knives. I do knife research for myself and other people. I’m a writer and have published 4 books; “Folding Knives: Starting Your Collection” “The Cutting Edge: Man’s Most Important Invention” “Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It” and "Looking Back, But Still Moving Forward" which is my autobiography. All on sale at Amazon.com. I have a great website at davidsblades.com that has my gallery of many of my knives; links to other sites for collecting, care, and knife research. I also have a gallery of my new hobby of woodburning art.
It’s been a great journey and I would change very little if I could. I hope all my classmates and close friends of my youth have gone on to enjoy great careers and to raise loving families. Most of all I hope they are loved by those around them and have found happiness and fulfillment in our senior years.
God's Blessings on all of you and your families.
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