Don Clay:  

School Attended McKinely, Adams, Roosevelt, Garfield, Monroe, and Emerson Elementry Schools in Phoenix, Arizona. All four years at Phoenix Union High School (1950-53). Took General Studies with emphasis in Mechanical Drawing and Architectural concepts. Lettered in Varsity Football and participated in YMCA, Les Follies, Masque of the Yellow Moon, and other class activities. Was determined to finish High School and go on immediately to college to study architecture. Worked in the summers as an iron worker apprentice and structural draftsman at Allison Steel Manufacturing Company in Phoenix. Saved money for college. College Attended Arizona State University (1954-1957)in Tempe, Arizona and majored in Architecture. Required to take two years of ROTC, over my objection. Ended up taking Army ROTC all four years and was selected as the Regimental Commander my senior year. Received my private pilots license my senior year through the Army ROTC Flight Training Program. Four year member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and intramural sports captain. Washed dishes in the fraternity house for room and board. Great friends were Don Dotts, Fred Ferguson, George Gove, Jim Sellers, Ed Lane, Ras Rowe, Roger Davis, Dick & Dennis Searles, Gene Hutlof, Bill Braman, Bill Spencer, Harry Mackey, J.C. Nelson, Jerry Fairchild, Jack Riggs, Jim Kuyper, Bob Reynolds, Roger Rodzen, Warren Sumners, and Walt Grassie. All were fraternity brothers. In the finals for Class President in both Sopohomore and Junior years. Bill Braman was my campaign manager. Lost first election by 13 votes and second by 7 votes. Fired Bill and became his campaign manager for Senior Class President. He won!! Received my BS in Architecture and a Regular Army commission in the Field Artillery in May 1957 and went immediately on active duty under a three year contract. Served those years in Germany and became involved in Nuclear Weapons. Got promoted, started a family, and decided to make the Army my career. Moral of the story is: Whatever you have to do, do the best you can and something good will come out of it. I never inte...Expand for more