Gene Alger:  

I'm from Hammond, Indiana, happy in a long-time relationship with Pauline Cox (HHS '60). Graduated from Hammond High School in 1963. I then had a lot of fun playing football and pole vaulting at Missouri Valley College, majoring in communications/journalism. Got a BA that I never really used. Worked for over 25 years successfully in retail management. Started at a small hockey/sporting goods store in South Holland, moved to Robert Hall clothing (remember them?) then Radio Shack, then Pacific Stereo, Meade Video in Munster, followed by Playback, Fedder's electronics, and Zayres. I finally landed at Marshall Fields in River Oaks. If you take a look at that list you'll notice they're all out of business, bought out, or in bankruptcy. Oh, what good luck charm am I. After 8 years at Marshall Fields I was "burned out" by the grind and the long hours.. I then spent 10 years as a mortgage broker in Highland, IN (loved those "Banker's Hours" as compared to retail.) I left the mortgage business when I saw the signs of the sub-prime crash on the horizon. Glad I did. Finished my working days as an account rep for LabCorp, a prominent nationwide medical lab. Since I was working out of Elmhurst, and later Itaska, most of my accounts were in DuPage County, Il.. Great area with very nice people. Many or the other reps had to work in the "City" with all that entails.. I was lucky! Retired in Oct 2015. . Interests and hobbies include Home Theater, audio speaker building, building furniture and other misc. woodworking projects, along with occasional golf and fishing when I get the chance....Expand for more