George W. Harris:
CLASS OF 1964
Union High SchoolClass of 1964
Union, TX
Uvalde High SchoolClass of 1964
Uvalde, TX
Tolar High SchoolClass of 1964
Tolar, TX
Mineral Wells High SchoolClass of 1964
Mineral wells, TX
Bishop Elementary SchoolClass of 1960
Bishop, TX
George W.'s Story
Life
Graduated from Union HS near Brownfield,TX 1964,Entered USCG 1966,college in Weatherford,UTA,UNM,UTEP,UTSA,OU. Hired by FAA in 1970. USNR in 1979. Married 1969,5 children, 7 grandchildren. Retired from Govt 2001 on Thanksgiving day. Taught at Uin of Oklahoma 2002-2004. Now working in Afghanistan working as an Air traffic Control Specialist in the worlds first non radar center and training afghanis to do this for themselves. Ordained High Priest in the LDS church and preparing to serve a mission for two years with my wife of 36 years.
School
I lived and went to school in 4 different places each year of High school. I am in touch with my Mineral Wells group more than any other. I would not have success today without having had Ron Smotherman in Union as my math and BEST teacher. He built a fire within me. Mr. Schorenberg in MW helped me learn and appreciate science. I have memories best forgotten about some people, others should have been friends for a lifetime. I still consider George Allison the best friend I ever had.
College
I started college at Weatherford College, went into the military in 1966, back to WC, then to UTA. I joined the FAA after I got married and moved, thus attending UNM,TCCC,UTEP,UTSA,and last OU. Never graduating from any but enough credits for 4 bachelor degrees. I last taught at the University of Oklahoma under their contract program for ATCS's. Now that I am retired I intend to go to school at my home near UTA and complete a Masters.
Workplace
I have worked in aviation all my life. I started mowing the Kingsville airport grass for free flying lessons. I washed planes and was an air explorer and joined a...Expand for more
flying club in Uvalde. I owned land for my cattle beside the Mineral Wells airport. I spent a lot of time there. I worked for Fort Wolters before I joined Southern Airways. I owned a honey wagon to get thru college for awhile. I worked in a machine shop. After the military I joined General Dynamics and built F111's, worked on B58's and B57f's. I then joined the FAA as an air traffic controller and started at Albuquerque Center, moved the Meacham Tower as a tower controller, then to El Paso for Radar approach, then San Antonio for awhile before going to the FAA training center to teach for two tours until the strike. Then I moved back to my wife's home in Fort Worth and finished my career at FTW center, retiring in 2001. I teach air traffic now, at the OU facility in OKC until I left for Afghanistan for a year.
Military
I joined the US Coast Guard in 1966. Went to Boot camp in Cape May, NJ in H61 company. Joined the Honor Guard while there and was made Captain and lead the Honor Guard the rest of that stay. Had to turn down the offer of Honor Guard in DC because I signed a contract for sonar school. Loved it! Spent school at Yorktown VA and then the USCGC Sebago in Pensacola. Went all over the Caribean and Gulf including Bahamas and Guantanamo Bay. Jamaica and South America and the Atlantic. Spent four more years in the reserves. Ended E5 radarman.
In 1979 joined the Naval Reserve as an aircontrolman went in as E6, made E7 and jumped as LDO to O2 but was discharged and not allowed to stay in because I was an active controller for the FAA should a strike occur, which did. I was not allowed back in because of shortages of controllers in the FAA.
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