John Hutcheson:
CLASS OF 1974
Glen Iris Baptist High SchoolClass of 1974
Birmingham, AL
John's Story
Wow! I came across this site and some old memories. For those who might care...
I graduated in the first class at GIB in 1974 (the only guy). Graduated from the third college attended, Tennessee Temple, with a my wife Elaine and first son Casey in tow. Had a degree in broadcast communications and some studies in electronics which led to on-air and engineering work at a radio stations and TV first in Tennessee, Florida, then Virginia with BBN, where I built new studios for the flagship station of the network and a new station in NC, becoming chief engineer of the network.
BIG MISTAKE. Coming back to AL to build WGIB. That ended badly with conflict with "the Pope". I fooled around in radio a little longer but was finishing a doctorate in law and getting into business. The bad experience at Glen Iris meant I'd never darken the door of an Independent Baptist church again. We abandoned the legalism and raised our 4 kids in Southern Baptist churches
PROSPERITY. The freedom was liberating. We learned that making money and supporting your family is not evil. We raised our kids in church but refused to let the church rule us. We went into a small store and vending business and had at it. About 14 years later we retired at the ripe old age of 43. Then toured the country a couple years in a motor home. We've taken about 8 cruises and been through Europe twice. We live in a 6 bedroom home in a great waterfront area with incredible views. We've enjoyed everything from sky diving to a hot air balloon ride (a Father's day present). The current count is 5 grandkids. I could brag all day about our kids. One is right now training as a B1 bomber pilot. One recently gave us a sports car. One is planning a wedding next year. One is in Australia and wants us to visit.
CRIME VICTIM. At 2 o'clock in the morning an assassin had broken through a window in our home and knocked on our front door from the inside. He leveled a rifle at Elaine (who you may not know is blind). He was waiting for me to come to the door to kill me, and perhaps her also. The assassin was our son-in-law, who had been fighting with our daughter and to our belief may have already killed her. Gasoline was waiting ...Expand for more
outside to burn down our home and cover up the murder. But God intervened. I never went to the door. He told me something was very wrong and I went outside and found a car hidden from view. I rushed back and caught our attacker leaving through a rear door. He drew down on me with the rifle but I was carrying a hand gun and got it up quicker. I've never had to shoot anyone before.
CRIME SURVIVOR. I have amnesia from the point of the shooting until later when we were in a neighbor's yard. I had returned inside and took Elaine and a mobile phone and fled, thinking he was still inside and I was badly outgunned. We took a defensive position behind a tree and Elaine was screaming to the operator that our daughter was likely dead. I was pleading for help and trying to quiet her so as to not give away our position. Time passes at a different rate when you are under siege, so I don't know how long it was before the deputies arrived. They found a deadly SKS military assault rifle complete with bayonet right where I shot it out of his hands.
I had a mental breakdown 3 days later. It would be 4 months before we could leave town again. The legal education came in handy as the criminal process dragged on for 2 years. We fought the criminal justice system that wants to save money and relieve overcrowding. His defense attorney is the former District Attorney and fought us every step of the way. We even had intervention from Attorney General Troy King. The sentence was a paltry 15 years, but he finally was going to prison. There's no "truth in sentencing" in AL so we know time served will be a lot shorter We would be caring for a toddler and newborn baby for 2 and a half years before our daughter would be back on her feet.
We have made it from crime victim to crime survivor. The two last grandkids have been born this year so we'll have 2 "Baby's First Christmas". I've had both Lasik and cataract surgery lately so the world looks brighter and more in focus than ever. We made time to cruise the Caribbean again. We discovered the little town of Mexico Beach on Florida's forgotten coast. Now Elaine wants to go to Hawaii. There's always more to look forward to.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Photos
