James Gifford:  

I was born in Phoenix, at Phoenix General Hospital, when it was located on Indian School Road- it has long been demolished and moved. March 12, 1961. The family moved often it seemed in the Phoenix area- as I attended two schools in grade one- both Creighton Elementary on McDowell Road, and then Campo Bello Elementary north of Bell Road. It was 1969 when we finally settled near Larkspur School, and I completed third through sixth grade there, then two (horrific) years at Greenway Junior High, (1973-1975). In Autumn 1975 I began Frosh year at the NEW Shadow Mountain High School, and completed my freshman year there (the best year of my High School years.) While my brother and I began the 1976-77 school year at Shadow Mountain, our dad made an incredible decision to retire from the Phoenix Police Department after 21 years, and accepted a machinist position with my "Uncle" Chuck in Apache Junction, and we transferred to AJHS in that late September, 1976. While I loved the desert around "AJ", the school seemed archaic and years behind the Phoenix school system. I skipped a semester that would have allowed me to graduate with the class of 1979, and finished my credits in the first semester of the 1979-80 school year, graduating 'officially' in May, 1980, though it was actually January. I never really connected with the '79 Class, so it was just as well. By far, my fondest memories are the Wonder years of Elementary school- and having many friends for several years growing up as a group from 1969 through 1976 prior to out leaving Phoenix, which exploded after we left, as can be seen in the Shadow Mountain yearbooks here online. After graduation, I took two years away from school and didn't begin work until 1982, a decision I do not regret. I still call Apache Junction 'home', though I prefer Tucson, and have lived in Casa Grande, Mesa and Gilbert, and even the Everett, Washington area near Seattle in Autumn, 1978. I always wanted to be a musician when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a great idea. As it turns out, they were right. Basketball was always my sport of choice, winning a State Championship in 1978, and 4 successive City league Championships 1983-1986 sponsored by NAPA. I also competed in Golf, bowling and racquetball. I have no children, but was married almost ...Expand for more