Keith Woolford:  

First off, let me say that someone remembered me as athletic, They Obviously don't remember me!!!! Coach Tracy hated me and called me spastic. He wasn't far off. I didn't go to a trade school for sports, I went there for a trade. OK, with that said, this is why I went to Tech. For a trade, Automotive to be exact and I owe alot of my professionalism to Ken Berry. When I Graduated I was working with my Dad in his bussness (Woolford's Lawn Service) and had been since I was about 11. and planed on taking it over some day but when Mom passed in 1974 and Dad moving on, the family dynamic's changed and I left to go to work for Lee Mar Auto parts running the Machine shop for about a year when Fellow class mate George Hudak mentioned that Walters Automotve was looking to open a brand new Machine shop. I went to speak to Clark Sisson, the manager of Walters Automotive and he gave me the chance of a lifetime to manage and operate his new Machine shop from 1976 to 1996, An experience that started my journey as a professional in my trade and built my reputation that I treasure to this day, The recognition, the awards, the honors that define a life time and meeting customers that became friends for life, while opening a door that started my teaching career of Automotive engine technology at Naugatuck Valley Community College that lasted 34 years. While teaching nights at N.V.C.C. I received notice that I had been nominated and awarded a place in Who's Who of American Teachers. An Honor that validates your life's work. The criteria for this award is that only a student that is on the National Honor Societies List can nominate you and they can only nominate one teacher from their entire life, K thru College and it must be the one that made the most impact on their life. HE CHOOSE ME !!. I'm deeply Honored. The real honor was his choice, not the actual award in the book. After 20 years at Walters Machine shop, I left to join the Repair division of O&G industries where I became the truck shop foreman after two years there and continue in that position to this day, and it all started at O.W.T.S. . I married in 1977 but not before knowing we were expecting. Our first son arrived 7 months later, We told the family he was premature but as an old drag racer, I just red lighted., and 16 months would go by before we found out he was blind. My son! a mans dream, the name sake lives on, my most precious accomplishment, I put every effort into molding him and today he is an amazing person, one who changes the oil in his family vehicl...Expand for more