Ken Guyer:
CLASS OF 1967
Camelback High SchoolClass of 1967
Phoenix, AZ
East High SchoolClass of 1967
Phoenix, AZ
Ken's Story
Life
What can I say...left high school, joined the Navy and served on three ships. Did one tour in Vietnam serving on River Patrol Boats in Qua Viet and Harbor Patrol in Danang. One additional WESTPAC tour off the coast of Vietnam. One Brown Water Navy, one Blue Water Navy. Held various jobs in San Diego and Hawaii with sailing and diving charters. Joined San Diego Fire Department in 1977, Great career for 3 1/2 years until I was injured on a rescue, suffering knee and back injuries. Spent 3 years on light duty as media relations officer and Fire Investigator Trainee until forced to retire on disability in 1984.
Stayed in media working for NBC news as news assignment editor, Mayoral campaign as press aide, Housing Commission as communications director.
Left media to go sailing. Got my Coast Guard license and skippered the 12-meter racing yacht, Stars & Stripes '86 for almost 4 years. Joined Team Dennis Conner for the '92 America's Cup on the support team driving the chase boat. Have continued to work with Dennis on and off with various projects including the '95, '00, and '03 America's Cup. Skippered various yachts for a few years and was General Manager for the Chula Vista Marina & RV Resort, 94-98.
1998 - 2004 Co-produced the San Diego Boat Show. Left to help nephew in a beachwear business which we sold to OP/Warnaco and tried to retire in November of 2005....did not last more than a month.
Spent four months in 2006 helping a friend set up shows and PGA Golf events for Residential Cruise Line, LTD. He was building a 900-foot cruise ship with residences on board instead of passengers!
Two marriages. First for about a year. One daughter, Cresta. One granddaughter, Ali, who is expecting my Great Grandson. Second, to Pam, going on 50 years now. Great partner and best friend. Only Fur-Kids, two cats (KC, Chewbacca), In 2014 we added to our family a Couton du Tulare puppy named Marley and in June 2016 we adopted a rescue Shi Tzu puppy named Charley! Our second home was Kona, Hawaii but do not get over there enough. Now we like Poipu, Kauai. We love to Cruise and have gone all over, Maine, Caribbean, Panama Canal...Expand for more
, Alaska, Europe.
I managed the Marina at the Marriott Marquis - San Diego Marina downtown for 10 years and retired from Marriott on September 30, 2016! One of the remarkable things I was involved with was the Veterans Administration Summer Sports Clinic, which was hosted for 5 years at the hotel, the marina hosted the sailing venue. This is for severely wounded Afghanistan and Iraq war vets and teaches them no matter the injury, you can recover and have an active life. They spend a week in competition, sailing, biking, kayaking, surfing, and track/field at various venues around the San Diego area.
This is also great therapy for me. I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2003 and was progressing to the point I was losing the ability to walk distances due to neuropathy. This progressed very rapidly in 2010 to the point I needed a cane to walk and am now rated by the VA with a 100% service-connected disability. The nerve damage was determined to be due to service in Vietnam and exposure to Dioxin (Agent Orange). I think all of this would have been extremely hard to handle if I had not had so much time with other disabled vets who are far worse off than I am, and much younger. My life is particularly good and with a strong partner like Pam, I have accepted what the future may hold for me.
In June 2013, the VA determined I had lost the use of my right leg and most of the left due to the AO exposure. I have been confined to a wheelchair since 2013. With this decision I was able to get a grant for an accessible van and got it in March 2014. The VA also provided me with a nice power chair. Once again mobile and able to move around without help!
I am a lifetime member of Disabled American Vets, VFW, VVA, American Legion. I am also a Patriot Benefactor Life member of the NRA.
Am enjoying my retirement years, I am spending time as a Docent on the USS Midway CV-41, and to date have logged four thousand, five hundred hours of volunteer time. I have worked for 53 years starting in 1963 as a paperboy for the Phoenix Gazette!
Wishing all my classmates from both Camelback and East nothing but the best.
Captain Ken Guyer, Retired
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