Michael Blouch:  

My life story. . . I was born and raised in Lebanon, PA in 1954 and lived on the north side of town with "humble beginnings" and deep genetic roots in the area.. My parents are Robert K. & Peggy A. Blouch (LHS 1949), and sisters Deborah (LHS '69), and Clarice (LHS '79). My natural father passed away in 1987. My mother remarried Richard Eisenhauer, and they happily reside in Lebanon, PA in their golden years. During my primary educational years I attended several schools all located in the city of Lebanon, PA, starting at Lindley Murray Elementary School located at 10th and Church Streets. I was transfered to Garfield Elementary for 5th and 6th grade only, When I attended it was originally located on North 4th Street, but was subsequently closed in 1972 and later razed. Then I attended Harding Junior High School at 6th and Chestnut Streets from grade 7 through 9. The irony was that my sisters and I each went to different elementary and middle schools! I attended the "new" (3 ring circus designed) Lebanon Senior High School on South 8th Street starting as the first sophomore class in 1970. Graduated in 1972 with honors and distinction which was a long time ago! Hooray! During my junior high and high school years I was very active in several sports and extra curricular activities including football, wrestling, track and field, youth forum leadership, local youth government programs, student council, national honor society and other community and other social group activities. I was fortunate to win several first place and grand prizes in local, state, Mid-Atlantic regional and Eastern National awards for my fine art exhibits in various design mediums including pen and pencil sketches, pastel, and water color, still lifes, modernistic metal working, and clay sculpturing. I still love the fine arts, but haven't done much drawing or painting since that time, because fatherhood and my career occupied most of my time. I served as Class President in my sophomore and senior year and Vice President to a great long time friend Mr. Kevin Moody ESQ. during my junior year. Jean (Fuhrman) O'Donald was the Secretary. Two great friends and people!!! College years: Immediately after High School I attended Northrop University in West Los Angeles, California beginning in 1972. My major was in Aerospace Engineering, since I originally wanted to be a NASA rocket scientist. Seriously! I lived in Inglewood, which is 1 mile from the Los Angeles International Airport, directly under the north runway flight path of the huge jumbo jets, and within walking distance of the Southern Califonia beach! While at college I played in both football and basketball intramural sports, and successfully participated in collegiate Pacific Athletic Conference Track and Field competition as a javelin thrower in my freshman year. It was a blast. That was as far as I went to becoming a true to life rocket launcher! The Viet Nam war ended during the Nixon administration in 1973, and so did my hopes in the Aerospace industry, as Mr. Nixon significantly cut back the space program budgets. Fortunately I avoided being drafted to go to the war, but I continued to offer my support and still believe we owe a debt of gratitude to all the men and woman who serve this great country. As a result of the GOP administrations cutbacks, I subsequently transferred to Penn State University and switched my major to Electrical Engineering / Electronics. Fortunately for me the timing was just before the advent of the digital age and computers. The southern California dudes in Silicon Valley included the likes of Steven Jobs (APPLE) and Bill Gates (MICROSOFT). Neither graduated from college! Life was good in sunny southern California in those days! I graduated from Penn State University majoring in Electrical Engineering and that same year I was married to Linda Blouch (LHS '72) in 1975. She graduated from Maryland Secretarial School and has worked full time as a dedicated professional in the medical and social health care institutions for more than 30 years. We had 2 wonderful children together, who both graduated with honors from Cedar Crest High School. They include a son Jared - Class of 1999, (37 yrs.), and a daughter Jacey - Class of 2002, (34 yrs.) Both graduated from Penn State University in 2003 and 2005 respectively. Jared received a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Computer Information Science and Technology. He still leads a bachelors's lifestyle, and now resides in Mechanicsburg PA, working in the Computer Information Technology and Telecommunications field, as the Director of the Computer IT Department, and has his own successful business, Infinicom Technologies. Jacey graduated in 3 years with honors (cum laude) with a Bachelor of Arts in Intregrative Arts with a Minor in Architectural Studies. In 2008 she completed her post graduate degree with an MBA and spent time as the Assistant Director of Admissions for the Art Institute in York,PA. She is currently employed as a Senior Interior Designer / Decorator. She is married to David Ross and they have a beautiful daughter Kylie, my first grandchild and a handsome son Kellan. Professional Career: Initially I worked before, during and of course after my high school and college years, and started my professional career as a an Electronics Technician working full time on second shift, and as a part time delivery truck driver for Royer's Flowers, while I was also a full time student at Penn State in my last year. From 1975 to 1986: Began full time employment during college with Envirotech Corp. as an Electronics Technician in the Electrical Manufacturing Department. I receiv...Expand for more