Raymond Edge:  

I suppose a good place to begin would be graduation from high school in Elk Grove California (1959). What a shock. Suddenly I didn't have to go to classes, yet I didn't have a clue about what I wanted to do. So, I went to the military (USCG) - a very smart decision as it gave me time to grow up and let me live for at least four years with minimal responsibilities. Great tour of duty, a year in California on the Cutter Gresham, a year in Conn. and New York in education, then the remaining time at the airbase in San Francisco flying in helicopters checking out the beaches. During the last year in the military, I made the second of my great choices, and married Marilyn. When I got out of the Coast Guard, I decided to go to college - the military had taught me about lots of jobs that I did not want to do. I was on my way to becomming a great history teacher. My problem was that I needed to make a living prior to becomming a great history teacher, so I became a respiratory therapist. Unfortunately for my history career, by the time I got my degree and teaching certificate, I was already a program director at a community college. So history was put aside for awhile. Marilyn and I had several children by then and I could not afford to leave the college and teach history. The swallows in California go to Capistrano - Ray Edge went to college - a genetic thing - how much? In 1976 I earned my doctorate at USC. Places worked - LSUMC in New Orleans Louisiana - Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan - Maryville University, St. Louis, Missouri. I retired from the university and spent a year traveling, and writing - Finally, I asked myself what I wanted to do when I retired and brushed off the old teaching certificate and taught high school for about seven years in Troy MO. Another good choice. Places most often visited: People's Republic of China - This is a long term association with a people and their culture which has been a r...Expand for more