Richard King:  

Fairly simple life since HS. If anyone remembers, Mr. Bowman and I had some conflicts, and upon returning to school after our Christmas Vacation 1975, Mr. Bowman decided to tell me I was not welcomed at WSHS, asked me to leave and told me to never return. Although I disagreed, citing there were only a few months left to get my diploma and graduate, it was no use. So I left. Not only did I leave school, I left home and I left the Family Trucking Business and joined the Army. I didn't have to join the Army, but I felt it was the right time for me to serve my Country. It was kind of a tradition for many in my Family. We always felt that if you had the opportunity you should serve the Country in some way. So off I went. After Basic Training, and MOS Training, I did make it home to attend YOUR 1976 Graduation. That was very important to me. I didn't make my presence noticed but I did want to be there to see My Class Graduate. There was a burning in my stomach about being told to leave school so close to Graduation. However, I had new priorities in the Army, but I wasn't going to forget about that Diploma. I made the most of my time in the Army. I went in as a Truck Driver, and was assigned to an Engineer Unit in Ft. Carson, CO. Being assigned to an Engineer Unit led to many opportunities. I learned to use Heavy Construction Machinery (ie: Bull Dozers, Backhoes, Graders etc.). That wasn't enough, and I got into Demolitions. Learning these different fields kept me busy (which is very difficult to do in the Army). While serving, I did and learned so much. I built roads, bridges, demolished buildings. I built a bridge in Casper, Wyoming. I demolished Ent AFB, and did the Heavy Construction Ground Work for the US Olympic Training Grounds in Colorado Springs. I was part of a Chemical Reaction Team, and I did Funeral Duty (Overseeing the Process and Presenting the Flag to the next of Kin). All of this was character building. I still needed My Diploma. In m spare time, I began a campaign to get my Diploma. Although far from a model student, and quite frankly, pretty much a challenge to the school system, I always had good grades. I felt that was very unfair to be denied My Diploma. After writing many letters, to the Superintendent, and the School Board asking them to review my records and my expulsion. After a year and a half, Superintendent Chris Gramaticus called me in Colorado and told me after reviewing my records, and although I spent more time skipping school than attending school my grades were exemplary and I should never have been expelled. He then told me he was revising my records, and sending me my Diploma, dated June 1976. That meant so much to me. I now Graduated the same day as My Class. My time in the Army came to an end. I am one to do things My Way, and that is NOT the Army way. So I served my Country, completed my contract,...Expand for more