Ronnie Roland:
CLASS OF 1966
Sioux Rapids High SchoolClass of 1966
Sioux rapids, IA
Ronnie's Story
Life
After graduating from Sioux Rapids High School in 1966, I attended the University of Iowa at Iowa City and graduated from there in 1970. I entered the Air Force immediately as a second lieutenant and went to pilot training at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX. That was the start of a 26+ year career in the Air Force. I flew several different kinds of jets--with over 3000 hours of flying time in the RF-4C. I had a tour during the Vietnam War in Udorn Thailand. In Thailand, I picked up the nickname "Rocky"--so now you would be hard pressed to find ANYONE who knows me as Ronnie. In addition to Thailand, I was stationed overseas in Germany (twice), in Korea, and in China (at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing). The assignment in Beijing (I speak Mandarin Chinese!) was my last assignment in the Air Force--I retired in January 1997. In May of 1998 my wife Ginny and I moved from Washington DC (where I had been working as a marketing director for a computer company) to Harrison, Arkansas. The main criteria for selecting Harrison was that it was within one-days driving time of the maximum number of family members! We had NO PLAN about what to "do" when we settled in Harrison. Almost by default, we got into the real estate business and we now own half-interest in a small independent real estate company here in Harrison. About six months ago, Ginny got tired of the real estate business and returned to a "real job" as a legal secretary for a small law firm. We really enjoyed living in the Ozarks (Harrison,AR...about 35-40 miles south of Branson, MO) with lots of outdoor activities--and the proximity to Branson is nice, too. But...we have two sons--Jason who is 34 and Andrew who is 30. They both live in San Marcos, TX (about half way between Austin and San Antonio) and neither of them is married. Since they had no real reason to travel to Arkansas (other than to see us), we didn't get to see them too often. ...Expand for more
So...in 2008 we sold our business and our home in Harrison and moved to Bastrop, TX. Bastrop is located about 35 miles east of Austin, TX and is about 45 miles from San Marcos, where our sons live. Other than the debilitatingly HOT summers, we really love Texas. We have made a lot of new friends and have begun the process of acclimating as true "Texans". We enjoy being closer to our sons, and it has given us the opportunity to see them much more often. Ginny has started to work "seasonally" for the IRS...she works from January to about June each year. I have totally retired and now play golf, racquetball, and until recently was running a lot.
Since my parents passed away (Bill and Max Roland), we have not had an opportunity to return to Sioux Rapids. My two sisters (Becky Jo and Sherry) both live in Iowa (after many years in Denver, CO). Becky Jo lives in Ames and Sherry in Johnston, IA. We do get back to Iowa once in a while to visit them--and Ginny's family...mostly located in southeast Iowa near Ft. Madison and also in Cedar Rapids. Having lived all over the United States and all over the world--we are avid travelers, and try to book at least one traveling extravaganza each year--either an international trip or a cruise. Our special treat in 2010 was a 36-day 40th anniversary cruise to the Arctic, Scandanavia, and Russia last summer. This summer we are going to Peru (Machhu Pichu and the Amazon River) and this winter we are on another cruise departing Buenos Aires for Anarctica and the sail around the southern tip of South America.
We are also hooked on Cirque du Soleil--so we plan at least one trip each year to see one of their performances somewhere in the United States or Canada. We are doing our best to create more time for traveling and recreation by reducing our employment responsibilities--but it does not always work. To paraphrase Mr. Spock--we wish you "long life and prosperity".
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