Rudy Volkmann:  

Worked my way through Olympic College and Central Washington State playing rock and roll with The Titans. Starved most of the time, but was drum major and newspaper editor at Olympic--also took my first fencing class at OC. Minor student leader at CWSC, spent a week hanging with a young Timothy Leary and Alan Watts. Wrote my first music that got played in concert. Waldie Anderson of CWSC introduced me to Interlochen -- hitchiked there in 1964 to be on the staff--ended up on the faculty for three years. Got a full ride to DePauw University in 1967 -- came back and spent the summer of '67 in Traverse City playing rock and roll and discovering all the inner meanings of the Beatles and Sgt. Pepper (G). At DePauw played in a group wtih Jim Ibbottson of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fame. Jobs were scarce with a masters in music composition -- became a high-steel painter and did that for three years, primarily in the South -- tanks, towers, bridges, factory ceilings. Married my college sweetheart, got a job at Albany State College in Albany, GA. Had a miserable time, went back to playing rock and roll, growing my hair, etc. Moved to Atlanta and toured with Phoenix Rising for a few years (took its toll on the marriage, which ended). Also did a lot of construction on the side. Finally got back to education--taught at Brenau College for about 12 years -- started a local community band, and then the local symphony (both are still going strong). Throughout all this, had been fencing--reorganized fencing in the Atlanta area in the early '70's--became a decent sabrist and administrator (chair of the Southeast Section -- 8 SE states--of the national organi...Expand for more