Steve Dyer:
CLASS OF 1968
South High SchoolClass of 1968
Knoxville, TN
Steve's Story
My Story....Hmmmm.
Stumbled blindly through SHS with little guidance but plenty of ambition and untrained intelligence, finally found my calling in dental technology and eventually started my own business in the Fountain City area in 1975 and it is still in operation today. I still like the challenges and the work I do, although I have surrendered the long hours for a four day week, fewer hours, and a much more leisurely pace, one appropriate to my age and energy (I am a bit older than most of my graduating class).
Along the way I married my school mate, the lovely Ellen Ogle, and she rewarded me with a wonderful son, Steven, who now is a registered nurse in Knoxville.
He is a good guy, honest, smart and a child (now 46 YO) to be proud of.
Ellen and I divorced in late '70's but still have occasional contact, and I am happy to say she is well.
My life has been one of exploration and discovery both of self and places; I think I am a better person than I thought I might become, and even though I still occasionally must face my shortcomings; these seem fewer nowadays, if only to me.
In the meantime I have learned to fly aircraft, scuba dive, have climbed, hiked and backpacked in many regions covering many, many miles, paddled canoes on the Buffalo River (AR), Allagash River(ME), Boundry Waters Canoe Area, (MN) Okenfenokee Swamp (GA), kayaked the Inside Passage of Alaska, ridden motorcycles on street and trail (still do), and generally try to do the things I could not do in my impoverished youth.
I am capitalist, not in the sense of conscious-less capitalists as defined by many modern business leaders, rather, as one who treasures privilege and opportunity, the only thing America reall...Expand for more
y offers, and that which makes it exceptional.
I am a political pariah for either democrats or republicans, whom , I believe, have almost brought this country to it's knees as they slavishly serve extremist interests by ignoring the larger group of citizens trapped between their excesses.
I still recall the tight-knit community of old South Knoxville, and am saddened by the loss of it as decline takes it's toll. I now live in the Halls area where it is somewhat similar in that spirit of community.
I sometimes wish I had left Tennessee when young, but Dorothy (of Oz) was right, and I see many who left are now finding their way back, if only to retire, so my staying here has not burdened my mind.
Looking back, there were so many great people I never really got to know because I felt like an outcast and suffered with an enormous inferiority complex, which has, thankfully, mostly been subdued - it never really leaves.
I still communicate with a few other old friends; Gary Fuller, George Clevenger, his sister Wilma, Bill Bright, and sometimes encounter a former SHS student when out and about.....that is, if we can still recognize one another.
It would be good to see and talk with many others, so do not be shy if you want to connect/reconnect with me....we do not have that much time to waste, huh? Dialing eight-six-five-five-five-six-three-four-eight-nine will get you there.
Be well, live long, and prosper, my Friends!
UPDATE: I retired officially on December 30, 2015, following a 50+ year in dental technology and 40 years as a Knoxville businessman. I am surprised to note that closing a business is more problematic than starting one, but hasten to add that retirement is vastly under-rated.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Reunions
Photos
