Bob Withrow:  

Life Immediately after high school, I was a crewman on a Forest Service Hot Shot Crew and eventually went to Northern Arizona University to earn a BS in Forestry. I spent 12 fire seasons as a wildfire fighter including a Helitack Foreman, Intelligence Officer for the National Interagency Fire Center, and Chief of Fire Operations for the Territory of Guam. I also worked 8 years as a volunteer structure fireman retiring as a Battalion Chief. I served two years in the Army as a Chaplain Assistant following graduation from NAU. After high school, I became a Roman Catholic and studied for Roman Catholic Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, receiving a Masters of Divinity from Mt. Angel Seminary. Following a year of parish work, I decided not to become ordained. I worked in Guam for two years in forest fire, returned to the States, did odd jobs and finally landed a job as a Social Worker for the State of Washington. I started out as a Child Protective Services Social Worker, became a Support Enforcement Officer (collected child support) and now retired 1/1/11 as a Community Relations Program Manager for child support headquarters. I worked for Washington State for 28 years. In 1985 I came out as a gay man and have been in a loving relationship for the past 18 years. Jim and I were legally married 12/21/12. A few years ago, I found an independent Catholic church that is accepting of gay men and women and is generally inclusive. As the diocese was led to establish a comm...Expand for more