David Knisley:
CLASS OF 1964
Joplin High SchoolClass of 1964
Joplin, MO
South Junior High SchoolClass of 1961
Joplin, MO
Lafayette Elementary SchoolClass of 1957
Joplin, MO
Greenwood Elementary SchoolClass of 1956
Joplin, MO
Columbia Elementary SchoolClass of 1952
Joplin, MO
David's Story
Well, I didn't stray too far from home. In the latter part of 1970 I made it north on 71 highway to Kansas City, MO and went to work for Yellow Freight System in their facility at I-435 & US 40, or as we say in KC, 40 Highway... I moved to the corporate office in June of 72 and must have found a home as I have been there ever since. Yellow, or YRC Worldwide, Inc. is now located at I-435 & Roe Avenue in Overland Park, KS. I reside in KC, MO and have a whopping 7 mile drive to work. I attended MSSC in Joplin, and hold several technical certifications in communications obtained by taking courses from various media institutions in southern CA. I am Producer/Director of Corporate Communications as I create training and educational/informational programs for YRC Worlwide, Inc. (Yellow Freight System) in Kansas City, and I travel all of North America. Yellow Freight System bought Roadway Express, which also owned Reimer Trucking and New Penn Trucking. Yellow also bought the USF Trucking companies and I now bridge the complete gamut of companies, including the logistic subsidiary YRC Logistics. I retired in January of 2008 and started my own communications & training company titled Level 1 Transportaion, Training & Development, LLC, aka Level 1 TT&D, with our own website.
I have 3 children, 2 boys and a girl, who are young adults now, and 4 grandchildren, 3 boys and a girl. Two of my grandsons (James & Ben) live in the St. Louis area with my older son Shawn, and his wife Jennie. My other grandson (Joe) and granddaughter (Carolyn) live in New Braunfels, TX, just north of San Antonio, with my daughter Sherry and her husband Troy. My youngest, Scott is single, like his Dad and lives in the KC area.
Since I travel and spend much of my time in airpla...Expand for more
nes and rental cars, I now enjoy relaxing at home as I did my share of traveling for 30 years. I just enjoy piddling around the house and trying to keep functional my home that was built the year I graduated high school...
Retirement, or semi retirement, has been most enjoyable and I have moments that I ask myself how I had time to work. I try to keep in touch with some of the high school and college buddies, even though some have gone ahead to explore the unkown, I miss them now but look forward to spending time with them in the future.
Regrets, well as the song says, "I've had a few" but all in all, it's been a decent life and there is very little I would change if I was given a mulligan. I do wish I would have told a few of my teachers what they really meant to me and I was just too stupid to know it at the time. Mrs. Wormington at Lafayette grade school, I thank you, where ever you are and for making us learn the poem "IF" by Rudyard Kipling, that has gotten me through so much in life and I feel sorry for those that never had the chance to read it. To Mr. Gubera, who was there to council me, not only in high school but also my college days, I hope this finds you in great health and still smiling. What a gem of an instructor.
I leave everyone with two thoughts, one is mine and the other is Will Rogers, you figure out which is which...
If you ever need a helping hand, you will generally find it at the end of your arm.
Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice Doggie" until you can find a rock. (Will Rogers)
The mid 60's:
What a great time, if I only knew then what I know now I would have been a much better student with a better loutlook on life. I can tell you this though, every day is a good day, if you don't think so, try missing one.....
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