Dick Abbott:  

Joined the USAF right out of school. Got stationed in southern California where I successfully defended the west coast from enemy air attach for 3 1/2 years. Came back to Scranton and took a trip to visit my brother in Bridgeport CT. Russ talked me into looking for a job at Sikorsky Aircraft where he worked. I did and it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to a young man without a college education. Sikorsky taught me computer programming and as it turned out it came very easy to me. I've had an interesting and lately very satisfying career. I stayed with Sikorsky for 8 years then went freelance for about 20 years selling my services to GE, Reader's Digest, CT General Inc. and others. Worked in NYC off and on which was just a 55 minute commute from home. During this period I started three retail businesses, a florist, a jewelry store and an optical store. My oldest boy now owns the optical store and two of my other children run the jewelry store. My wife goes in a couple of days a week for slots money. She loves to go to the Mohegan Sun Casino. The last nine years have been the most fulfilling for me. I thought I could help other small business owne...Expand for more