Erik Nelson:
CLASS OF 1983
Hartshorne High SchoolClass of 1983
Hartshorne, OK
University of Oklahoma - DentistryClass of 1991
Oklahoma city, OK
University of Oklahoma - MicrobiologyClass of 1987
Norman, OK
Erik's Story
What have I been doing? Well, after nearly 10 years as a dentist with Indian Health Service, I moved to Chicago and found a private office to buy. I bought a big office in a nice suburb, but live in Chicago city limits (where my kids go to school). I have 3 boys and a princess (19, 14, 12, & 9). The oldest lives in Oklahoma and is in college in Edmond.
I've done so many cool things - don't know where to start. If anyone has seen the Oral-B toothbrushes that have the blue bristles...which fade when its time to change the brush...well, that was developed because of reasearch we did at OU with a pathologist who was studying toothbrush disinfection. Our recommendation to change your toothbrush every 3 months was published and has become an accepted standard. Went to a wedding of a friend in Syria. Amazing - saw the Mediterranean at sunset. Toured Rome, Pompeii, and Naples. Unforgetable - had a private audience with the Pope. I acted in an opera the the Lyric Opera House right here in Chicago - so cool. I'm a huge fan of the Olympic games - was thrilled to get to see the summer games in 1996. Itook up martial arts in 2004 and got my black belt in karate in '08; -- in 2008, I won the Illinois state tournament (Gold Medal!!). Most of my free time is spent working out in karate, and I'm planning to take up a Japanese swordfighting art next. Love going to the Bears games, and seeing the White Sox and Cubs, too. A good friend of mine is an E.R. do...Expand for more
c here in Chicago & happens to be close friends with Tom Cruise. Will try to nose in on that sometime! I love scuba diving - and had a lifetime experience swimming with over 100 sting rays in the ocean off of Grand Cayman. So cool to see sunken ships on the reef, and to hike and explore actual pirate caves on the island. Went to Acapulco to present a research project at an international meeting - that was wild. Slept in a cave in the middle of the desert in New Mexico. I'm up to dancing in pow-wows in four different states now (I'm Choctaw for any who don't know/remember. Halito!) Which reminds me - I took language classes to be able to speak and write Choctaw - and sang publicly in a Choctaw choir. Lately, I have my sights set on being an extra in one of the many movies filmed here in Chicago. Came close to being in The Dark Night, and again in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers. [sigh] Someday...
Recently, I secured my referee license that allows me to judge in National level tournaments. Locally though, I typically referee tournaments from 8AM until the evening, and then put on my uniform and compete as well. Makes for a long day, but its a lot of fun and I enjoy giving back to the club I belong to. I also believe, that there is no better way to encourage the kids to compete and to push their skills, then to lead by example. Its fun to say "Let's sign up for this tournament, kids.", instead of ,"You guys really should go compete."
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