Gregory Baloun:
CLASS OF 1964
Morton West High SchoolClass of 1964
Berwyn, IL
University of HawaiiClass of 1973
Manoa, HI
Northern Illinois UniversityClass of 1968
Dekalb, IL
Morton CollegeClass of 1966
Cicero, IL
Jefferson Elementary SchoolClass of 1960
Berwyn, IL
Gregory's Story
COLLEGE
Undergraduate Schools, MJC and NIU: never studied and passed everything with a "C". Graduate School: got serious, studied and got a 3.6/4 fully accredited. The University of Hawaii's MBA was accredited before Harvard.
WOMEN
A Playboy Playmate was a friend that lived 1 1/2 blocks from me. We went to Jefferson Grade School and Morton West together and were just friends. We graduated in June 1966 and she was Miss September 1966. I just got a nice email from her. She has a website. She is still very nice.
Then a Playboy Playmate that I went out with for a year and a half asked me to marry her when I was 21, which was great. The next day, a tragic accident ended that.
It's wierd, for a guy who never dated in high school I have had personal relationships Playboy Playmates. The curent one was a centerfold from 2008 and we are just friends.
MILITARY
USAF Basic at Lakland in San Antonio. Tech School in Biloxi, Miss. 1st Assignment for 1 year: Shaw AFB in Sumter, SC as a radio operator in the MARS station. Spent the entire day playing cards. Final assignment for 2 1/2 years: 1956 Comm Group, Headquarters 5th Air Force, Fuchu AS, Tokyo, Japan. Made Staff Seargant and Assistant Shift Supervisor in 3 years. Worked at the Fuchu Global Aeronautical Station. We were responsible for all military aircraft from the tip of Siberia in the north, to the Phillipines in the south; and the Soviet and Chinese borders in the west and Hawaii and Guam in the east. Worked directly for Nixon and the Joint Chiefs. We had Air Force One, B52's, SR71 Blackbird Spy planes, P3 Spy planes, Material Airlift Command cargo planes and a whole lot that they haven't declassified. Had to work 10 days on and 1 day off. I was married so I worked 12 hour mid shifts on Christmas and got New Years Eve off. President Nixon made me one of the few people in the world tha...Expand for more
t had the authority to issue the Nuclear Launch Codes. I controlled Henry Kissinger's Aircraft for that last seven hours of his secret trip to China.
Since I had the Hot Line to the President I didn't have to follow any military rgulations. My hair was two to three times longer than regulation. I only shined my boots twice a year. I only flashed officers the peace sign and they did the same in return. Two 3 Star Generals invited me to the Offices Club to shoot the bull and discuss ways to improve mission performance.
OH, I also held the full power of the President over 200 times. One time I was hacked at a Secret Service Contingent, so I started them on a Live Fire Drill. They were not happy. Nixon thought it was funny and promted me and gave me the Nuclear Launch codes.
Having the authority to be the person who issues the command that kills 500 Million people is an interesting job function. We only did it twice, but the Soviets caved in and we called the bombers back 90 seconds before there was no turning back.
WORK
I made the mistake of getting out of the Air Force and joined the corporate world. I ran a 1,700 person company for a few years. 80 hour weeks are not worth the money.
I got to have a private conversation with Bill Gates. He is a hell of a nice guy. We have 4 things in common: 1) We both like the Rolling Stones, 2) We both like Beer, 3) We both like Pizza and 4) Neither one of us has a degree from Harvard.
RETIREMENT
Today (2012) we are living in Columbia, SC where there is no snow and we have the lowest gas prices in the US. About $1.00 a gallon under the Chicago Metopolitan area.
We go swimming a lot in the local lake. The water temperature is in the eighties, which makes it very pleasant. The lake has 649 miles of shoreline and is 360 feet deep.
My hair is still dark brown, proving that I still refuse to grow up.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Reunions
Photos
Register for Free to view all photos!