Jerry Colvin:
CLASS OF 1983
Fairfield Community High SchoolClass of 1983
Fairfield, IL
Crittenden County Middle SchoolClass of 1979
Marion, KY
Center Street Middle SchoolClass of 1979
Fairfield, IL
Jasper Elementary SchoolClass of 1979
Fairfield, IL
North Side Elementary SchoolClass of 1974
Fairfield, IL
Jerry's Story
Life
I was born in Bedford, IN and lived in various small towns before my family moved back to Fairfield, IL in 1971. Except for spending my 7th grade year in Marion, KY, we stayed in Fairfield until 1987. My parents then moved to Evansville, IN, where I joined them briefly after graduating from Eastern Illinois University. My first career job was as a computer programmer at Burnham Hospital in Champaign, IL in 1988. I moved back to Evansville in 1989 to work at Research Systems Corporation, then to Louisville in 1990 to work for Humana Inc. At the end of 1992, I moved to Indianapolis to work at IU Med Center/Clarian Health, where I actually stayed put for 6 1/2 years. I then moved back to Louisville in 1999, where due to a family crisis and a terrible new job I voluntarily became unemployed for seven months, which at least enabled me to bypass all the Y2K worries. I accepted work at Baptist Healthcare System in April, 2000, where I remain as a Senior Systems Analyst. In 2002, I met Tiffany Mayette, and we married in 2003. Our wonderful son Benjamin arrived in 2004. Tiffany and I divorced in 2011. I love going to the movies, usually seeing around 100 in theaters every year. I also love to travel, with favorite destinations including London, Ireland, New Orleans, and Hawaii. I look forward to showing Ben the world.
School
I remember Shelly Martin biting me on my first day at kindergarten in Grayville, IL. My neighbor Bobby Taylor was my best friend then. I remember "going with" my neighbor Pam Thomason during kindergarten after we moved to Fairfield. I remember "going with" Debbie Blackford during 1st Grade. I remember early friends Greg Reed and Eddie Hart. I remember making friends with Sam Phillips during third grade... we made fun of Wilfred Pennington and called him "Gomer Pyle", though eventually Wilfred became my best friend for about 20 years. I remember hanging out with Andy Jenkins who lived nearby. I remember "going with" Jala Tyler when I was in sixth grade and she was in eighth (we often met each other for dates at the Strand Theater). I remember "going with" Jennifer Carter in early 7th grade at Jasper, and "going with" Jennifer Baker in later 7th grade in Kentucky. Back in Fairfield for 8th grade, I remember being the only student enrolled in b...Expand for more
oth Gifted Art and Gifted Math. I had a crush on Barbie Phillips for a few years... I think we even skated together a couple of times. Other new high school friends included Shannon Moye and Mark Musgrave (still keep in touch with both) and Greg Wilson -- also John Ukena and Freddy Brown, both of whom disappeared off the face of the earth (actually, I finally found John on Facebook, although Freddy's name is so common that he still eludes me). Losing those two friends is what made me hold on tightly to all subsequent ones who came along. During junior year I started dating a certain girl named Lori, and 30 years later I remain permanently altered by the experience. Other friends from high school included Lori's sister Dena, Angie Padgett, Ruth Eaker, Kim Smith (my overseas spiritual advisor) and Nicole Pollard.
My high school years may have been my best ever. I was tied for validictorian until senior year, took Gifted Math for 3 1/2 years, was co-editor of a national award winning school newspaper for two years, had a steady girlfriend during my last year and a half, worked 30 hours a week at Food Park during junior and senior years and thus had money to spend (waste), and went out several nights a week with my pals.
College
Unable to forget my younger girlfriend back home, I skipped most opportunities to socialize during my college years at Eastern Illinois University (she eventually joined me, but ended up marrying a different boy that she met there). My grades slipped, and I did not have the skills nor inclination to plan seriously for the future. I was kicked out of the honors program after my freshman year; I was roommates with my high school friend Mark that same year but we barely talked to each other. College is a period of my life filled with regret. However, I did make a few good friends -- Chris, Randy, and especially Colleen, who still sends me a Christmas card every year.
Workplace
I've never been too ambitious. By sheer luck, I stumbled into the healthcare field, one of the few not adversely affected by economic problems facing the rest of our country. I've settled into a good position where I can pretty much do what I want, yet it still challenges me regularly in a satisfying way. My co-workers are great. I feel lucky to be where I am right now.
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