Ken Thomas:
CLASS OF 1973
Agua Fria Union High SchoolClass of 1973
Avondale, AZ
Sahuaro Ranch Elementary SchoolClass of 9999
Glendale, AZ
Arizona State University - Graduate SchoolClass of 1997
Tempe, AZ
Arizona State University - Liberal ArtsClass of 1977
Tempe, AZ
Ken's Story
Life
OK, I wasn't a "cowboy" during high school, but I am now. I live in Glendale where we have room for our quarterhorses.
I went to ASU after Agua Fria. Finally graduated with a BS after several years, worked at Motorola, Goodyear Aerospace, & ITT Cannon while attending college part-time. Elected to Goodyear Town Council in 1977. Met an ASU art student named Margaret and we married in 1979. After ASU graduation, I went to NAS Pensacola, Florida and was commissioned as a naval officer. Served as a surface warfare officer (SWO) in the Pacific Fleet, onboard frigates and amphibious assault ships. Served over 11 years active duty, in Asia, Latin America, California, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, and yes even did a 2-year officer recruiting assignment home in AZ. I did plenty of sea duty and had some wild, scary, fun adventures. Port visits & vacations in some exotic places (Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Hawaii, Venezuela, Philippines, Korea, Cuba [you heard right], Ba...Expand for more
hamas, etc.)
After active duty, I intended to go into education. I went back to ASU & got a Master of Education degree.
But I also had returned to the electronics industry while attending grad school, and found a niche with Medtronic, Inc, in Tempe. Now, I direct the manufacturing skills training for the folks who make pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, neurostimulators, and other medical devices that go inside the human body. A few other Agua Fria grads work there...Tom Heim, Alan Kleinschmidt, Mark Boone, Margie Morales, Richard Sullins, & others.
I have 3 teenaged children, one attending college at George Washington University, in DC. I'm still in the naval reserve, currently serving one weekend a month in California. Ran for the Arizona legislature in 1998 & lost. Ran again in 2000, came close, but still lost. So, enough of that.... Still backpacking & hiking, gave up sailing & parachuting when I left active duty. Now I shovel horse manure in the corral for fun.
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