Pamela Driscoll:  

on. Went there from Kindergarten till the middle of my 6th grade. This is where I have most memories of growing up as a child. We lived on Ashley St. then moved to my Great Grandmother's house on Frank St. just a block away from the Mont. Co. Fairgrounds. Lots of fun memories playing there! Or the fun of the fair over Labor Day weekend. I left many friends at Patterson Elem. that went on to attend Stivers and Patterson Co-Op High School. I've enjoyed reconnecting with quite a few of them since I've retired! Our family then moved to Townview where I finished out the rest of 6th grade at Townview Elem. Then onto the big schools - Trotwood-Madison Jr. and Sr High Schools. Anxious to graduate and get out into the working world, I went to summer school after my Junior year so I could graduate in July 1969, a year early. As my high school class of '70 was starting school in Sept. 1969, I was beginning my 30+ year career at Ohio Bell. And no, I have no regrets about not walking with my class at graduation. Workplace: I started Sept. 1969 as an "Information Operator" at Ohio Bell in downtown Dayton at 215 W. 2nd St. (After the baby Bell split, Ohio Bell became Ameritech, then SBC and now AT&T). During my first year at Ma Bell I was asked to speak to students from Trotwood-Madison High School. They wanted me to tell them what a great place it was to work. This was weird! These were my classmates, I should be standing there with them! I didn't like speaking in front of class in school, what made me think I could talk in front of my classmates now - at work? Somehow I fumbled through it, and I apologize to those of you that were there and had to listen to me stumble through my little speech. I enjoyed working in "Information" and felt I had made the right decision to graduate early. After I was married, working 3 out of 4 weekends, holidays and split shifts got to be very old. I kept seeing people leave only to find out they were transferring to other depts. I found out you didn't have to know the new job because they would train you. Great! Sign me up! By July 1972 I transferred to the Engineering Dept. on Woodman Dr. in Kettering. A scary move but a great move for me. I became a drafter, drawing up construction work prints and posting permanent records for the Engrs. This was a job where you had to think! It takes an analytical mind to do this job well and I found my hidden talent along with printing skills. About 4 years prior to my retirement our Engineering Dept. moved forward in the world of technology. We went from manual drafting (Construction jobs on paper/pencil and Permanent Records on linen records w/ink) to computer drafting. Being in the Engineering Dept. for 28 yrs., I became one of the more experienced to help train others over the years. . While working for the phone co. I also became very involved with a community service organization called Telephone Pioneers of America. I was the leader for many of our projects. I also held the offices of V-Pres. and Pres. We worked with many organizations like Special Olympics, Alzheimer's Assoc., Dayton City Schools, United Rehabilitation Services and many others. This was a very rewarding part of my life. I met many special people and it helped me work through my fear of speaking in front of people - even had to speak a few times on TV! Hoping no one recognized me! :) Near the end of my working career at Ma Bell, I was chosen to work on a team with management to help rewrite a practice. Yes, I was speaking and training in front of people. I was never totally comfortable speaking in front of people but now I knew I could do it. It also gave me a whole new respect for staff people. As much as I loved my job and the many friends I made while working, I was ready to settle down to the retired life. When I started in 1969 at Ohio Bell, I had no idea I would still be there 30+ years later. I don't regret all those years of working, it made me a stronger and better person. I have so much more confidence in myself. For those that knew me in high school, you remember me as someone that was quiet, kept to herself and her close friends. At least that's how I remember it. Now, I'm happy where life has taken me - home and a more confident woman.