Richard Bobbitt:
CLASS OF 1978
South Albany High SchoolClass of 1978
Albany, OR
Linn - Benton Community CollegeClass of 2007
Albany, OR
Calapooia Middle SchoolClass of 1975
Albany, OR
Grand Prairie Elementary SchoolClass of 1972
Albany, OR
Richard's Story
Well, the last reunion I attended was our 10th, in 1988. A lot has happened since then......
Our daughter, Christina, was 4 then, and Debra was pregnant with our son, Russell, who was born the following December. I got neutered the following February.
Debra went back to work almost immediately after Russell was born, and I began my new "job" as Mr. Mom. We both felt that this was the right decision, as there were news reports of child abuse by babysitters and daycare centers, complete with video footage of the goings-on behind parents' backs. That scared us.
Additionally, it simply didn't make much sense to hold a full-time job, only to give the money away to those who watched our kids. I gotta say that was hard
work, as most moms will attest to. I guess I never realized just how much and how hard my mom worked for dad and I, doing everything that needs to be done around the house. But I did okay, I guess, and hung in there for about 6 years or so, until both kids were in grade school.
In 1995, it was my turn to go into the workforce. Debra was still working too, in the fast food industry. I began working odd jobs at first, and then, around the time that we had been members of the Albany Jaycees for a year or so (which got us out of the house quite often and turned out to be one of the best learning experiences of our lives), I got a job as a taxi dispatcher/driver with Timber Town Taxi. I got to meet a wide variety of the people of our community and learned a lot from them along the way. Debra and I both advanced through the Jaycees, doing projects and serving on the boards of directors of Jaycees and Timber Carnival, although Debra didn't serve on the Timber Carnival board. We both gained experience that would prove to be very valuable in the not-to-distant future, as well as many long-lasting friendships.
On March 30th, 1996, I was involved in a side-impact collision in my taxi, just a block from home and the shop, when the other driver, who was speeding on Hill St., blasted through the light at 9th Ave. and hit the driver's side rear door of my cab. He had a red light for at least 5 seconds and didn't even touch his brakes, which was corroborated by witnesses and the lack of skid marks. The police said he was doing about 35-40 MPH. I was laid-up for 6 months, with permanent injury to all 9 of my thorasic vertebre, which is still very painful to this day.
In September of 1996, I was deemed able to go back to work, with many restrictions. My doctors advised me not to perform any manual labor, so as not to reinjure my back. I was pretty bummed about that, as I really enjoyed driving people all over Albany, and the surrounding area. I heard about openings for security officers at Valley Merchant Police and asked my doctor if I could do that. It was agreed that I could, so I applied. Even though my injury was deemed permanent, Paul Kinsey, the owner of the company, understood and took me on. He took me under his wing and taught my how to do it right. He was sorta like a second dad and always had good advice to give. He helped me become state-certified as an armed officer and sent me out on a few armed jobs, but mainly I worked standing posts and city-wide patrol. Also, in Augu...Expand for more
st of 1996, Debra became a part-time clerical specialist at Linn-Benton Community College, where she still works to this day.
In 1997, I was elected President of the Albany Jaycees. My mom and dad would have been very proud, had they lived to see it, as they considered Jaycees to be important community leaders. I wasn't a very good president though. I guess I was a little too ethical for some of the other members, treating everyone with equity, and not kissing-up to this or that little clique. I considered myself to be a servant of the membership. Unlike some others, I didn't give consideration to what the chapter could do for me, but what I could do for the chapter and the community.
In late 1999, while on patrol at Peavy Arborietum, north of Corvallis, I nearly came face-to-face with a cougar that charged at my vehicle. It was the only time my handgun came out of the holster while on duty. I didn't shoot the big cat that had killed a deer and was dragging it somewhere, but I came real close. I didn't know what was behind and beyond it and I just didn't want my shots to end up going into someone's home nearby. Besides, the cougar stopped around 10-15 yards from my vehicle,after letting me know it meant to keep its meal. This shook me really bad and, not long after that, I decided to contact the security manager at Linn-Benton Community College, who had been actively recruiting me for some time. I applied for a full-time position and was accepted, beginning work at the college as a campus security officer in the first week of January, 2000, where I continue to serve with pride.
In the fall of 2001, I took advantage of my work benefits that offered free tuition and began classes in the Business and Supervisory Management program at the college. Debra was already well on her way to earning an AAS degree in the Administrative Assistant program. She decided to join me in the Business and Supervisory Management program and we both took the same classes in that program. She was the best study partner, keeping me on track, and herself on track, earning us both excellent grades. In fact, the one thing we didn't expect was that our study time together became quality time, due to me working the graveyard shift and she working days and evenings. When it was all done, we graduated in the Class of 2007, with me earning an AAS degree in Business and Supervisory Management (with a cumulative GPA of 3.29) and Debra earned AAS degrees in Business and Supervisory Management and Administrative Assistant, as well as an Associate Degree of General Studies (with a cumulative GPA
of 3.14).
Well, that's where we are today, with us working at the college, the kids still living at home and raising a cute little dog. Russell is currently enrolled in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration program at LBCC and doing great. Christina works part-time in the Coutryard Cafe at LBCC as well. We get out to go camping a few times every summer, as well as drive to the coast and walk on the beach or go to Silver Falls State Park once in a while. I even get to play with the computer I built, which is my hobby, and help friends with their computers too. We think it's a good life and we're grateful for it.
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