Robert Matthews:
CLASS OF 1977
Western High SchoolClass of 1977
Las vegas, NV
New Mexico Military InstituteClass of 1980
Roswell, NM
Eldorado High SchoolClass of 1977
Las vegas, NV
Robert's Story
Life
Still live in Las Vegas, working for Clark County Public Works as a civil designer. Married the girl who hated me in high school, Debbra Beeler back in 81 and have two kids. We own a Karate Studio on Craig Road. My son, Robert Jr and I, tested for and received our 4th degrees, a few of years ago. Debbie received her 4th degree, as well. Debbie and I were ranked #1 in the State, in Taekwondo, in 2004, as well.. We are very proud of that. I like to ride motorcycles and am outspoken still "anti-establishment". I love to compete in Martial Arts and enjoy making trips to England to visit my mum. Deb and I enjoy taking trips in our RV, just to get away from it all. We still hang out with a few people we knew from High School. I am fiercely loyal to my friends and students. If you are in Vegas, come by and visit us.
Other Jobs.
I tried to make it in Law Enforcement, but never could settle into the whole "rules" thing and never could be the dick that they wanted me to be. I eventually ended up in private security and worked in a few different hotels. I spent almost 13 years at the Tropicana Hotel.
Workplace
I've worked for Clark County as a Civil Designer and CAD Manager, for about 24 years. Clark County has been very good to me and my family. Watching my projects being constructed and helping with the infrastructure of the Las Vegas Valley has been very rewarding. One of my favourite projects is the parking lot for the Welcome To Las Vegas sign. The nicest thing about working for the County is that my projects take me from Las Vegas, to Mesquite, Bunkerville, Sandy Valley, Laughlin and Mount Charleston. There is a lot of diversity in my projects and each one has it's own challenges which keep my job fun. I am looking forward, though, to retiring and leaving my CAD world behind. My second job and love, is teaching martial arts. I own my own karate school with my wife and son. I've been teaching karate for about 23 years. Owning my own business and changing people's lives is so kewl. I love the interactions with people and I still have my original "Law Enforcement" goal of helping people. .
Military
I joined the Army, back in 1982. I reported to my cohort battalion in Ft Benning, Georgia. I remember how nice ...Expand for more
SSG Arnold was to us, on the bus and then how wicked, he, Sgt Succi and SSG Roberson became, when we arrived at Charlie Company. After months of rigorous training, sometimes very painful, we were ready for our journey to our duty station, Ft Ord, California. Once in Ft Ord, our real training began. I remember how much it rained, for the first 4 months we were there and we spent most of that time in the field. A lot of guys influenced my life, while at Ft Ord. Cowboy, Veilleux, Tripp, Jeff Mitchell, Cortes, Pavon, Murray Williams and those big muscles of his, Slow action Acton, Elliot Thomas, Rualo, Voorhies (I hope he's out there singing, still), Sgt Hart, Sgt Chapman, Sgt's Tryrone Walker and Pinkney, The Stout brothers and Dave Farah, all had a great impact on me. Even the strange Devine had an impact. I loved playing softball (even though I sucked) with Kosinski, Schroeder, Inman and Flunker. I didn't enjoy my time with training for Light Infantry, Ft Hunter-Ligget, or poison oak, but did enjoy our trips to Central America and that kewl training in Coronado. I remember Hertis McKinney's knee surgery and Ed Voorhies breaking his leg, twice. There were some real heart breaking times. I remember the mass blanket party and the snitches. I had some interesting times in Panama and I remember sitting on that beach, in Honduras, watching the sunrise and "the Greenhouse".
I will never forget that phrase "what are you looking at, Green horn?" that 1st Sgt "No Slack" Guerrero used to say, nor Capt Contreras. I really missed him, when he left us. I won't forget the DUI arrest by the FPO, in the parking lot, the football game that broke Voorhies leg and made him the Training Officer, McDougal's article 15 for getting a sunburn on a nude beach, Captain Phillips making me go to Honduras, even though my wife was having a baby, that week, the surprise arrest of guys on marijana and doing all those morning runs....... ugh...... What I did like, the most, was those trips to VEGAS!!! baby.... and hanging out in San Jose, on the beach or in San Francisco.
I do enjoy chatting with former Animals. Some have even dropped by, in Vegas, for a visit. Be sure to look me up, Animals, for a drink, if you are ever in Vegas.
Manchu!
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