Robert McClure:  

After graduation, I enrolled at LACC. I was undecided on a major but was leaning into technical background such as engineering either in the electrical or mechanical areas. After two years, I transferred to Cal State LA in spring of 1973 and begin taking classes centering on an engineering curriculum. However, it was around this time that there were massive layoffs in the engineering industry and I began to get disinterested in my education believing it was leading to a dead end despite many assurances from the professors that it was only a short term temporary condition. It didn¿t matter what anybody said. I ended dropping out during the fall quarter and decided to take a break and collect my thoughts of what I was going to do. During this time, I had been working part time at Ralphs Grocery Co. Eventually, I became fulltime and for the moment, I forgot about returning to college. I continued to work at Ralphs until 1985. Technology started to take shape in our lives in the workplace with scanners at the check stand that scanned prices on items and the 1st generation of computers where making their way into our lives. With this high interest came a new wave of demand for field technicians to repair this equipment which was at the time was mostly exclusive to the office environment. Technical schools were formed and I enrolled into one and learned electrical and digital theory which helped me to get a job with Harris Lanier and was hired as an electronic field technician in 1985. I only worked there for a year and a half. I was disappointed in the working environment there and sensing frustration of client's problems from the lack of support from others whose job it was to provide. As a result, I was used quite frequently as a "punching bag" for customers complaints due to no fault of my own. My stress level was beyond my limit. I left in 1987 and luckily Ralphs rehired me back. I was not happy to return back. Not too long after being rehired, an acquaintance suggested I go down to the Personnel Department for The City of Los Angeles and put in a job notification request for E...Expand for more