William Baum:
CLASS OF 1981
Henley High SchoolClass of 1981
Klamath falls, OR
Oregon Polytechnic Institute Class of 1988
Portland, OR
William's Story
Life
Right after high school, my big ambition was a really sweet car (wasn't it every guy's?). So with my last $300 and every dime that summer, Dad and I picked up a 1956 Oldsmobile and brought her through a full bloody-knuckle restoration. Ever see a shiny two-tone metallic-blue tank motoring down S. 6th Street? That was me.
I went full-time at Duffy's Warehouse Market (man, remember that place?!), working up to weekend manager, until I just couldn't stand the glitz and glamor anymore. In '85 I packed up for Portland with Jean, my very serious steady at the time, where we had a little computer hardware and software maintenance business for awhile.
Business was good, but Bill Gates wasn't exactly sweating. I Picked up a degree in Electronics Engineering in Portland, hoping to help the business, but instead got recruited to work for the Federal Government in '89. So we were off to Washington, D.C. for service to God and country, where I still am today, working on Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and the White House (well, not actually ON Pennsylvania Avenue, I work in a building there), designing networks for the Dept. of Justice.
I never married, though I've been blissfully close once or twice. Children? Well, my attorney says no. Jean's future lie somewhere else, and in 1991 she went to find it. I wish her every happiness. All the best to you, girl.
As for me, life is good. And getting better all the time.
And the sweet '56? [leaning back and looking into the driveway]
She's still there.
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Hey, time for an upd...Expand for more
ate! Some of this data is SO last century! I'm still working for DOJ (over 17 years now), but in 2003 I took a transfer to our Seattle office. I'm too old to work at HQ in DC anymore. Everything you thought about working in a huge federal bureacracy is true -- it's kind of like a cross between "The Twilight Zone" and "Monty Python" -- except nobody's kidding. The crushing pace and illogical logic was fine when I was in my 20's but, I haven't been that age for a "couple" of years now. I needed to scale back and get away from that, and Seattle is about as far away as I can go without falling in the water. I like it here -- it's just what I needed.
The '56 went into a shop in Front Royal, Virginia back in '02 for a well-deserved total restoration. It's still there, the guy works on it whenever I send him some cash, and does everything by hand, sort of like a country Michelangelo. New colors, maroon and black, but keeping the black and white leather interior. Very '50s. Should be ultra sweet. Want to see pictures so far? Just ask, and I'll post some up. Heck, ask for whatever pictures you want, and I'll post if I got 'em.
Bought a brand new car this year! A 2006 Monte Carlo SS with evvvrything. Even the fat V-8. RED-red with black leather interior. Majorly fun ride. Makes' my old '94 Hyundai Excel feel like a gum wrapper. And I got 50 years of GM in the garage, '56-'06, just for fun.
Sorry I missed the 25th reunion, gang, I was away on business for a month, ironically in Washington DC! Well, save me a seat at the 30th. Keep in touch, everyone!
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