School Story:
McBride 50th Reunion – Post Graduation Highlights
Upon graduating from McBride in June ‘69, I went to U. of Missouri on a NCAA football scholarship, where I studied civil engineering for two years before switching y major to Landscape Design. I graduated from U of MO in June ’73. I received a full-tuition scholarship from the School of Landscape Architecture at the U. of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where I received my MLA in December ’75. After being away from St. Louis for 6 years of undergraduate and graduate studies, I returned to St. Louis where I worked for Harland Bartholomew and Associates, an international planning firm, and for Sealy Landscaping, a local landscape contracting company. In January ’76, I took a position as the Landscape Architect and Director of Design with the Harbert-Equitable Joint Venture (HEJV), where I worked on the development of Riverchase, a 3000-acre planned community located just south of Birmingham, Alabama. Riverchase was annexed to the City of Hoover Alabama, which attained national notoriety by the 2006 MTV reality program, “Two-A-Days”. In 1980 I was promoted to Manager of the HEJV, and, also served in the directorship capacities for the Riverchase homeowners association, the business association, the fire district, and the sewer district. In 1985 I took a position with Harbert Realty, a real estate developed company of class-A hotels and office buildings in the Southeast. While with Harbert Realty, I also spear-headed a joint venture of Harbert Realty and USX called Trace Crossings, a 1600-acre planned community in Hoover, Alabama. In 1990, I was hired by ADTRAN, Inc., an international telecommunications company in Huntsville, AL, to build and manage its headquarters building, a 4-phase, 1.1 million square feet project developed over 10 years. While with ADTRAN, I also managed the construction of the 25,000 sq. ft. home of the founder of ADTRAN, the construction of the headquarters of Digium in Huntsville, AL, and the construction of the now, renown, Hudson-Alpha Institute of Biotechnology-Huntsville, AL. In 2005 I was promoted to Corporate Real Estate Director for ADTRAN and oversaw all its international real estate construction, leases, operations, and safety/security. I retired on December 31, 2017.
I married Stephanie Goodwin, “the coach’s daughter” in January 1972, with whom I had two beautiful children. My son, Jason, died in June 2015 at the age of 40 as the result of a workplace violence incident, in which he was shot protecting his work force from the assailant. Jason was a great person and the best son! My daughter, Krisha, was born in 1985, resides in Hoover, AL, and works for an energy brokerage company. She is my pride and joy and is loved by everyone that meets and knows her. I am divorced and have been enjoying life with my significant other, Melissa Jarrett, for about 15 years. I have 7 siblings that live in the St. Louis metro area, so I visit there often. I have always led an active life, and I continue to enjoy running and gardening in my retirement.
During high school I lived in far south St. Louis, where no other 69er Mick lived, so I had little association with classmates outside of school time. However, I have many fond memories of my years at McBride. I mostly remember the great friendship and camaraderie that all Micks shared with each other. I remember the annual retreats, which always seemed to strengthen the Mick bonds. I remember the wide array of Mick talents, including but not limited to the likes of: the artistry of Steve Schwartz’ weekly bulletin cartoons; the acting talents like Pat Clear in like “The Odd Couple”; the speaking talents of those Rick Ganahl, Carl Bergman; the quiet and confident intelligence of those like Dan Bauer, Bob Palaich, Joe Nettemeyer, Tony Bommarito, Tony Nochierro, George Daignalt; the baseball talents like Bob Scanlan, Ray Finke, and Schaefer, the A/V talents like the ahead-of-its-time McBride closed-circuit TV crew; basketball talents like AL Harte, Roger VanDeven, Dan and Don Friezmier, soccer talent like John Eilerman and Al Harte; football talents exhibited by Herbie “Groza” Diekemper, Jim Mosblech’s infamous pass catch, and Terry McKittrick’s linebacker performances; track standouts like Bob Schneider in the 880 and Big Bill Genova in the shot-put; those that kept things light with humor like Dan Rothery, Michael Kelly, Bill Murphy, and Kevin Checkett; the always friendly-natured group-organizing diplomats like John Pickering, Pat Denny, and Pat Murphy; musical talents like, Ron Wojcicki, Vince Sala, Jerry Ewing, Dan Wiese, and Mark Friedrich; and the other talented Micks too many to list.
I remember and pray for my fellow classmates that are no longer with us, and I wish happiness and health to all my fellow 69er Micks that are still with us.
