My Family:
I was born in Canton Township, Michigan, On Haggerty Road near Ford Road. I was the 2nd youngest boy of 9 children. We kept our mother very busy. I remember always being outside. Education: Truesdell School in Canton Plymouth Junior High East Plymouth High School Schoolcraft College Henry Ford Community College General Motors Learning Center Jobs I’ve had : Two months before I graduated in 1964 from Plymouth High School, Bill Campbell, my machine shop teacher helped me find a job at Dunn Steel Products in Plymouth where I worked as an apprentice toolmaker. In 1966 I joined the Army and went to boot camp in Fort Dix, New Jersey. In 1968 I married Mary Y. and we had 2 children. In 1971 I was the manager for Revak Tool Grinding for 5 years in Dearborn Heights. In 1976 I worked at Micanol Tool in Livonia and I was offered an supervisor job and I said "no thanks". |
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While I certainly never came close to wealth, fame or fortune, I feel that I am one of the most fortunate persons to have walked on the face of the earth. Looking back, I am extremely grateful to have had a pretty good run. Nothing particularly special, but better than I deserved. After going over the wall at PHS, I attended EMU for 2 years and transferred to the University of Michigan Business School and then graduated from Wayne State University School of Law. Went back to college at age 62 and completed a Masters program at George Washington University, Washington, DC, in anticipation making a run at one more career job. |
Present.
Still working as a corporate attorney for Motorola. We live just outside of San Diego. I landed as Director of Contracts and Compliance for Motorola’s Western Division, my group being responsible for the legal transactional work for Public Safety Communications Systems. Expect to be forced, against my will, into retirement one of these days. Activities. Because Alzheimer’s is in my family, I try to keep my aging brain mentally active with a lot of outside activities: Serve on the Board of Governors of the University of Michigan Alumni Assn; member of the American Corporate Counsel Assn; President of the Wilcox Foundation in Plymouth; on the Board of the Irish Congress of Southern California; a member of the SD Genealogical Society and of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick - and finally qualified (turned 66) to join the “Ocean Beach Geriatric Society Surf Board Drill Team and Gidget Patrol” (march and perform in Parades). |
Sherry and Scott on one of their 17 Father- Daughter White Water Rafting Trips. Gauley River, West Virginia.
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Jobs I’ve had.
Gemini Floor Waxing business, all though college, for a time in partnership with my old friend Steve Arban. Tanker. 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Armor Div. Back then we trained both Arab and Israeli troops (not at the same time, however). Private Law practice, Plymouth, 5 years and was Vice-Mayor of the City of Plymouth, 1977-78. Division Counsel for Southern California, SAFECO Title Insurance Company, San Diego, 5 years. Adjunct Professor, University of San Diego, evening classes, taught Real Property Law and Business Law. Senior Real Estate Counsel, Great American Bank, San Diego, 14 yrs. Served on the Management Takeover Team for Southern Calif Savings, Legal Counsel under contract with the FDIC – lived in Beverly Hills for 2-3 days a week for 2 years. Commercial Attorney, Motorola, Inc. 16 years. Favorite Job: Girls Softball coach, 4 years. Best Job Title: Dad |
Businesses owned.
Travel Agency. Sue and I started Port to Port Travel, a travel agency in Plymouth, 1976. Tutoring Agency. A tutoring agency for high school students, LaJolla, CA. Commercial Photo Lab. In downtown San Diego - we had contracts with the City and County and did the photographic work and Trial Exhibits for the San Diego Sheriff’s Office and Police Departments, including the Homicide Division, Domestic Abuse and the Arson Strike Force – all before C.S.I. was cool. Most Vivid Memories: High School: Senior Prom. College: While in Ann Arbor, sold my blood or plasma every couple weeks to get enough money to buy tickets for Michigan football games. Lived in several attics and basements. Army: Set my tank’s radio call sign to: “Thunder Pumper 64”. Sports: Playing softball and getting whacked in the forehead by a line drive, cracked my skull which is now held together by 2 metal plates. As Dad: Seeing Sherry become Valedictorian of La Jolla High School and in the same year being named "Miss La Jolla" and then being accepted into UCLA. |
Other Oddball Stuff: Was able to work with F. Lee Bailey in setting up and being a Judge in a national Moot Court program for Law School seniors called “The Baileys”. Co-authored a book published by SAFECO Title Insurance Co., California Foreclosures, 1982; Contributing author, California Real Estate Law, Prentice Hall, 1983 and 1986. Editor of the San Diego Bar Magazine in the early 1980’s. Named “2011 San Diego Irish Man of the Year”. Words to live by: Press on regardless. Walk toward the fire. Favorite sayings: Two days from now, tomorrow will be yesterday. Those things that hurt, instruct. We live for the nights we’ll never remember, with the people we’ll never forget. |