1968 - Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed in Memphis, TN. Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Los Angeles. Richard Nixon was elected President with running mate Spiro Agnew, making one of the most extraordinary political comebacks in U.S. history. Johnny Cash performed his famous concert at Folsom Prison in California. The 58th and final new episode of The Monkees airs on NBC. James Taylor and The Carpenters musical career’s began. Planet of the Apes, Romeo and Juliet and 2001: A Space Odyssey were among the top movies. Here's Lucy, 60 Minutes, and Hawaii Five-O premiered on CBS.I was born in Spruce Pine, NC with, unknown at the time, a mild form of Muscular Dystrophy. Little was known about that stuff back then but now researchers are on the edge of a breakthrough and maybe even a cure! My only brother, 10 years my senior, also has MD. I have used a wheelchair since 1993.
Over the years I have had a few jobs, starting with cartography in 1986 - straight out of high school. Working and going to night school at the local community college was a challenge, but one I would do again. I always dreamed of being an architect and studied for it in high school and community college. But God had other plans for me and I continued my education at Mars Hill College in Business Administration. Work eventually changed (now doing mapping to determine flood plain areas) and school was put on hold for a while.
After 7 years at that job, the company sold out and I was unemployed. What better time to finish my schooling?
I enrolled in Church Administration through Dayspring University and Seminary and within the year had my bachelor's degree. During that time I headed the JESUS VIDEO PROJECT in Yancey County. With my degree in hand I had the opportunity to apply for the job I started in July 2002 - working full-time as a county social worker in adult services in Yancey County. A job which I would have never known about had not a lady on the JVP committee told me about it. See how great God is! I got the job the week we moved back to Bakersville.
Today, I am retired, still live at home with my parents and have never married. A baptist preacher's son, most of my life I have lived in Bakersville, NC with the exception of some years in Rutherfordton, NC and Burnsville, NC. But now I'm back where things began.
- Activities Now:
- Most of my activities are with my church. I've taught Sunday School, served as a deacon and Sunday School Director, Assistant Discipleship Training Director, done church bulletins and newletters, worked with a Family/Movie Night ministry, and I still like to sing solos whenever I get a chance.
- Education:
- * Dayspring University and Seminary '00 - B.S. Church Administration
- * Mars Hill College - Business Administration
- * Mayland Community College - A.A. General Education
- * Mitchell High School - Class of 1986
- Other information:
- I love collecting. My biggest hobby is Hot Wheels. Yeah, those little toy cars that have been around as long as I have. That's right, they came out in '68. I suppose that's one reason I have such a fondness for them - plus they're cool! And some can be worth a pretty good chunk of change. Anyway, diecast automobilia - especially Dodge Vipers! I also collect knives, primarily Parker and Bear & Son (Bear MGC) brand. Have a huge stash of trading cards. And music; I just have too many cds. And now my dvd collection has gotten out of hand.
- And, oh yeah, lots of AUTOMOTIVE TRADING CARDS!!!
- Interests:
- Western North Carolina Mountains, Outer Banks-NC, sunsets, sunrises, rain, snow, Spring, Autumn, family, friends, Church, Bar-B-Que, peanut butter, Pepsi, mom's sweet tea, driving, Mopars, power wheel chairs, my electric bed, music, singing, laughing, smiling, ....someone I've yet to meet.
- Favorite Music:
- Lot's of Christian Music - (Jars Of Clay is my favorite), Classic Rock/Pop, Some Country, Bluegrass - (Shout-out for Ricky Skaggs), and some odd thing now-and-then.
- Favorite TV Shows:
- Classic TV (Andy Griffith, Leave It To Beaver; that sort of stuff), 7th Street Theatre, much more.
- Favorite Movies:
- Chronicles of Narnia (finally got the Prince Caspian dvd), Lord of The Rings Trilogy (The Hobbit will be out next month), Star Wars, and lots of wholesome, Christian/Family Films (too many to mention).
- Favorite Quotations:
- “A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected, and outlast the unbearable.” - Billy Graham
