My first job was at General Electric, working on an assembly line building jet aircraft engine's. The plant
was at 95th and Troost. Better know as the Bendix plant. I went into the building in the morning and came out in the evening. Never to see the light of day. Two women that worked with me could really cuss and I had never heard that before. This place was so big they had traffic signals at all the intersections where you walked. I could not handle all of this so I quit and I got a job with TWA airlines, I worked there until Feb 1954 when I entered the Navy. Boot camp was in San Diego Calif. and after boot camp I graduated from Radioman school.
I served on the U.S.S. Catamount LSD 17 (landing ship dock) in the Pacific Ocean. I then transfered to the Naval air base in Pensacola Fla. in Dec 1957. In Dec 1958, I received my discharge and returned to 3515 Virginia and TWA. I continued to work for TWA until spring of 1965 or 1966. A friend and neighbor was starting a company, he had a silent pardner from St. Louis Missouri.
Shortly after I started working there this silent pardner came to town and told Lee to get rid of me, that he was paying me to much, he could hire two minorities for what he was paying me. So Lee had to let me go. But I managed to get a job with Owens Corning Fiberglas in the supply and contracting division, working in the warehouse. This was the same type of business. I was able to learn the business.
After a year in business, in 1978 Lee asked me if I would come back as operations manger/buyer.
I returned to CPI and retired in 2001 as Vice President.
It was at Mrs. Rectors rooming house that I meet Marion. She was visiting for a short time while her step
father was on the east coast going to school, to become a Navy recruiting officer. It was love at first sight. We were married on April 29,1961 in Paducah Kentucky where her Mother and Step Father were living. We lived a short time in Kansas City, Kansas. Then we moved to a house at 71st and Chestnutt. On June 1st 1962 we bought a house at 8600 E 91st Kansas City Mo. 64138. That is where we still make our home.
My hobbies are golf and woodworking, I also enjoy working in the yard and we have a pontoon boat on a local lake and enjoy that.
Military service: Bet. February 1954 - December 1957, U.S. Navy Radioman 2nd class
Retirement: April 27, 2001, From Construction Plastics Inc.