Choctawhatchee HS Class of 69

In high school I had (2) passions, running and cars. My education came in a distant 3rd. After high school, I attempted to follow my dream of running in the Olympics. In 1971, I ran in an AAU Olympic qualifying event only to finish in 3rd place which ended my dream, as only the top (2) qualifiers moved on to the next event. The only running I do today; is trying to keep up the grandchildren.

After college, I married my high school sweetheart, Roxie Tilley (a 1970 Choctaw graduate and majorette) and we had 2 children (Amy and Jeremy). Roxie and I divorced in 1981. Amy lives in Ft. Worth, TX and has 4 children and Jeremy passed away in 2000 and I miss him every day.

I remarried in 1983 to a girl (Connie) from Crestview who is a Niceville High School and University of Southern Mississippi graduate. I must have had a “weak moment” to marry someone from NHS. Of course, I am kidding as she is a wonderful wife and grandmother. When Connie and I married she had a daughter (Carrie) and together we have a son (Scott). Carrie (Auburn graduate) lives about an hour from us and has (2) children and Scott (Texas Tech graduate) is married and lives near Dallas, TX.

All together I have (6) grandchildren, 3 boys and 3 girls.

My second passion, cars, became my career and continues today. My career has taken me to Japan, China, Mexico, Finland, the UK, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Canada, France, Switzerland and numerous other countries. I have been blessed to work in an industry that I enjoy.

Connie and I are empty-nesters and moved from Dallas, TX, where we had spent the previous 18 years, to the Atlanta area about 2 years ago. With retirement a couple of years away we knew we wanted to be back in the South and took this opportunity to “make the move’.

Previous to living in Dallas, we lived in Southern California.

I have wonderful memories of my high school years and those who attended it. It seems you never forget the “Big Green Indian song”, the white sand beaches or the people who you met along the way.