Larry Wise

Service after High School...... Then Worked numerous professions.... Electrical (Journeyman)
then Plastics, Machine design, Management...
Lived all over the country... Didn't come back to St. Louis area for over 20 years....

I've had some Great Experiences Traveling and Living in different areas of the country... New York area, North Carolina, Arizona, All over Florida...

I have had a lot of experiences and pretty much enjoyed life after School.....

My Life in the Air Force was for 4 years... I was in, Viet Nam for a Year.....('68 and'69),I got a first hand experience with the "TET" offensive....

Traveled all over the Delta and southern part of the country, got to "Hichhike" a lot and take pictures of some unusual places and see places and meet people most "GI'S" don't usually get to see.

On my days off I decided to call a truce on the war...
When I'd get a day off I would ride a bicycle I bought from one of the locals and ride through the rubber plantations and country side.... It was an extremely beautiful country.... I tried to take in as much as I could under the circumstances.
Of course I only got a day off every couple of weeks....but with a six pack of Shlitz beer and that o'l bicycle I could cover a lot of ground...

I knew I wouldn't ever be back that way again.... I did the same thing, (without the bicycle) in the Phillapiens.

I worked on Fighter planes F100's, and most of the Jets of the time. Ranch Hand (Agent Orange), C123 spray planes.... C47 (Spookies) I spent some time in the Phillipins (Still can't spell it..)

I got out of the service in New Jersey(1970)..I moved to Philadelphia and Went to work for Johnson and Johnson in North Brunswick New Jersey....(I got to design the "14oz." Baby Powder line.... and build all the electrical cabinets and controls and such for that line... Also: in 1971....
A fellow by the name of Doug Cranston and I prototyped and built the first ...........
"MINT FLAVORED UNWAXED DENTAL FLOSS", (Yep that was me!!!) From that, I thought I'd try my luck at Engineering... I had the ideas but ......Man it's a lot of work and a hell of a lot of MATH... to become an engineer.

I realized I hadn't seen much of this country of ours... I decided to go to Arizona for Engineering school.... I Dropped out.....I didn't do very well in Math in School....I just got Bored....Too much going on outside... So I'd rather look out the window...

I bought a Pet shop(in Phoenix).I liked playing with all the cute little fuzzy animals. BUT.... They turn into a business and a it's not fun when ya gotta sell them, and they get sick, etc. Great place to visit but you don't want to stay too long??

After selling that, I took care of all the stage equipment for the Shows at Mr.Lucky's Nite club, in Phoenix (it was a big place , several Bars in one building and two floors, the country music on the upper level and Rock music on the lower level....Kinda like Gilley's), it was a great opportunity to meet and work with some interesting people....
Charley Pride, Wayne Newton, and a bunch of Rock Groups......

Then I worked on some projects for the Apollo Missions...One project was the Lazer used to measure the distance to the Moon and how much it moves away each year...... At Goodyear Aerospace, Near Phoenix....
So much for History...

I'm Married, Yet Again!! (#5)

I have a son from a previous Marriage...He lives in Atlanta and has a Wife and two Kids...

I still Ride Motorcycles..... I have a 1700 cc... Yamaha..... I totalled it out a couple of years ago ... It got out of the Hospital before I did..
Now we're back on the road....(Yeah, I know what your thinking..... But I'm much more wiser and have slowed down a bit... after the experience!!)

As My memory "checks In" I'll add to this...but for now I've probably bored most anyone reading this..

I'm afraid I don't have a lot of "School Stories"... I more enjoyed after school .....and School was a place I had to be Monday through Friday... when I couldn't find an excuse to "Skip"!!!

I went to a few School Dances and such...

I do remember the Gym...Our class was so large. We basically were on our own...seems we did a lot of ....Exercises!!
The "Condemned" Gymnasium in the back of the school....what a dump...but sure was a great place to sneek a smoke!! (Hope coach Holley isn't reading this?)

I couldn't believe how much the buildings have changed through the years.....

Does anyone remember them Pile Driving the beams for North West Plaza as they started building the shopping center?... Now look at the nieghborhood.......I think the Bowling alley is gone....and The Trampoline place across form the Airway Drive inn....

I Would like to mention here How Great it was to FINALLY....get to go to a Class Reunion....the 46th.

Man Everyone got OLD!!! Except for me, of Course....!!!!

Sure was Nice to get to visit with some old aquaintenances and special friends... not seen for so many years..

Even O'l Jim Walker finally paid me at least part of the dollar he owed me for daring me to Walk across Odie's frozen pond! He said next reunion He'll pay me the other 50 cents.... Sheeeesh!!

If you gotten this far in reading... and not asleep.... you should have noticed that I've been totally involved in Experiencing all that anything life has to offer.... I've found that most of all, that's what we're here for...and for the most part....

I can say "I'VE BEEN THERE!!!"

Again as my Memory Checks back, I'll add to this.

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