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I
am a second generation Native Oregonian, born in Lakeview,
Oregon. My family moved to Medford, Oregon when I was six
months
old, where I grew up and graduated from High School. After
many
years of moving around the country, I am back in Oregon and settled in
the Eugene, Oregon area.
I have held a variety of job. My first jobs were working in
orchards in the Medford area at age 14 and 15. When I was 16,
I
started working for the Oregon State Forestry Department on a fire crew
during the summer months while attending high school the rest of the
year.
After high school and one more summer with the Oregon State
Forestry, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where I worked
as an Air Traffic Controller. I spent six years moving from
San
Diego, California to Memphis, Tennessee; Cherry Point, North Carolina;
Olethe, Kansas; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Santa Anna, California; Viet Nam;
and finally Yuma, Arizona. I was discharged at the rank of
Sergeant (E5).
I have also worked as a police officer in Medford, Oregon, a
corrections officer for the Maricopa County Sheriff in Phoenix,
Arizona, and also the Multnomah County Sheriff in Portland, Oregon.
Most of my work history has been as a forest fire fighter, first
with the Oregon State Forestry on Central Point and Butte Falls,
Oregon; then with the US Forest Service on Coconino National Forest as
an engine crew foreman at Buck Springs Guard Station on the Blue Ridge
Ranger District; the Blue River Ranger District on the Willamette
National Forest first as member of the fire crew and as engine foreman;
on the Lowell Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest as an
engine operator on the fire crew two year; and on the Diamond Lake
Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest as a squad boss on the
hotshot crew.
I have also done mill work in Medford Corporation’s plywood mill in
Medford, Oregon and in Weyerhaeuser Corporation’s particle board plant
in Springfield, Oregon.
I worked for the Bureau of Land Management, Eugene District Office
as a chain man on a cadastral survey crew. I spent seven
years
with the BLM and besides the survey work, spent some time working for
the recreation department and with the silvilculture department.
I then returned to the Willamette National Forest on the McKenzie
River Ranger District on the road maintenance crew. I started
out
as a chase truck driver working with the road grader but it soon
evolved into being the person responsible for repair and maintenance of
all the road signs on the district.
During the off season from the BLM and the Forest Service, I worked
on a survey crew as a chain man with Baker and Associates, Dave Wellman
Surveying and Dave Swanson Surveying. I have also worked part
time for several years as an accounting technician for Gillis
Enterprises.
I graduated from Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon with a
BA in General Studies. I also have taken classes at the
University of Oregon in Anthropology, and at Lane Community College in
Accounting and Computer Science.
I am a square dance caller. I started square dancing as a
dancer in 1992 then in 1998 decided to become a caller. The
way
that worked out at the time, pretty much necessitated having to start
my own square dance club. I started giving square dance
lessons
February 14, 1998 and that was the beginning of our little square dance
club, the Wolf Pack. The name came about because of my long
time
association with wolves. I was some time known as “the Lone
Wolf”
or just “the Wolf Guy” and the name seemed to fit.
I have been at various times in my life a runner and have
participated in several marathons and too many to count half marathons,
10Ks and other road runs. I continue to work out in the gym,
but
for various reasons haven’t done much lately.
For 14 years I traveled with my best friend, a malamute wolf mix
named Timber. He passed away in 1998. I also had a
female
named Carly Kealoha who passed away in 2006. Because I missed
their companionship, I agreed adopt and provide a home for Dakota and Cheyenne, a brother and sister who are
siberian husky wolf mix who live with me now.
I am a long time avid fan of the Oakland Raiders, the Oregon Ducks, and
the Professional Bull Riders.
I have one daughter, two grandsons and one great grand daughter.
The end for now |
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