Ralph de
la Cruz
OK, ok, ok! We just made our reservations at the Barbara Worth and
are putting in the mail "the yellow form" along with the requisite
check - finally!! I truly have enjoyed reading all the personal updates sent in
so far, so here's mine:
Following graduation from CUHS I
flew off to Washington, D. C. to spend the next four years at Georgetown
University, School of Foreign Service, graduating with a BS in Foreign Service.
It was a grueling but incredibly fantastic time that has had a tremendous
influence throughout my life.
In the Fall of 1963 I received
an urgent message from the Dean of the school that some uncle of mine whom I
had not seen since I was a baby wanted to meet me at the Diplomatic Reception
Room of the State Department. I hopped into a taxicab and rushed over,
extremely curious about what this was all about. Getting into the place normally
was harder than trying to break into Ft. Knox but fortunately someone had left
my name with the guards and I was escorted up to the top floor and into this
formal yet elegant gallery.
This huge room was empty except
for two men in its center conferring. As I approached I recognized my uncle
with Lyndon B. Johnson, then the Vice President and shortly to become the
President. My uncle introduced me and this huge guy grabbed my shoulders and
told me how I was to work with and help out a new Texas congressman from my
home town. When I offered up I was going to school full time, my uncle said no
matter and I was not to take a penny from him. Quickly, The Vice President then
told me that he and my uncle had some serious business to attend to and I was
directed to go over and join Lady Bird and pass the time.
The next few years were an
education and a half. I had the opportunity to meet people who then and today
one usually only reads about in the history books. The congressman and I became
great friends. After fours years on his staff I told him that I could not stand
by any longer writing all the eulogies for the young men in his congressional
district who had died in Vietnam. He and I argued over the wisdom of my
volunteering to serve in the Army where I would be "nothing but cannon
fodder", but I prevailed; he promised to get an appointment for me on the
House of Representatives Banking Committee staff, IF I survived the war.
After volunteering for the
infantry and winning my gold lieutenant bars in Infantry at Ft. Benning's
school for boys I decided I would do it up right if I had to join a war.
Inspired by that war TV show, "The Rat Patrol", I transferred into
military intelligence, went to spy school, did 6 months "seasoning"
at Ft. Ord in California and shipped off to Vietnam. I would never want to do
it again but would never trade that year in hell for anything. James Bond and
Terry and the Pirates and their "adventures" can only hint at my year
of adventure there.
Coming back to "the
world" was quite a transition. Instead of going back to the Congress I
joined the U.S. Department of Transportation hoping someday to work on a
railroad. I was recruited by the Southern California Rapid Transit District in
Los Angeles where I held a variety of challenging and exciting positions.
In 1980, my boss who headed up
the agency was recruited to head up the industry association in Washington. He
invited me to visit him in Washington and showed me "my office" if I
joined him. It was as huge as a small house, corner office, floor to ceiling
glass windows -- I told him I would give him only five years because I wanted
to return to Los Angeles.
We stayed almost ten years. In
those years my staff and I played a key role in crafting and drafting most of
the transit legislation in effect today. I had an opportunity again to work
closely with individual members of the Congress and key members of the
Executive branch and piled up great stories to tell my children and grandkids.
Ten years ago, my wife and I
left that heady life when I was recruited to return to Los Angeles. After
having been involved in the merger of the principle transportation agencies in
Los Angeles, I have settled down to a more mundane but extremely satisfying job
heading up the light and heavy rapid rail systems in the County. I hope to
retire in a few years, able to look back today on an exciting past forty years.
Now, from a personal perspective, I have been blessed beyond all
expectations. In my sophomore year at Georgetown in History of Latin America
class, I spotted an Irish angel. Four years later we married and she has shown
me truly what heaven on earth is like. We have three wonderful children, all
who are doing extremely well in their chosen fields - we could not be more
proud parents!
My wife, Mary Anne and I look forward to seeing all of you from
the Class of 1961 this October!