Jack
DesMazes
On
the night of our graduation from C.U.H.S., I had the trunk of my car packed
with all my worldly possessions. Directly after the graduation ceremony, I got
in my car and drove to Riverside, CA. I was born and raised in Riverside until
my dad bought Imperial Valley Motor Co. in 1957.
I
kept in touch with all my friends I grew up with in Riverside and would
sometimes take friends from El Centro for weekend visits. Jim Cullum from our
class and Frank Atkerson from the class of '59 would go with me to Riverside.
Because
of the training I picked up from my dad's business, I decided to look for work
in the automotive field. I found a job at N.A.P.A. Auto Parts; the father of a
kid I grew up with hired me. I started at the bottom as a parts driver in
August of '61, by Nov. of '62, I had worked my way up to counterman in sales.
About
that time, I was elected president of the Rickshaw Car Club in Riverside. My
pastime was cool cars, some of you might remember? We held car shows, social
events, we rented auditoriums, held dances, and hired name bands for our
dances. Boy! Those were the days!
We
hired Dick Dale and the Del Tones. Dick became a friend of mine and opened a
club in Riverside. Dick was a great musician. He played the electric guitar and
drums. He ended up teaching me to play the drums and I ended up playing the
drums at our parties.
In
'63, I was promoted to outside sales for NAPA. Not long after, I met the sister
of a friend and after a whirlwind courtship, we eloped to Las Vegas. I thought
for sure her dad was going to kill me but all was forgiven.
Our
first daughter, Shauntel, was born July 17, '64. Our second daughter, Nicole,
we called her Nikki, was born Sept. 12, '66. By Dec. of '66, I was promoted to
sales manager for NAPA.
In
'67, my wife returned to night school. To make a long story short, my wife left
me for another man. After several months, my wife wanted to come back to me but
like a fool, I said no. I was young and not as forgiving as I would be today.
For years, I have regretted not giving her a second chance. I ended up going to
court and getting custody of my two daughters, by then 4 and 6 years old. I
never married again.
The
owner of NAPA died in late '70, I bought the business from his widow. I took on
a financial partner at that time and ended up taking an early retirement in
'94. My health hasn't been the best so I sold out to my partner.
My
oldest daughter, Shauntel, has blessed me with 3 wonderful grandkids, Steven,
18, by her first marriage, and Rushell, 9, and Heather, 7, by her second
marriage. After Shauntel's divorce, she and the kids lived with me. Three years
ago, she and her family moved to Columbus, MO. All are doing very well BUT I
miss them!!!!
Nicole
took another path in life and has gotten into drugs. I have faith that someday
she will straighten out her life and I will be here to help.
I
am blessed with two precious daughters, 3 wonderful grandkids, a nice
retirement, and the hope that daughter no. 2 will someday see the light.
I
have my faithful 4-year-old German Shepard, Simon, to keep me company. All is
well with Jack DesMazes. Thank you for asking!