John Rozzell

In an effort to refute the vicious rumor first advanced by Mrs. Seeley (jr. high Spanish) and later seconded by many that I would wind up in jail or an institution, I submit this brief autobiography.

After graduation I briefly attended IVC, mainly because it was 2 blocks from my folks house in Imperial. In 62 on a whim I joined the USAF and they in their infinite wisdom made me into an air traffic controller. Actually, it was a perfect match. The job didn't require any great intelligence or specific education, just the ability to remain calm under high pressure. I often wonder what in my life trained me to do that, but I was very able.

During that phase of my life (62-77) I lived in some unusual places (Cam Rahn Bay, San Juan, PR) and developed a taste for traveling anywhere on any kind of aircraft to out of the way places. The only times I was in serious danger in Viet Nam was on these trips. Anyway, I got to see all of SE Asia and virtually every island in the Caribbean except Cuba.

Along the way I was married and had 3 daughters. I met my first wife in Kansas and we were together for 20 years. The girls were excellent students, exceptional sprinters and a great joy, which I didn't fully appreciate at the time.

When controlling began to take its toll on my health (77), I retired from the FAA and entered Harding University majoring in communications. Better late than never. Graduation ushered in the second phase of my life, which was "the social conscience period". I briefly supported the family as a flight instructor and flying for the Forest Service.

Moving to South Dakota, I spent the next 8 years working part time as a Dale Carnegie Courses instructor, being on the school board, and the boards of several social service agencies as well as working with several churches. I came to specialize in working with abused children and school dropouts. My wife and I had 8 foster children and I believe that we made a few people's world a little better.

Unfortunately, I spent too much time with other people and not enough with my own family. Our marriage dissolved in 86.

Phase three was working for 10 years with several travel companies as a troubleshooter. My goals were to work as little as possible and travel as much as possible. I covered a lot of ground and have only the South Island of New Zealand left and I will have visited everyplace on earth that I have any desire to see. My favorite spot is a mountaintop near Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. My home base for this period was Seattle where two of my daughters and two granddaughters live now.

In 95 I moved to Kansas City and wound up working for Fred Pryor Seminars. I'm a speaker but I don't travel anymore. My time is spent training others at the home office in Overland Park, Kansas.

Here I met and married Ann Stubbs in 99. She is the love of my life. For the first time in my life I am completely content. My health is good with the exception of a bad shoulder (I blame a football injury that didn't get proper treatment). Some of the bios that others have sent have reminded me of how fortunate I am in that regard.

For those of you that remember my parents, they have moved back to their childhood home near Abilene, Texas and are doing very well for their advanced ages.

Hope to see you all in October. In the meantime, keep in touch.

John Rozzell

1. LIVING ARRANGEMENT?

My wife Ann and I and a dog and a cat in a village overlooking Missouri River (Farley, MO).

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

The Forest, Transitioning to Vegetarianism.

3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

Rain drops.

4. FAVORITE BOARD GAME?

Trivial Pursuit

5. FAVORITE MAGAZINE?

40's and 50's Saturday Evening Post

6a. FAVORITE SMELLS?

The woods behind the house after a summer shower.

6b. LEAST FAVORITE SMELLS?

Cigarettes and cigarettes

7. FAVORITE SOUND?

Birds.

8. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?

Seeing high school kids make bad decisions and having no influence to help.

9. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?

Being thankful for what's working in my life.

10. FAVORITE COLOR?

blue

11. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE?

2 at work, usually don't at home.

12. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME?

The very thought of a future child leaves me brain-dead and in a cold sweat.

13. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE?

Making the most of each day and doing anonymous acts of kindness.

14. FAVORITE FOODS?

Lasagna. Dairy Queen Grape Freezes. (I flash back to Foster's).

15. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?

Vanilla.

16. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST?

No.

17. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?

No. A bad experience in Hong Kong led me to swear off.

18. STORMS - COOL OR SCARY?

Cool.

19. WHAT TYPE WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?

55 Chevy in 1962.

20. IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE?

Peter the Great.

21. FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK?

Ice cold beer after mowing the lawn.

22. WHAT IS YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?

Taurus.

23. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI?

Yes.

24. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB YOU WANTED WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Leading bicycle tours through rural Australia.

25. IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR?

If I had any to dye, I wouldn't care about the color.

26. EVER BEEN IN LOVE?

Yes, I am now for the last time in my life.

27. IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?

Depending on my mood, whether to reflect or to dream.

28. FAVORITE MOVIES:

Casablanca, Rear Window, Maltese Falcon, Lawrence of Arabia.

29. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS?

Yes.

30. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?

That's Ann's domain and I fear to even look.

31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER?

32. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH?

March Madness and Ryder Cup.

33. IF YOU COULD ASK ANY QUESTION ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL IN GENERAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Why didn't someone forcefully (2X4) tell me what was going on. I was clueless most of the time.