Born in 1930 in Fairbury, NE. Family moved to Bremerton, WA, in Feb. of 1940. Except for 4 years in the military and 8 years in Minnesota, have been a "Washingtonian" the rest of my life.
Joined the U.S. Army Security Agency in 1948. After radio operator training I ended up assigned to the 111th Signal Service Co. stationed at Futenma, Okinawa from 1950 to 1952.
I left the service in 1952 and became a license examiner/radio operator for the Washington State Patrol in Bremerton, then a deputy sheriff for Kitsap County, WA. Started college during this time graduating from Western Washington College in Bellingham with a degree in Education.
Spent 38 of the next 43 years teaching, 13 years in public schools in Washington and Minnesota and the last 25 years (retiring from) St. Philomena School in Des Moines, WA. Taught junior high math/science and computers for most of those years.
While stationed on Okinawa, I met my wife, Shirley Ann Wolf (aka "Lee"), a WAC stationed at the Sukeran Base Hospital. Lee grew up in St. Paul, MN, after moving there from Kulm, ND.
We had our two children while attending college. Hadn't intended that but as they say, "If you want to hear God laugh, just tell Him your future plans." Kids are all grown now. Gene married Cindy Den and has two children, Michael and Kelly. Gene is dispatcher for NW Helicopters Department. Daughter Cindy is married to Chris Hanson and they also have two children, Jessica and Ryan. Cindy works for a mental health clinic in Seattle.
Got interested in programming back in the early 60's when Control Data Institute of Mpls offered classes in BASIC and FORTRAN to teachers. Left teaching for one year in 1968 to go to work for Boeing Airplane Co. in Seattle as a computer programmer in the commercial airplane division. That was just before their big layoff in 1969 and I went back into teaching after being RIFed. Left teaching again in 1972 going to work for a franchise owner of Hickory Farms of Ohio. He moved us back to MN Where I was the area director for 5 midwest states running the operation for the owner back there. He sold out to International Multifoods a year later and they wanted me to transfer to Duluth as a store manager. Couldn't live in that "ice box" so I came back to St. Philomena School in Des Moines in 1974 and stayed there till I retired in 1997.
Lewis Y. Williams, an old army buddy from Okinawa, directed me to Gidusko's World and the cryptograms. I told John I didn't think I would be able to do them but I did enjoy doing crossword puzzles. He said the skills are similar and I should try. Found I could do them and really enjoy it.
My email address is: dbeasley@zipcon.com
and my personal page is at http://www.zipcon.com/~dbeasley
Want to read about my fantastic faculties week to Cabo Real? CLICK HERE to read about it.
Dale