Everyone knows that there is a significant person behind every successful person. In my case it is Debbie, my wife of 50 years.

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It hasn't been an easy life for Debbie. She raised two boys mostly by herself while I was of on deployments on submarines for my 25 Year Navy career. I am not sure what I did to deserve her. So here is our story . . .

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Met for the first time several years before we were married. Didn't actually date until both of us were out of high school. We both attended Gov. John R Rogers high school in Puyallup, WA.  I attended college for almost two years before I couldn't afford it anymore and decided to join the US Navy. That was in February 1975. We were engaged to be married by then after a year + of me almost begging. You Laugh - it's true. Some how I knew. We were wed on July 4th that same year at the start of my  Navy career.

 

Stationed in San Diego at first for initial training, (wow I just realized that a 25 year Navy career has a lot to it and it would be real boring for you. So let me cut to the chase here) Lots of Nuclear Power training, 4 submarines, 1 submarine tender (Surface ship or as submariners call them - targets) Nuclear Power instructor for 8 years. Navy Leadership Trainer and Internal business consultant for 7 years trying to get the Navy to understand best business practices and continuous process improvements. (Yeah that was fun!)

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Debbie and I raised two boys who are now in there Mid  to late 40's (Sheesh) and I already alluded to the fact that it was really Debbie that raised them. One lives here in Lake Stevens and the other in Tacoma. No grand children - and Debbie is not pleased with that. Moving on. . . . .

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After the navy I was hired by Booz Allen Hamilton, a consulting firm, to do what I had been doing for the last 7 years of my career in the navy, I found out that I really liked what I was doing but not for a corporation. I was then hired by a startup telecom company to be their Chief Information Officer and design a proprietary database for their operations. After that I decided to work for myself and started my own remodeling business here in Lake Stevens. I have been in business 24 years.

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Started going to council meetings 18 years ago to learn what was going on around me. I was fascinated. Didn't miss a meeting for two years. That was when the entire council of the time asked me to run for an opening seat. There is a cute story behind that so if you see me around ask about it. Ran my first election in 2009 not knowing what I was doing or getting into. I won! And that started my journey on the city council representing all of you. In that time - almost - 18 full years - I have never missed a council meeting.

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I am also very active in our community as you can see here. 

 

                                                                                        Service Before Self