Wasn't I Cute?

The Conservative Look

The Early Years

Carl was born in Red Bluff, California at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in August 1947. He grew up in the Red Bluff area attending First Grade in a small, one-room country school house. Well, actually there was two rooms and an alcove where coats and boots were placed during the winter months. There were a total of twelve students at Red Bank School and grades 1 through 8 were all taught by one teacher. Other grammar schools he attended were Lincoln Street School (2nd - 5th grade) and Bidwell School (6th - 8th grade).  Then came the high school years at Red Bluff Union High School (9th - 12th). Carl graduated in a class of less than 100 in June1965.

The College Years

Carl began his college career as a veterinary medicine major but found out after a very long semester that the competition was too much to deal with and therefore changed his major. After two years of community college at Shasta College in Redding, California Carl received an AA degree in Agricultural Business. After transferring to California State University at Chico, California he received a BS degree in Agricultural Business in January 1970. It took him 2 1/2 years—too much partying maybe?

Into the Work Force

Just like every "red-blooded American boy" looks forward to—his first job. Carl's first full-time job was working for the Federal Government. After surviving the Selective Service lottery (number 16 in the lottery draw) and missing out on a tour of duty in Viet Nam, Carl went to work for the Farmers Home Administration as an Emergency Loan Officer. 

Unfortunately this was a short term position. During the next ten months or so he resided in Willows, California. Because of the duties of the position much traveling was required. Still unmarried at that time it was kind of interesting and, at times, adventurous. It was nothing unusual to leave Sunday evening and not return home until late Friday evening. This was great in that much of California was seen. Part of the job duties was collecting information on past due loan accounts all over the state. 

Back to Familiar Places

After working at various jobs Carl was offered a position as "Paraprofessional in Applied Sciences" at Shasta College in Redding, California. Impressive title huh? This job was basically a teaching assistant position and was originally funded by the Federal Government. Working in the Agriculture & Natural Resources area of the Applied Sciences Division, he was doing assistant teacher's work for janitorial wages. Not having a secondary school teacher's credential may have had something to do with it too. Shasta College was and still is, one of the better vocational two-year colleges in Northern California. Carl developed a brand new Farm Management course of study and assisted in developing a new Fluid Power course of study designed mainly for Agriculture and Natural Resources students.

There was an unexpected twist to this job. Carl met Marie Yvette Davis, a student secretary for the Applied Science Division. This October 1972 meeting turned serious and they were married on December 23rd eloping to Reno, Nevada to avoid all the hassles of a big wedding.

The Federal Government program was discontinued but the school district picked up the position but decreased it to a 10-month-a-year position rather than a full 12 month position as it was funded by the Federal Government. A slight adjustment in income especially since the monthly salary was also decreased. 

Carl worked at this job for nearly seven years. It was enjoyable work but class enrollments began decreasing as Viet Nam veterans finished their 2-year degrees. Carl began looking for another job since the "handwriting was on the wall", this job would either end soon or would be cut to a half-time position because of decreasing class enrollments. This was 1977 and Northern California was not the most prolific job seeking location. 

Off To Los Angeles

In April of 1977 took a job with the Federal-State Market News Service, a state-federal government cooperative agency, as Junior Marketing Specialist. Culture shock became a reality since this position was in Los Angeles, California. 

(to be continued later)