Born February 10, 1948 in Great Bend, Kansas.

I’ll start this off simply by saying that my name is Bill. It’s really Joseph William. My cousins in Springfield still call me Billy Joe, as I’m sure that’s what they remember when we lived in Springfield. That’s a name I will gladly answer to.

My first memory as a child was the evening we arrived in Timken after our trip fromSpringfield. I have no recollections of living in Springfield, so those times will have to be shared by my 3 older siblings. As I remember the night we arrived in Timken, we came to the house that we would all grow up in. Grandma Mary and Grandpa Herman were waiting there for us. All I remember is that there was a gas stove adjacent to the big picture window on the north wall. I remember how warm it was, and that is where I parked myself to get warm. It must have been a cold trip. I don’t think that the stove remained there long. I remember thinking how huge the house was. There was also a double glass door that separated the living room and dining room. That also didn’t last long. It was a pretty fancy house.

My next memories are from grade school. The building was originally a two room school that must have been crowded. The school was remodeled and expanded to three or four classrooms with a gym and lunch room. While the school was being remodeled, we used the Legion Hall as a temporary school. I don’t remember much about the classes there, but we had excellent recesses. The new building was really nice, and we had wonderful times. I wouldn’t trade anything for my childhood memories at school. I had great friends and teachers. Our Grade School basketball team was maybe a little above average. Home games were very special. I can still remember the smell of popcorn down the hall, and going to the Boy’s Restroom to get suited up. It was also special since my brother John, and one of his classmates from high school, refereed the games. From my recollections, he was pretty tough on me, as he called way too many fouls. The worst part was that I couldn’t argue with him. It was a very special time. The only thing that rivaled grade school basketball was baseball. The ball field was a corner cut out of Smrcka’s pasture. A home run in left and center field was a good hit over the barbed wire fence into the pasture. Jim Pivonka, our coach, was the only one that could hit it that far. He was a great coach. He was also a huge distraction on Graduation night. He set in the front row and would daintily fold his hands in his lap, smile really big to catch out attention, and make us laugh. That wasn’t too hard.

Somewhere around the third or forth grade, Jerry, Irvin, and I had our tonsils removed at the same time in the LaCrosse Hospital. I remember staying there a couple days until we healed. I remember the ether gas that they used to put us under for the operation. The best part was the ice cream afterwards, as any solid foods were off limits. The trips to the dentist in LaCrosse were not pleasant, and are still probably why I hate going to the dentist. We eventually abandoned that dentist and went to Dr. Mengenback inGreat Bend.

Races around the Liquor Store with our bikes were a highlight of our youth. The Schroeder twins, Jerry and I, along with anyone else that wanted, would race. I would sometimes borrow Betty’s bike, as it was the newest. Dad eventually made me stop using her bike, as I was tearing it up. The twins were racing nuts, as their dad had his own dirt track race car.

The Timken City Park was also a place we liked to play ball. Eddie Spicka was our Cookie League coach. He was a big Kansas City A’s fan, and we heard a lot about them. Eddie was a single man and had no children, and it was nice of him to take that responsibility. God Bless him. The Park was also an entry point to the creek. That was a place of adventure, and somewhere we could explore. We would look for Indian arrow heads, big cat tracks, and start digging caves in the side of the creek banks. Mostly, we just got in trouble from Mom for going down there. It was great fun, though.

On to High School, where we were the mighty Bison Buffalos. Again, I wouldn’t trade anyone for their experiences, as mine were the best. The high school was essentially the same one that our Dad graduated from a few decades earlier. His picture still hung in the hall in the Class of 1938, or there about. My freshman year was a memorable one. Betty was a senior. Betty can correct me if I’m wrong, but I think we rode to school with LaRee Schultz, and back from school with Kenny Romeiser, as I had ball practice after school. Speaking of Boserud (short for Kenny Romeiser), he was chasing me across the street after lunch one day. As I approached the entry door to the high school I caught my foot on a little step below the door, stuck my hand out to catch myself, punched a hole in the door glass with my arm, and cut my forearm. It took a few stitches to repair it, and I still have the scars to prove it. The rest of my high school memories were mostly about sports. We always had good teams, and as seniors we took first place in all league competitions. Actually, we had a three way tie for first place in football. I could go on and on about my high school sports, but suffice it to say that it couldn’t have been any more enjoyable to me because of friends, Coach Tanking, and the successes we had. Any more information than that would be self-serving. But, my thanks go out to all that made it great. I’m sure my siblings remember the car that we took Driver’s Ed in. It was a ‘50’ Chevy four door with a stick shift. It had an extra set of clutch and brake pedals on the passenger side so that the teacher could override any errant actions of the student. It was a blast, as we got out of school to drive around.

A lot of my child hood memories were the same of those of Betty’s about sledding on Bieber’s hill, the hardware store, etc. Betty did an excellent job of chronicling time in our youth. She has written many things that I had forgotten, and not too many were fabricated. (That was a joke, Betty.)

 After High School, I had a decision to make. I had to decide on what to do with my life. I couldn't afford college, the Viet Nam War was raging, and Uncle Sam wanted me to help. So, I decided to enlist in the USAF. With John's help, I was able to choose a career field that would be useful for the rest of my life. The AF sent me to school in Biloxi, Mississippi to become an Aircraft Electronic Navigation Equipment Repairman. After graduation, I was stationed at McConnell AFB in Wichita working on F-105s. After nine months there I was assigned to Korat AFB, Thailand and eventually transferred to Tan Son Nhut AFB in Saigon. Upon completion of my tour of duty there, I was moved to Minot AFB in North Dakota, where I served the rest of my enlistment. I got out of the AF on Jan 20, 1971. Although my time spent in the AF was not enjoyable to me, it was an invaluable experience that built character, and allowed me to grow into an adult.

My adjustment to civilian life didn't take long. My biggest problem was that electronic jobs around Great Bend and other local towns were scarce, and my military experience wasn't worth much to those who were hiring. I had a feeling that it was because my experience was gained in the military, and the war soured employers feelings about those who fought in it.

Dad landed a job for me at Marlette Mobile Homes, where he worked in the front office. I worked as a finish carpenter on the assembly line. After nine months, I got tired of working at the sound of a bell, telling me when to start work, and when to stop work. So, I decided to go Barton County College and get an Associate Degree in Electronics. That landed me a job in Wichita with a computer company. I worked for Burroughs, which eventually became Unisys Corp, as a Computer Engineer. I was essentially a hardware technician on medium and large system mainframe computers. This was a very demanding and rewarding job, as I was in charge of three relatively large computer sites. The job required schooling from time to time at various locations, sometimes lasting as long as two months.

It was at one of my sites where I met my wife, Linda. She was an attractive mainframe operator, who begged me to ask her out. (That probably is not the way she remembers it.) I knew immediately that she was the one for me; I just had to convince her. She was purdy, smart, and could cook. What else could you ask for? Well, I finally convinced her, and we were married July 16, 1977. (You might want to check with her to verify that.) She has worked in Personnel most of the years we have been married, and still works as a Personnel Director.

 On July 31, 1991 we were blessed with a beautiful daughter. Emily is her name, and she was a sweetie... still is. Six years later, we were blessed with a second daughter. We thought Elizabeth would be a perfect mate for Emily. Unfortunately for us, God had other plans. She was a downs baby, and had serious health complications. We did everything we could, but lost the battle. Although we dearly miss her, she is a great source of consolation, as I lean on our little angel every day, and depend on her to intercede for me, as we all know God listens to his unblemished baby angels in a very special way.

Emily is still my special Dolly, currently making her mark in Washington DC as a Legislative Assistant for a Dallas congressman. She graduated from SMU with two majors and two minors. Like all my nieces and nephews, she has her own story to tell, and I will let her tell it.

Linda and I still live in the same house in which we raised our daughter. I am retired and spend most of my time in the wood shop, working on the house, or landscaping. Linda plans to retire relatively soon, and spends most of her time in the sewing room on quilts, or fashioning picture albums.

I consider myself to be one of the luckiest on earth, being the son of Leonard and Frances, and growing up in Timken, KS. With nine caring siblings, and two God-loving parents, how could you go wrong?