Ray Ford

After high school I worked As a Mechanic at Memphis Aero (small aviation). After 2 years I went into the regular Army fo 6 months. Me and one other guy in out basic training company of 200 were offered officer candidate school which we turned down because it required 6 years of active duty. I went back to Memphis Aero for 6 months then was a plumber apprentice for 5 years. Worked as a journeyman plumber until I retired 6-13-2012(41yr.). I was in the Army ready Reserve from 2-72 til 3-76 (4yr.)where I was also a plumber in the 330th General Hospital. Darrell Johnson, class of '67 was in the 330th too. I've been married 3 times. First marriage ended in divorce. Second marriage ended with the death of my wife. Third marriage is still alive.

I never was a great student, Didn't like homework, didn't like reading unless it was something I was really into. Only recently did I find out that I've always had a condition known as "dyslexia". The highlight of high school was at the '68 awards assembly in the gym when Mr Gardner, the auto shop teacher, called my name and presented me with the Ford Motor Company Outstanding Achievement Award and a Craftsnan tool chest full of tools, which opened in front of the whole assembly. I was completly suprised. Also Larry Williams and I won a two foot tall trophy with our names on it for the school for 3rd place in the Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest. We would have won but when the judges were checking our car they turned the headlights on and the idle speed dropped 25 RPM below specs. We had never been taught to turn on the headlights when setting the idle speed. That's my highlight.