Reunion 1999: Class Notes from Bob Walton (April 1999)

After staying in Stillwater to graduate from OSU in engineering(1), I went to Dallas to work for three years as an engineer(2), spent two years in the army(3), and earned a masters degree(4) from the Univ. of Dallas. I switched careers and spent five years as a financial analyst in retail merchandising(5), also in Dallas. I switched careers again and started publishing a weekly newspaper in Dallas in 1980, then one in San Antonio, then one in Ft. Worth, then one in Sydney, Australia. I sold the ones in Dallas and San Antonio and now I’m semi-retired(6).

I’ve been married to my wonderful wife Christine DeGree(7) for almost 15 years, and we’ve so far been successful in our quest to have no children(8). Christine is a consultant in healthcare information technology(9). I frequently visit Stillwater because my mother(10) still lives there in the
same house I grew up in.

Now that I’m semi-retired, I’ve switched careers again and am a kennel worker(11) at a no-kill animal shelter in Dallas. It’s the hardest work I’ve ever done but also the most rewarding.

(1) This was a mistake. I never liked math.
(2) Texas Instruments. Too corporate.
(3) Stationed most of the time in Ft. Worth at a desk. Got to play golf on Fridays.
(4) MBA in marketing. Very overrated.
(5 )Also a mistake. More math.
(6) I’d like to thank the people who invented the fax, e-mail, etc.
(7) We met in a bar. I was drunk.
(8) We have 5 dogs and 5 cats instead.
(9) I don’t know what it means either. Computers are involved.
(10) 85 years old this year and still in good health.
(11) Feed ’em, bathe ’em, medicate ’em, clean out the kennel, give ’em some TLC, help ’em get adopted.