at this point, I like to include two other things that I forgot. one of
them is
graduated at Arizona State University Uh in 1963,
I remembered upon receiving my notice that yes, I have met all the
requirements and that I'm going to be graduating with a degree. I decided
that I should invite back, I shouldn't say back, I should invite those
indian school teachers who would not give me a recommendation to go on to
college and that I made it, I'm getting my degree and I want them to
celebrate with me. And so I sent out all the invitation and I didn't hear
from any one of them. And the only person that uh was so happy was the
coach. He said I knew you were able and capable and and uh you just did
what needs to be done and congratulations. And uh he called me and I think
he even wrote me a little note. So that was something that, that I did. Mm
The other point is is that upon graduating from phoenix indian school, a
situation where
not many teachers were oriented to cabin their Children get, receive a
college education and uh going around and talking to them about the
possibility of recommending me if they could sign a statement that says
yes, I'm capable of doing the college work. Uh huh. They were not in tune
with that. They just absolutely refused to do that. And they said that
we're a good school were a vocational school boarding school and we do
very well in industry that are building buildings out there. We're not a a
college oriented institution where we prepare students were that kind of
desire to go on to college and we believe that the majority of our indian
students are better off going into the community with some trait that they
learn here and they're very good with their hands and their good workers.
And so that was the reason that they gave me for not recommended me. But
you know uh in every group like this there's always somebody that has a
higher goal and higher aspiration. I guess I was one of those individuals
and my point to them was that okay that's that's good and fine. Yeah, I
know that the institution that's what it's all about. But I just want a
simple recommendation that says that uh I am able and I am cable if I can
apply myself that they can gamble and take a chance on me. That's all I
wanted was that opportunity the door to become open and get me into a
small community college which shouldn't be any big difference between what
is that indian school and what is at the community college and that's all
I was seeking. But unfortunately they agree with that. Let me go back to
where I was. So as a construction estimator I was able to read blueprints
and figure out the labor cost and the material costs and then about how
long it will take to build those facilities that was challenging You had
to really, really steady the blueprint. You have to understand that the
work of the architect and then you have to understand your labor force and
and all of that. And I really liked it. And I like and I and I like
working Therefore about two years. Yeah. And then one day, mhm bob russell
, the late bob russell gave me a call and he says, mhm. There's a guy that
you should meet who has a grant from the federal government and it's a
program that is like the Peace Corps program. And uh this person that I
want you to meet, his name is malin Parker. And malin Parker wants to talk
with you and you. I think we'll do a good job for him in training the
Vista volunteers and getting involved with some of that volunteer work.
Yeah,
I think it's this one.