AFPF Gallery

Eugene Calame

I was born September, 9, 1934 in Beckham County, Oklahoma near the small town of Erick. I am the youngest of three children. All born during those bad old days referred to as the depression. To the credit of my parents I was never aware that those days were bad.

My family moved to Medina County, Texas in my first years and opened a small country store near Devine, Texas. I grew up there attending a small country school, Shook School, and later I went to the big city high school of Devine, 1500 people, from which I graduated. Much to the surprise of my English teachers.

Made bread at a bakery in San Antonio, Texas and sold Dr Pepper drinks for a while before joining the United States Air Force in February 1953. My intentions were to be a pilot but physical limitations dictated otherwise. However I made good use of the training I got in electronics which served me very well for the next twenty-five years or so.

I left the Air Force in 1957 and worked a short time for Chance Vought Aircraft, Braniff International Airways. Both no longer in existence. I then started to work for the United States Weather Bureau, later the National Weather Service, and worked there for the next 21 years as an Electronic Technician. I got a chance to retire early from the Weather Service in 1979 and I took it.

I then worked for the Xerox Corporation for twelve years until they could not put up with me any more. Wouldn't quit, Wouldn't resign, Wouldn't retire; so they fired me. :-) ( Not so sad. I was fully vested.) Since then I have taken full advantage of being retired and working only where and when I wanted to.

Temporary agencies, driving a shuttle bus at the airport. IBM for a while until one day they said we would be working every day for a month. I said I wasn't and that was that.

I am now working at the Austin State School for one half day. In many ways it is the best job I have ever had. Austin State School is a facility for the mentally retarded. I am surprised at how attached I have become to the men and women that reside there. Their needs are great and are appreciative of the simple action of shaking hands when you greet them. I plan to retire there next August after five years. ( If I can hold on that is:-)

Married to the beautiful Rosa Lee 38 years. One son ( The computer guru of the family )

I am sixty-four years old.

Retired; National Weather Service, United States Air Force Reserve, Xerox Corporation and soon the Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Agency.

I take pride in the creation of alt.penpals.forty-plus-yrs .

I spend too much time on newsgroups such as APFPY, AFPF, alt.config, alt.how.to.create.a.newsgroup and alt.sci.natural.phenomena.unusual .

I attempt to help others that want to start newsgroups.

I Like to speculate on what causes such natural phenomena as the Marfa lights and other such unusual phenomena around the world.

Have become interested in genealogy as I get older. ( Seems to be a trait of getting older).