DAVE LONDON CHECKS IN ~ CHECK HIM OUT!

THANKS to Sandy Sullivan Meek, we're in touch with Dave London who attended Des Peres Elementary, St. Clements and graduated from Chaminade; however he has lots of memories of growing up with several KHS65 members. He has grade school pix he's willing to share, so check www.khs65.com and his contributions will be there. Herewith Dave's story, which I asked him to share so some of us can "meet" him and some of you may remember knowing him oh those many years ago! THANKS Dave and WELCOME to our "sort of KHS65" list! Maybe we'll see Dave at our 50th Reunion!

"When we reach a certain age, we find ourselves looking in the rear view mirror of life a little more frequently. My rear view mirror is filled with kids from Des Peres and Kirkwood. I grew up on Vinetta Drive, a short dead-end street that is off Manchester, nestled between Harwood and Bopp Roads near Harwood Hills. My father built the house himself and it is still there although the houses on both sides have been bought and torn down with new houses built in their place. I went to Kindergarten and First Grade at Des Peres Elementary. When St. Clements opened I went there for Second through Eighth grade. Went to Chaminade and graduated in the class of 65. Then off to Colorado State University where I played one year of football. I graduated in March of 1970 and was immediately commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army. I spent a little over six years on active duty, the majority of it with the First Infantry Division (The Big Red One), at Ft. Riley, KS and Augsburg Germany. I got married my second year in service to a nurse whom I met while on convalescent leave, following a parachuting accident at Ft. Benning, GA, where I had my Airborne and Ranger training. I had met her father duck hunting (yes you can hunt ducks in a full leg cast). She did not like being married to an Army officer so I returned to civilian life only to find out she didn’t like being a civilian wife either. We had three children (Boys 5 &4 and daughter 2) when she bid adieu. I was granted full custody of the kids and was a single parent for six years. During this time I was living in O’Fallon, MO and was spurred by neighbors to run for the city council. I did and during my first term in 1982 met a beautiful woman eight years my junior whom the mayor had appointed to the Parks and Recreation board. It was love at first sight for me and two years later we were married. I remained on the Board of Alderman for ten years and was President or the Board from 1986 to 1991. In 1993 we decided to move out of the growing bustle of O’Fallon and built our dream home on four acres out by Busch Wildlife area. Kids were grown, the youngest was in college. Jan worked in the Office of State Courts Administrator for the Eleventh Circuit Court in St. Charles. In 1999 she started having symptoms of loss of balance and fainting. She was eventually diagnosed with Ataxia and the insidious disease slowly robbed her of her motor skills and left her bed-ridden. She had a massive stroke as I was dressing her to take her to the hospital. It was one week after 9/11. Following her death I looked for hobbies to take up my time. Golf and my woodworking had too many memories as Jan and I played golf together, and my woodworking was always building something for one of her many decorating projects in the house. Since I lived close to the shooting range at Busch Wildlife, I rekindled my childhood and military interest in the shooting sports. Since then I have become an NRA Training Counselor and am the First Vice president and Safety officer for the 1200 member Benchrest Rifle Club of St. Louis. I shoot competitively with a real fondness for long range precision shooting. With no adult supervision my collection of firearms, shooting and reloading equipment continues to grow. My other passion is my seven grandchildren. Since my wife’s passing I have taken those old enough out on Saturday mornings for what we call Saturday Morning Breakfast Club. The oldest is now 16 and just started to drive (yes I taught him the Kirkwood honk). [This qualifies Dave as a KHS65er all by itself!!!]

In 2005 I met a wonderful widow, also named Jan (I love that name). Between her six kids and eight grandkids and my family, we always seem to be going to something. However, we do find time to travel a little and pursue our many shared interests.
I am on Facebook and have my own website at http://www.pursuitofaccuracy.com/ If you went to Des Peres elementary or St. Clements I would love to hear from you. If you remember the Pickle Bowl, Bob’s Donut Shop, Crème Twist Drive-In, Des Peres Teen Town, Western Teen Town or ice skating on Deutchmann’s or Gray’s ponds please contact me."