After my dad’s Army service obligation ended in December 1963, we moved back to Port Matilda, Pennsylvania and he resumed working on the family dairy farm in Reese Hollow.  My younger brothers Jeff (1965) and Timothy (1969) we welcomed into the family as Quay and Nancy’s sons.

I remember my pre-school days as usually being beside my dad as we milked cows and completed the field work on the farm.  I started Elementary School in Port Matilda in the fall of 1968.  I loved school and spent my free time and summers once again working along aside of my father on the dairy farm.  I enjoyed playing baseball and was learning the intricate mannerisms of playing the trumpet.  I was selected to the Little League all-star team my sixth grade year as a catcher.  I also spent a lot of time with my grandfather Gilbert Wiser as we hauled coal and wood for his customers.

In the fall of 1975 I started to attend Junior High at the mighty Bald Eagle Area Junior/Senior High School. What a transition from a small school to a Senior/Junior High!  I continued to improve as a trumpet player and my fervor for baseball and other sports grew.  I was in the top quarter of my class throughout my days at Bald Eagle.  I still spent my free time and summer vacations along side my dad on the family farm.

It seems that the moments flew by and it was time to graduate in June of 1981.  I was dating the love of my life, a tall slender State College beau, Jadine Burns.  On June 30, 1981, I headed off for a four-year enlistment in the United States Air Force.  After basic training and technical school at Lackland AFB, Texas, I received orders for Eielson AFB, Alaska.  Speaking of transitions and adaptation, moving to Alaska would provide the test of these facets.  Serving as a Security Policeman I soon excelled and was being recognized for my accomplishments (due to the talent God has blessed me with). After a two-year long distance romance of letters and phone calls, Jadine and I were married on July 16, 1983.  For our honeymoon, we drove the 4077 miles back to Fairbanks, Alaska, where Eielson AFB is located.  I was promoted to E-4 via an early promotion after a panel decided that I was worthy of the recognition and increased responsibilities.

I received orders to relocate to Grissom AFB, Indiana.   We left Alaska in April 1984, once again traversing the world-renowned Al-Can highway.  Jadine and I spent our last year in Indiana, in the land of what I called pig farms and flat lands.  I tested for Staff Sergeant and scored high enough to be awarded my fourth stripe on January 1, 1985.  Jadine and I moved back home to central Pennsylvania in June 1985 as my four-year enlistment was completed.

Jadine began working for Penn State and I found employment as a Senior Security & Computer Security Specialist at a local defense contractor.  Our first daughter Amanda was born on April 29, 1988 and Jadine terminated her employment to care for her. What a blessing Amanda brought us.  God blessed us with two more daughters as Danielle was born on November 6, 1990 and Nicole was born on July 19, 1982.  All three of these beautiful blonde hair beauties only added to our happiness as a family.

I attended Penn State University, taking college classes here and there part-time.  I was very active in the Port Matilda Fire Company and served as Fire Chief for 6 years, Assistant Chief, President, Trustee, Secretary, Public Relations Officer, and Vice-President of the Ambulance portion of the company from 1985-1999.  I earned my Advanced First Aid and CPR certification in 1987 and my Emergency Medical Technician status in April of 1988, of which I still hold today.

Jadine and I built our dream house in the spring of 1987 and added a two-car garage a year later.  We never realized how much work owning a home would be, but enjoyed it immensely.

In 1995, I was elected to the Bald Eagle School board and was re-elected in 1999, currently serving as the Vice-President.  I love to serve my constituents and it is my goal to ensure that educational excellence is the norm.

In 1997 I left my position at the Defense Contractor and began employment for Penn State University working in Human Resources.  The career change was refreshing and I also got the unique opportunity to work for my old boss of 1985-1987 (the defense contractor).  He encouraged me to finish up my course work at Penn State, and so I focused on achieving this goal.

In January 2000, I turned in all my equipment after 20 years of serving the community in the Port Matilda Fire Company.  As a life-member, I completed over 1500 hours of formal training alone, without all the emergency responses and fund-raising events included.  Without this demand of my time, I now have much more time to spend with my wife and three daughters. 

I graduated from Penn State with an Associates Degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences on August 5, 2000, after what seemed like an eternity of attending classes part-time while maintaining a 3.6 GPA.  I can only thank my loving family, my friends, and my Lord God for their prayers and support along the way.  I was inducted in the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society and served as the local chapter President for 1999-2000.  I was also inducted into the Golden Key National Honor Society in 2000 and have recently been recognized as United States Achievement Academy, All-American Scholar.  I am currently enrolled as a Senior in the Bachelor of Science program in Labor and Industrial Realtions at Penn State with declared minors in History and Business.  I plan on staying within the Human Resources career field as I enjoy the day-to-day interpersonal action among the employees. I am contemplating enrolling in an MBA or Master's degree program after my anticipated graduation in May 2004.

Hope you enjoyed learning a little about me.  God has truly blessed my life with a great family and friends.