DAVID AND PATRICIA

I finished LSU in August 1951, and was looking for a job. Bobby Nolan, one of my good friends was employed at Esso Standard Oil Co. Refinery here in Baton Rouge. He suggested that I apply for work in the Accounting Department. After a short interview I was employed at a salary of $315.00 per month. This was a good starting salary at that time. The work was pleasant, five days per week with 2 weeks vacation per year and along with Virginia's salary we felt like we were doing just fine.

Since we had been married in 1947 we both had wanted children. In 1952 the doctor discovered this was impossible for Virginia, so we decided we would try for adoption. We applied at the Volunteers of America office in New Orleans. After several lengthy interviews which took about a year we received a call that a beautiful little 4 month old boy with brown eyes and hair was available in Shreveport. We were very excited and hurried to see this wonderful little child who had come our way. We fell in love with him at first sight and named him David. What a joy he has been for us! The Lord had answered our prayers.

I stayed in the Accounting Department until 1957 and then felt I would be more comfortable working in sales rather than accounting. I applied for a transfer and we were then sent to Memphis where we stayed for about a year. Later another transfer took us to Nashville, and then to Clarksville, Tennessee.

We then decided David needed a little sister, so we applied for another child in Nashville and after about a year, Patricia came along and she fulfilled all our dreams for children. They have been the most wonderful things to ever happen to us. We have always been very proud of both of them.

The cold weather in Tennessee as well as the LSU Tiger football team, was calling us back to Baton Rouge. I decided to resign from Esso and return to go into the service station business. I found a station to purchase and spent the next eight years in this field. It was a great learning experience.

With very little money but an awful lot of credit, I managed to borrow the necessary funds to purchase my inventory such as gasoline, motor oil, tires, batteries and accessories. Hiring of personnel and bookkeeping was a new experience for me also. Virginia had continued to teach during all these career changes.

After eight years in this business, I was able to sell it and go to work in Mayor Dumas' administration for the City of Baton Rouge. I was his Chief Administrative Officer for five years. This was most interesting work in the field of human relations. During this time I was able to meet many high ranking dignitaries and stayed through 2 mayoral elections that Mayor Dumas had won. I really enjoyed these years of public service. After leaving the Mayor's office, I studied real estate, worked with a road contractor and was employed by the L. S. U. Alumni office, while searching for the perfect job for myself and family.