PARKE E. & SUSAN SIMMONS

As a very few of you may remember, I was actually scheduled to graduate with the class of 1959...but did, in fact, ultimately graduate in 1960.
My terrific wife, Susan (Patrick) Simmons, is the true member of the class of 1960, even though she and I were married in late 1959 and she didn't get to graduate with her class.
Of those friends of ours who married at such an early age, I don't know of any of them, besides us, who weren't divorced within a few years. (I hope I'm wrong but I think not).
Funny how things work out though as Sue and celebrated our 50th anniversary last October...and they said it wouldn't last!
Well, now for a brief history...as brief as possible trying to pick out things that might be of interest to some of you out there.
I attended ISU for a year but, tired of being broke, I took the easy way out and left school to sell insurance to support my family which now included a second son. Dropping out has been a regret for me ever since, even though I was later to become a successful businessman.
After selling for National Life & Accident in Bloomington for four years, Sue and I decided to move to Oregon for a "fresh start," as neither of us was happy with the direction our lives were taking at the time. Mainly, that was my fault as I was drinking too much and having a problem determining how a "good husband" is supposed to act.
It was in Eugene, Oregon that I found myself selling for a dental supply company. We were there for five years and I was then offered a promotion that included a move to Salt Lake City. Sue and I thought that SLC was possibly where people got around in horse and buggies and the women all wore long, black skirts. That isn't quite true but it was still a big cultural shock to find ourselves as "Gentiles" in Mormon country.
We both still smoked and drank back then and we were soon told, in no uncertain terms, how we were headed straight for hell if we didn't change our ways and join "the church." Well, we never did join the Mormon church but, ultimately, found most of them to be really good people with high ethics and great family values. (No, polygamy hasn't been practiced by true Mormons for decades, now, although some non-sanctioned off-shoots of the faith still do...against the law but pretty much left alone by the law). And, after their initial attempts failed, they gave up on trying to convert us to "the church."
We've had many opportunities to move to other parts of the country but turned them down as we really learned to love Utah In 1983, two partners and I bought the company we all worked for and, in 1997, sold our now greatly expanded company to the largest dental supply company in the world.
We attempted to convince our wives what "a good deal" we had made on this sale, each becoming "millionaires "on paper," but, being far more practical than we, they kept asking, "Where's the money, honey?"
Because we were paid with shares of stock from the large company and, of course, it was "restricted stock," we couldn't sell any of it for two years.....and, as it sure could have gone down to nothing during that time, their concerns were well founded. We also had a four year "non-compete clause" in our agreement but all three of us ended up staying on much longer than we had to.
Well, long story short, the stock that was valued at $8.00 a share in 1997 was selling at $80.00 per share in 2006...before it split two-for-one. It has weathered the present economic storm fairly well so, even though we partners sold a big chunk of our stock along the way we all still have enough shares to keep us interested. The net result is that we all three ended up making more money than we would've dreamed possible.(Especially for this "poor boy from Illinois).
I tell this "success story" not to brag but to try and express that, against very heavy odds, starting out as Sue and I did, we have been very fortunate. Then again, if I hadn't dropped out of ISU and had become a teacher and, ultimately, reach my goal of becoming a coach, would I now be more "successful" in so many other ways....who knows? But I do wonder every once in awhile.
The most important thing I did though was to quit smoking and drinking on the same day, January 9, 1990. ( I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired...as the old saying goes).
Life became much easier with those twin 800 pound gorillas off my back. I did it "cold turkey" and, frankly, it was so hard that I know I could not do it again. That's a good thing, though, because it makes the decision not to drink or smoke when the urge comes up, pretty darned easy.
I retired two years ago, and now manage our investments.....not a real "fun job" these days but it sure could be worse for us. Since retirement, I finished a novel I'd been writing (in my "spare time" for four years): Yet to get it published and maybe never will. But, at least I finished the damn thing!
Sue and I split our time between SLC and our second home on a golf course in southern Utah...in a town named St. George, an hour or so north of Las Vegas. We joined a country club there and I've brought my handicap "index" down from a 22.2 in 2008 to a 9.8 currently....have to play a lot of golf to get my money's worth out of the monthly dues!We also travel when we can, usually by car and with no real "set itinerary."
Our two "boys," Tony and Mike, both still live in Utah and have given us three super grandchildren...all of whom have "Papa" (me) wrapped around their fingers. I'm a far better grandpa than I was a father.
So far, Sue's and my health is as good as can be expected as we approach the "big 7-0." Sue has great genes as most of her relatives live well into their 90s. My genes aren't so hot..... so I'm just glad to wake up each day and I try and make it the best day possible...and, most importantly, try to keep everything in the proper perspective.
Well, I didn't mean for this to become a "sequel" to my first novel but, once I start rolling on the old processor, I often just lose track of time....better go to work on my second book..
We won't be able to attend this year's reunion but hope everyone has a great time and that we'll be able to receive whatever is created to memorialize the big event.