After Central:
Since leaving Central I continued my education obtaining two master’s degrees in health care related fields. I began my behavioral health career as the treatment director for an eight-county outpatient substance abuse program and after a few years was recruited to coordinate two inpatient mental health units at a VA Hospital, eventually transferring to the Des Moines VA Hospital and starting their first substance abuse program. Upon leaving the VA I went to work (in various capacities) for Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines spending the last 22+ years leading one of their subsidiary corporations providing outpatient/residential level behavioral health services, permanent housing, elementary/secondary school behavioral health programming, and primary care/dental services to underserved populations.

Family/Children:
Vicki and I met while I was in graduate school at the University of Nebraska (thanks to an introduction by Linda Stienstra) and have been married for 42 years. Vicki retired from teaching high school and now has a successful real estate business. We have two children, Joe (Heather) and Jamie (Jon). Joe and Jamie attended Iowa State with Joe receiving an engineering degree and Jamie a degree in business/finance. Joe and Heather have three children (Ryan 11, Reese 9, and Charlie 7) and live in Olathe, Kansas where Joe is President of Diligence, Inc./Russell-Hampton Co. and Heather is a Pre-Op/PLCU nurse at Shawnee Mission Surgery Center. Jamie and Jon have three children (Joss 6, Brook 5, and Evie 3) and live in Johnston, Iowa where Jamie works with Vicki as a realtor and Jon is a construction engineer for Ryan Company.

Phi Delta Tau/Central College Memories:
Trying to recall (with accuracy) all of the fond memories I have of Central and the Phi Delts is a rather tall task as much of my time was spent in a bit of a fog. My fond recollections include: freshman year probation for hosting an alcohol laced card game in the dorms during the parents weekend football game (my first introduction to Deans Hinga and Evers); the late night freshman year visits by over served Rich Stienstra and Phil Lacqua providing both me and roommate Wayne Stienstra with valuable life lessons in humility; the many days and nights spent at Hunter’s and The Grill (Harry holding my checks for a couple of days so they wouldn’t bounce); winter time in the 12-man room without an electric blanket; basement lounges and the tall tales following their use; Dan Martinez Homecoming decoration artistry; Mama Lacqua spring break fund raisers; keggers at/around Lake Red Rock; noon TV room Floppy Show viewing; many late night BS sessions resulting in absolutely nothing but missed classes the next day; pledge class kidnapping of Tony Van Houweling ending in a short Knoxville jail stay; the East Coast road trip with Tony and Rich (to see Phil) in which as we crossed the border from Canada I spent the better part of an hour with the border patrol folks as they conducted a thorough search of the car taking out the seats, tearing apart our luggage and putting me through the third degree while Rich and Tony drank coffee with the other officers in their office; and, the numerous day to day brotherhood interactions.

I look forward to catching up with old friends and becoming acquainted with the brothers that preceded me and are responsible for the wonderful traditions that have been passed on over the years. If this reunion is anything like our previous get togethers I’m sure that truth/accuracy will be in short supply. Can’t wait!!