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Phillip Esswein

Education:
B.S. Civil Engineering; University of Cincinnati; Cincinnati, Ohio; 1970

M.B.A. Management; Georgia State University; Atlanta, Georgia; 1981

After graduation I moved from Decatur to Cincinnati, Ohio, where I attended the University of Cincinnati. In 1971 I returned to Decatur and worked for Warren & Van Praag Consulting Engineers. In March of 1972 I married Dorothy Paczak (EHS Class of 1967). Our daughter, Nicole, was born in Decatur.

In 1975 we became carpetbaggers and moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area. Peter and Mitchell were both born in Georgia, but the people here do not consider them to be southerners.

Dorothy is a school teacher and I operate a consulting structural engineering company in Lilburn, Georgia. Nicole has followed in her mother's footsteps and has become a teacher. She completed her masters degree in 2003 and her specialists degree in 2005. She was teacher of the year in 2012. Peter graduated with an associates degree in 2007. He is employed as a medical billing coder. Mitchell received his Eagle award in 2007. He graduated with a bachelors and masters degree in 2012 and a Masters of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2015. He will be married the weekend after our 50th high school reunion.

Dorothy and I are very involved in our church, Mountain Park United Methodist Church. In 1994 we began making mission trips to Honduras and have fallen in love with the people there. We have become experts at pouring concrete floors in houses and building latrines. All five of us have been at least one time.

As a result of attending a Christmas party in Nicole's class in 2011, Dorothy and I have become involved in spreading Christmas cheer to boys and girls of all ages. Our routine of Santa and Mrs. Claus has been enjoyed at children's homes, schools, and retirement facilities.

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