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Today's Featured Biography

 
William CUNNINGHAM III

A hard nosed kid taught to give no quarter-expect same made life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness about 5-books long. Started HS at DeLaSalle in Chicago. After a year of getting beat up told my dad I will go to Montefiore before I go back to DLS. Lucky for me, EP-HIGH was just across the Grand Trunk Line.

Moses Montefiore Academy or Moses Montefiore School is a special school of the Chicago Public Schools. It is located in the Near West Side of Chicago. It serves students with severe emotional disorders. Wikipedia
Address: 1310 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

My 3-years at EP High were the best for me. I got to play on the first soph-football team to have a winning record. First year on the varsity when all picked us for last we Mustangs, with the help of the student body, ran roughshod over the old SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE and beat Big City Bogan [their only loss that year] to become the 1964 Undefeated Conference Champions. Not as big in '65 we still surprised, beating Bogan again, with a 6-2 record. I have to thank a couple of school mates- who I will not name -for helping me graduate on time.

Then joined the Marines. Read that above.

America was not a nice place to come home to in 1969. The country was rented over Vietnam. So I bummed about for a spell. Just hard to get me act together. Finally joined the Chicago Police Department. I was in the first class the 'G' started giving the city money so 13-weeks became nigh 9-months. Bounced between Districts 4,5 & 7 before getting lucky and sent to 9. Worked plain clothes for a spell, but mostly beat work.Once I started getting in hot water for DOING my job I started looking for something else. The Marines taught me we cannot save the world; the CPD taught me we cannot save our city [and as I write this in 2018, I do think I have been justified].

So I bought a tavern on Western Ave. named it THE CELTIC LOUNGE. Took a dead beat 4-o'clock dump and made it a hot spot closing at 2-AM. Only problem is as bad as being a cop, taverns are not conducive for relationships. S*&^ happens and I certainly have had and continue getting my share.

Trying to keep a marriage afloat sold the tavern, which did no good, and got into sales. Suffice to say my life took a gigantic leap into never-neverland and I have been an outcast ever since...outside of a few old teammates and guys from the neighborhood. They more than likely saved me from myself and after my Italian vacation was pushed down to South Florida. Had to turn down my 'free-be' to the U of I and go to Florida.

Bobby Mitchell- '66 classmate -needed help in Miami. So in 1991 I washed ashore and started learning about air compressors. Made about 13-years, but Bobby was hell bent on killing himself and finally his liver quit. The family did not want to put any money back into what Bobby left them and no one would listen to me on how to fix. 'What does he know about air compressors?' is all I heard.I did not know all that much and still do not turn wrenches, but I know business and how to proceed. So Chicago's office came down and took what they wanted, sold the building and all was no more.

Got lucky when another Miami Air Compressor Company picked me up.Had almost 14-years with them when the bagman came calling. They were going down the tubes. We went through a terrible year trying to keep them afloat so they could sell to the Distributor who had the rest of the state of Florida. Then one of the two owners had his cancer exacerbate, went into hospice and finally died.Won't get into all the crap between owner and owner-relatives, but they managed to sell to the aforementioned company. Welcome BIG BROTHER.

They promised all 90-days. I got 88-days, but knew I would be terminated. The excuse was my position was being eliminated. Since they never gave me a position it was obvious the American who did not speak Spanish in Miami was history. They gave me a nice severance package, so why wench.

Now living the buena vida. SS kicked in a few years back; medicare; and, AGENT ORANGE VA issues left me okay. Few bills anymore. Fill up the gas tank far, far less. Read a few books, play on IG & FB and take care of my cats. Valhalla can wait for a spell.

So best to all. Thank you for being you and making some tough years in my life the most enjoyable over all....

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