Today's Featured Biography

 
Ray Giltner

LIFE IN A NUTSHELL - RAY GILTNER

After graduation from MCHS I attended PJC for 2 years, then continued college at Murray State University where I received a degree, majoring in math and physical education. In June of 1966, Beverly Schaffer and I were married; she a former resident of Metropolis who had moved to Florida in the Summer of 1962. We met in 1963, her first vacation back to Illinois.

Once I completed my student teaching in Cadiz, KY I returned to South Florida where I began teaching Algebra and Geometry. In 1971 we adopted a son, Todd. We enjoyed weekend camping and/or taking our 16' catamaran down to Key Biscayne on hot summer days. After 10 years in Fla, disenchanted with teaching and ready for a change, Bev and I vacationed in Colorado, loved it and decided to make a move. Without job prospects we packed up and left Florida, never to look back.

We still live there today. We love the mountains, the scenic Winters, the crisp Falls and especially the cooler Summers.
Our first few years in Colorado I worked in construction and Bev became a Realtor. Within a few years I became a licensed General Contractor and began building custom homes. Our first spec home was built in 1981, the same year our youngest son, Ryan, was born. Together Bev and I grew a successful business which has served our talents and our financial needs for almost 30 years. We moved a number of times, but typically across the Street or a mile or two up the road. The boys were never pulled from their schools.

Each year our homes became more custom and more expensive. We enjoyed the creative part of the business very much. However,
when the economic disaster hit, Bev and I decided to withdraw from the speculative market. There was little market for pre-solds and real estate sales became difficult, so basically we were forced into semi-retirement a bit early. We still are engaged somewhat in our respective fields but our activity now is much more limited and our investments guarded.

We hope to do some traveling over the next few years. We are not fans of "Springtime in the Rockies" so hope to do most of our traveling during that time of year.

Our boys still live locally and think Colorado is the only place to live. Neither one has ever married so no photos of grandchildren.

We still return to Illinois every few years to visit most of my siblings who still live here. We find each visit a bit more foreign and was particularly saddened when we came back and found our high school had been torn down. We still find Metropolis a special place, as it is sustains our heritage and prompts many memories with each return.

Look forward to seeing each of you in October!

Ray Giltner

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