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Today's Featured Biography
Robert Koonce
More than you ever wanted to know about Bob Koonce
Born: July 8, 1941 Ganado
Family moved to Austin in 1945. Austin was a beautiful town back then.
Attended A.N. McCallum High School grad. Class of 1959. (I was fortunate to secure part-time employment with the Tex. Agriculture Dept. as a custodian)
Attended Southwest Tex. State College until 1961. I also worked as a custodian half-time for the College. Left to attend Uncle Sam’s school for unmotivated college students. I like to think that my leaving improved both organizations..
Took Basic Tng. In Feb. of 1962 in Ft. Carson, Colorado…which may have been the factor causing me to presently reside in So. Tx. Before presenting myself to Uncle Sam, I had failed typing and Spanish in High School. With characteristic wisdom, “Uncle” sent me to Bolivia to be a teletype operator. Remarkably, I received an honorable discharge.
Returned to civilian life in Dec. of 1964, and enrolled in The University of Texas at Austin where the Dean of Communications, Dr. Reddick informed me “Koonce, we’ve got to get you out of here!” Which is code for, get a job and send us money. All through this period I was fortunate enough to find work with the Railroad, Plastering Contractors, Water Well Drilling Operations, etc. Back then, if you needed work, you just went to Houston, and applied and by dark, you’d be working.
At UT, I met my wife and the love of my life, Lucy Webb, daughter of a retired AF Colonel. We have remained married, in spite of my faults, (she has none) for 40 years.
We have two kids. Our son, Jere now 37 manages a Discount Tire Store in CC and has blessed us with two charming grandsons. He’s a good son, but somewhere I went wrong and he developed into a salt water fisherman. My daughter, the apple of my eye, is married to Augie Pedraza formerly of Victoria. She taught school in NE San Antonio and is preparing to present us with our fourth grandchild, due about reunion time and promises to be a girl. (Hooray!)
Once Lucy and I escaped college, I began real life teaching junior high school in Edinburg, Texas. After three semesters, and a few instances of female students informing me what I could do to myself, which was physically impossible, I decided that perhaps teaching @ $400 monthly was not the best way to repay my college loans. I took a job with The Austin American Statesman as an Advertising Sales and Layout person. At the same time, I worked part-time selling suburban real estate. This lasted a little over one year, and I proved, unequivocally, that I was totally unsuited to sell anything.
About this time in approximately 1970, I heard of some jobs opening in an organization within the Texas Health Department System, called Civil Defense and Traffic Safety.
Well…they didn’t know any better, so they hired me….I stayed there for five years, transferred to the EMS Division, trained as a Paramedic and became involved in the field that I am still unable to escape. After five good years, I accepted a position as the EMS Director for the City of Victoria, where I was to spend nearly 20 years.
While in Victoria, I received the State Award for Director of the year. Victoria EMS received the Texas award for EMS Service of the year, and our Medical Director, Jeff Flowere, received the award for Medical Director of the Year. In 1992 I completed the NY Marathon, my first and last!
After leaving Victoria, I spent a long year in Pasadena, TX with a private company.
Then as fortune would have it, approximately 11 years ago, I heard of a job with the Hospital District in Refugio. I was so glad at the opportunity to return to South Texas
I neglected to ask what they paid.
My hobbies are bass fishing, walking, reading, and complaining about politics. (I know, I know, Mr. Obama’s gonna save us all.)
I’ve never lived in a small town before, since I was over 4 yrs. old and it has been an experience that I’ll treasure.
And that’s Bob Koonce’s life and welcome to it.
One final thought…the McCallum “class of 59” may have been one of the most blessed groups around. Our teachers were beyond excellent. The town was beautiful then. The English that I learned from Bertha Casey competes well with friends with advanced degrees. The education that we received (even we underachievers) has served me well throughout my life. (please don’t use this note as an example) I truly envy those of you whose lives remained in Austin. I look forward to visiting with you again.
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