Today's Featured Biography

 
David Odenwalder

After graduation from high school, I worked for Roy City, mostly doing curb and gutter repairs with the father of one of our classmates (Trina Horne's dad). In the fall, I started at BYU, one of the few RHS alumni that went south instead of north. Over the summer, I had decided that - much as I loved chemistry - research was not my bag. Since my favorite toys had been electric trains, Erector Sets, Tinkertoys, and plastic bricks, I decided that maybe I was cut out to be an engineer. So I enrolled in the mechanical engineering curriculum. Thanks to a bunch of credit earned during high school, I was able to enroll as a sophomore, and thus avoided having to take the mandatory freshman classes. That first year, I tried out a new hobby, folk dancing, which was to become one of my life's passions. After my first year at college, I got a job on a survey crew for the Forest Service, working in the Bear Lake area. In the fall of 1970, I began a church mission to Germany - das Vaterland - and was fortunate enough to serve nearly a third of my two-year commitment in or at the edge of the "Odenwald", from whence my name is derived. Ruth Fox and I passed coming and going in Germany, and I met up with Kelly Ure afterward and traveled home with him.
Back at BYU, I continued to work on my engineering degree, but somehow found time to re-establish and instruct a German-themed folk dance group, where I was dubbed the "Fuehrer". I managed to squeeze in a second major in German language/literature, and even sat in on Russian and Hungarian classes. I graduated with BS and Master of Engineering degree, specializing in systems and controls - and nearly escaped BYU single - but this gal (Diana Calomeni), a member of the German dance group, managed to snag me as I was preparing to leave school to start my career.
I moved to Phoenix, AZ area (where I had previously spent two summers as an intern). We married shortly after I left BYU, and set up our home in Tempe, later moving just across the border into Phoenix. There I worked for AiResearch (later Garrett Pneumatic Systems). My job involved a fair amount of electronics-related work, which would later change my career direction. Our two oldest sons were born in the Valley of the Sun. But after about five and a half years - 8 summers - we felt we had done our time in purgatory, and an opportunity came up to change jobs and move to San Diego. On Oct 8, 1981, we drove through Gila Bend (the highest temperature in the country that day, at 108F).and settled into our new digs on the Pacific Coast. We about froze that first year. Six months later we moved into our current home in Rancho Bernardo, on the north end of the city.
While living in America's Finest City (that's what they dub our town), I have worked for Turbomach (which changed names and owners several times), then a small unterwater vehicle company, then Hewlett-Packard (we probably made your "All-in-One" machine), and finally Northrop-Grumman. About 1990, I decided that my career had gone so far in the electronics direction, that I need to get an official membership card. So I returned to school at San Diego State University as an evening student, and completed a second master's degree in electrical engineering. How I got into Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering - the black magic of the trade - would take a volume to explain. I'm still working at the present time, trying to pay down our expensive Corruptifornia property
Our third son was born shortly after we moved to CA, and ten years later, we had a surprise - a daughter joined us. Of course, they're all grown up now - the three boys all live in San Diego County, and our daughter lives near Orlando, FL. The three boys are married, and we have 11 second-generation children (I disdain the "G" word).
Over the years, I have kept up my interest in international folk dancing, and have led a performing group in San Diego for the past nearly 30 years - and yes, I still dance as well as instruct. (So far, the good Lord has blessed me with excellent health.) If anyone is ever in San Diego, check us out in Balboa Park or at one of the local ethnic festivals. I have a couple other passions in life. One is Boy Scouting - I've been an adult leader for almost all of the past 30 years, and still work with the Webelos Cub Scouts at this time, as well as serving as a merit badge counselor for several subjects. (Still pursuing chemistry as a hobby). My wife and I both enjoy traveling and foreign languages - she travels even more than I do, but sometimes I get to go along. We've both been to about 50 different countries. As a corollary, I've also recently joined a group of fanatics known as high-pointers, whose goal is to reach the highest natural point of every state. (I'm up to 34 states now). My second son and I and one of my daughters-in-law have frequently entered the Mormon Battalion Dutch Oven contest here in town, and have won numerous prizes for our outdoor cooking. I enjoy music, and when time allows, play the piano and dabble with the accordion. I don't sing parts, but can carry a tune and occasionally have sung a folk song or two in public - auf deutsch, po russkiy, po polsku, or italiano.
I continue to be actively involved with my church, having served as clerk and adult Sunday school instructor, along with my various Scouting roles.
We are very fortunate to have our progeny - except our daughter - living nearby, and get to see most of them almost every week. My oldest son and his wife have 6 children - and both mom and dad work odd schedules - so we are frequently at their house watching the kidlets,
My dad - approaching 93 years old - is still in relatively good health and is still living in the home in Roy where I was raised. Most of my nine younger siblings (all RHS alumni) are living in Weber or Davis County area.
I intend to publish, in a few weeks, a tell-all article about my little-known scandals and escapades at RHS - and I will be naming names. So look for that expose to appear very soon.

UPDATE: OK - In case you were wondering. My 28-year-old single daughter, baby of the family - "ran off to join the circus". More correctly, to become part of the Disney World cast. She has been in Orlando for about 5-6 years. Had a decent, but low-paying job, and led a sort of "what-me-worry?" lifestyle, which led to her losing the job, incurring a bunch of debt, and having her car repossessed. She found a new job, but 12 miles away from home along a busy semi-rural Florida highway, with no way to commute, and no money to get a new set of wheels. Mom bought her a moped, and - you guessed it - two weeks later she is hit riding said moped on said street during the dark of night. Hit from behind and thrown 40 feet from the impact site. Life-flighted to Orlando Medical Center.

Good news - many miracles - she wasn't killed or paralyzed. Damage? Multiple fractured vertebrae, broken ribs, both hips broken, lacerations, bruises, chipped tooth, etc. Two operations so far; will be getting hip replacement surgery next week.

Lawyer says well over $1M incurred in costs - she was uninsured, and too old for us to carry her. Don't know who is bearing the brunt. Car driver only had $100K policy.
My wife has been in Florida since early May - but a for a short trip home and a short trip to see her mother - helping to care for our daughter, who has been in a wheelchair since getting out of the hospital. Daughter is mending, expected to start walking after the hip surgery, and we hope will make a nearly full recovery. Still hoping that this near-tragedy will have the effect of inducing a little more care and common sense.

Anyway, I had hoped to bring my wife to the reunion with me - but under the circumstances, doesn't appear possible. Also have a family conflict that weekend - but I'm being the prodigal second-generation father and skipping it so I can come to the reunion. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

David Odenwalder

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