Wagner Memories - Adrian "Juan" Garcia '80
The fun of this survey is that we've managed to coax some folks out of "lurkersville". Check out Juan's Wagner memories and his update on what is going on in his life since the Wagner days.
What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? The Jetlag, the heat, the humidity, and the cafeteria across from the chapel. School was a cool open campus. I remember fun times and "The Hill" :)
What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there? How easy it was to do "Bad" things. I liked the freedom and my pals.
Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? I missed riding my motorcycle, driving, the real HS football, and a multitude of TV and radio stations.
Who were your good buddies? Paul Wong, Kevin Humphries, Mike Freeman, Noel Arbis and Maria Esparza and Carolyn Overby. I hung out with these folks and the "PI Mafia".
Who was your favorite teacher/class? The art teacher, soccer and wrestling coaches. I also loved English literature.
Did you have a part time job - what was it? I worked in the summer at the furniture warehouse for a $1.00 per hour. I paid the Filipino foreman two cartons of smokes and a bottle of JD and he made me a forklift driver – it was a cool job after that.
Did you have a crush on anyone? Maria Esparza and Carolyn Overby and Cathy Ward, Marlene Arbis.
Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? Naw
Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? Absolutely! Without a doubt, I am a very well rounded, focused and fun person.
Additional Comments: Here’s an update on my life since the PI. In 1979, after my junior year, I left the PI and headed to Blytheville, Ark. I felt like I stepped back into time and realized that after 17 years I was different. What a culture shock! My senior year in High School, I was ineligible for varsity sports because I was a transfer student. To graduate from HS in Arkansas I needed 1/2 a credit. Just a 1/2 credit! I had to take a full course load because I didn't have a part time job. Five Days after I graduated, I started summer classes at the local Junior College, then transferred to ASU Jonesboro, Ark my junior year in college. My senior year in college we moved back to San Antonio, UTSAT.
I joined the USAF 1983 in the radiology program and also married my first wife. We had three children together. In 1988 I was "Bootstrapped" to complete my undergraduate degree in Radiologic Science at MSU Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1994 my wife and I divorced and the courts awarded me custody of the children. A single dad, I cross-trained into Nuclear Medicine. My training was in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1996 I moved to Las Vegas and in 1997 I remarried for the second time to my beautiful and current wife. We have added three little rugrats to the family. My wife is from McAllen Texas down in the Rio Grand Valley and we are in the same profession.
I retired from the USAF 2003. The same day I retired, the company I now work for flew me to Dallas for training. I currently manage the Molecular Imaging operations at the Cancer Center in South Texas where I reside. I am an avid cyclist and I participate in triathlons. You can get in touch with me at this email address.
Pictures: Top - Juan in his junior year in the halls of Wagner. Middle: The 1979 wrestling team: Seated or kneeling - Charles Chapa '81, Charlie Diamond '81, Juan Garcia '80, Mike Dickey '81. Standing: Pat Martin, Mike Dixon '80, Emmit Mincy '79, Paul Wong '79, Bob Goold '80, ??, Manager Marilyn Burton '80, and Don Detwiler '80. Bottom: Juan in October of 2007 after completing a triathlon.
"In 1988 I was "Bootstrapped" to complete my undergraduate degree in Radiologic Science at MSU Wichita Falls, Texas."
Crazy...I started college at MSU in 1988 and finished in 1994... we were there at the same time...What a small world we live in!!
Posted by: Monika Hogge | March 19, 2008 at 02:34 AM
The unnamed guy in the team picture wasn't a wrestler, just one of Paul's friends from Marlboro country.
Adrian/Juan, good hearing from you. I still laugh thinking about the postseason tournament in Japan... but that's a story for another day.
Posted by: Don Detwiler | February 04, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Juan,
I feel your pain regarding Blytheville. We were stationed there in around 1985 – 1986. It was still an arm pit. We could not get away from that place fast enough.
Posted by: Ed Welch | February 03, 2008 at 06:24 AM