Dick Marcellus - 1963
BIO & Pictures
BACKGROUND:
I moved to Louisiana the summer
prior to my sophomore year. I was born in Defiance,Ohio and had lived in
Angola, La Porte and Gary, Indiana prior to coming to Louisiana. My father
worked for J.C. Penney Co. and in those days transfers were frequent. After
high school I graduated from the University of Missouri with an Engineering
Degree. I went to work in a Chicago suburb for Allis-Charmers Industrial
Lift Trucks in January 1968.
In the fall of 1969 I got drafted into the Army and fortunately spent 2 years in the Washington DC area. Upon returning from the Army I continued working at Allis-Charmers and got married to Eddie in the fall of 1971. Eddie was a Chicago girl that I had met prior to being drafted. During the mid 70’s I went to night school while working and picked up a Masters in Business from Governors State, a community college on the south side of Chicago.
We moved to Mequon, Wisconsin, a suburb north of Milwaukee in 1987. I’ve worked in sales and marketing for Simplicity Manufacturing in Port Washington, WI. since moving to Wisconsin. Simplicity manufactures lawn and garden tractors. We also own three other companies in the industry, Snapper, Ferris and Giant-Vac. The three addition companies were acquired during the past 4 years so we’ve been busy with exciting new challenges. I enjoy my work and currently have no plans for retirement.
FAMILY:
I was married to Eddie for 26 years
having lost her to cancer 6 years ago. We had a wonderful daughter Michelle
who is now 25. Michelle graduated from the University of Minnesota and
is now in graduate school at St. Thomas University in Minneapolis.
My parents moved from Louisiana to Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1965 and then to
Hutchinson, Minnesota in 1972. My parents are in good health and live in
Hutchinson. They have been retired for the past 19 years and have traveled
the U.S. extensively. My brother Pete, 4 years younger than me has
a medical practice in Branson, Missouri. Brother Mark, 10 years younger,
lives and works in Burnsville, Minnesota. Brother Jeff, 14 years younger,
is with J. C. Penney’s in the Dallas area. I am also very close to Eddie’s
sister and brother-in-law who live in Chicago. I have seven nieces and
nephews.
HOBBIES:
I’ve never outgrown my interest
in sports. Although my level of participation has changed over the years,
I’m fortunate that the “old body” has held up well enough that I’m still
able to play racquetball several times a week. Through friends that
have had tickets in their family for 40 plus years, I have season tickets
to the Green Bay Packers. I also have a season ticket to the Marquette
basketball games, which has been extremely exciting the past few years.
My other hobby is flower gardening. My wife and I did gardening together
over the years and after her death I got involved in a fairly big way.
It’s been great therapy and good exercise as I’m always adding beds, changing
areas, trying new plants, etc. I have a nice big yard and grow just about
every perennial that survives the Wisconsin winters. I’m greeted in the
spring by over 4000 daffodils, including 100 different varieties that I’ve
collected. I have continuous color until the season ends in October when
several hard frosts will finish the mums. For you folks that live in the
south, spring doesn’t get started in Wisconsin until mid April. During
the winter the birds enjoy the seed heads from numerous daisies that I’ve
enjoyed in the summer. A couple of years ago I added some varieties of
ornamental grasses that provide winter interest against the snow.
SCHOOL MEMORIES:
I often reminisce about my High
School years. For me it represents a simpler time when small town America
was alive and well. I came to Louisiana from a big city school with over
500 students in my freshman class. While the academics were good, the size
of the school resulted in little opportunity to participate in extra curricular
activities and be viewed as an individual. A big city school also had quite
a few unsavory characters among the student body. Louisiana was a
breath of fresh air. In a short period of time I was welcomed to Louisiana
High School and had an opportunity to truly participate in the high school
experience. Also the friendly atmosphere of the school and community helped
me grow and gain self-confidence that has served me well throughout the
years. My short time in Louisiana will always be remembered as a happy
time with wonderftil classmates. My experiences laid a good foundation
for the next
40 years. (Hard to believe, in
many respects it seems like yesterday.)
PS
Unfortunately I can’t attend the
reunion. My company exhibits at an International Outdoor Power Equipment
show held in Louisville over the reunion weekend. After 19 years of conducting
the expo in July, the trade association decided to change the date to October
this year. Since I’m responsible for the company’s involvement I
must attend. From a personal standpoint, I would much rather be joining
my former classmates.
