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Before graduating from high school, Jim
Lienard enlisted with fellow classmate, Jim Dixon, into the Navy
on the buddy system. The program ensured that the two friends
would be together throughout their enlistment. However, Jim
said, "The buddy system lasted one week."
Both left for boot camp together, but one week into it, Jim
Dixon was pulled out for dental work. Throughout the rest of
their training, Dixon was a week behind. After basics, both
went to radio school, but Jim Lienard was sent to the East Coast
and Jim Dixon to the West Coast. "I didn't see Jim (Dixon)
again until I got out."
After
graduating from radio school, Jim was a radioman on a ship and
before returning home, he served one tour in Viet Nam.
Sadly,
both of Jim's parents were deceased so following his stint in
the military rather than returning to Rock Island, he settled in
Springfield, Ill. where his brother lived. He met his wife, Sandra,
there at a friend's house. The two
started talking he says and six years later they married.
Today,
they live in Peoria, Arizona and have two grown children -
a son, Chris, 39 and a daughter, Tracy, 32.
Tracy has a 3-year-old son, Logan, whom Jim and Sandra
watch throughout the week while his parents work. "Logan's
so much fun and he's such a blessing."
Because
neither of them like shoveling snow or getting up in the middle
of the night to start up a cold car, they have lived in the
Phoenix area since 1973. "My wife had family there
too," Jim said.
In 2002,
Jim retired from Honeywell as the primary programmer and
analyst. Sandra worked for two more years as
a legal secretary at Honeywell Aerospace.
While Jim waited for her to retire he worked part time as a
volunteer at a hospice.
Their
retirement is very enjoyable Jim says. They both
like to spend time with their children and grandson and Jim has
many pastimes. He meets for breakfast with other retired, former
co-workers, reads mysteries (he especially enjoys John Grisham)
and says he and Sandra travel frequently.
Traveling with their children is the best he says. "We
travel together as much as we can… we're all very close."
High
school was a good time for Jim. In his senior year, he was in
the DO program and worked half days at the Argus newspaper.
Mick Mitternick, Jim Dixon, Dick Gaylord, Bill Kirby and
Mike Patrick were all good friends of his back in the day.
He
enjoyed sports and going to the football and basketball games
and went to some of the dances following the
games. But he said he never felt he was much of a dancer so he
mostly watched.
Jim
fondly recalls going down to the Coney Island close to the Levee
for a hot dog before taking the ferry across the river. It
cost a nickel back then he recalls. Once in
Iowa, he would head for the ballpark and watch minor league
baseball games. But the best was "hanging out
and playing a lot of sports with my friends."
A funny
high school memory for Jim took place in Mr. Chilton's swimming
class. "A bunch of guys got together and put packs
of fizzies in the pool," he said. "Mr. Chilton
never found out who did it and he wasn't real happy."
Although
it hasn't worked out for Jim and Sandra to attend any of the
previous reunions, they will try to make it to the next one.
He would like to hear from other classmates. You
can email him at
jlienard@yahoo.com.
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