Life After LHS by Duane Johnson

   After graduating in May and working at the gin all summer, again, I went to SWTSC for four years and graduated with a BBA, majoring in accounting. In 1963 was a great year - in May - I graduated from SWTSC, in August I married Jerry Beth Wheeler a 1962 graduate of Raymondville, in September I entered the Air Force Officer Training School at Media AFB near Lackland and in December I became a 2nd Lieutenant.

    We spent time in Colorado, Mississipi, North Dakota and South Carolina.  I resigned my commission in 1968 and moved to Austin.  After working for an accounting firm for 3 years, I opened my own accounting practice in 1972 and am still going strong.  I enjoy getting up every morning and going to my office to do something I enjoy (helping people) and I even get paid for doing it, most of the time.

    While we were in North Dakota we had a daughter (Lesa) then after moving to Austin we had a son, David.  Lesa has two kids (Larissa and Collin).  Lesa is a single mom with a growing career as a sales rep for a skin care company calling on doctors and spas.  Davis is married to Ronda and they have two kids,
(Madisen and Jake).  Jake was born on my birthday 5 years ago.  David is a real estate broker with three offices in the area.  Ronda works part time in HR.

    I started my accounting practice in our home for a year then moved into an office building where I still have my practice, now in my 35th year.  The office is across the street from our church (Woodlawn Baptist Church) where Jerry Beth and I spend many hours.  Jerry Beth is the Mother's Day Out Director there.
We are very, sometimes overly, involved in different groups and committees at Woodlawn.  We just enoy serving our Lord and doing things we really enjoy. 

    Jerry Beth and I are also on several boards of non-profit organizations (Rotary, Mary Harden Baylor University, VinCare, South Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, Del Valle Jail and Early Education Center).

    My mom still lives in Austin and keeps us supplied with baked goods which is part of the reason for my
slight weight gain since high school.

    During our Air Force years, we traveled and continue to do so as much as possible.  We have been to
Japan and over half of the states.  We visit Dallas, San Antonio, Branson, Vegas, Louisiana, Colorado and New Mexico on a regular basis.  We have also been cruising to Alaska, the Panama Canal and the Carribian.  We just thoroughly enjoy being together where ever, when ever with who ever (especially our kids and grand-kids).

     If you're in my area,  stop by sometime.

Duane Johnson
4515 Menchaca Road
Austin, TX 78745

    Look forward to seeing everyone next month.