I started working in the automotive parts field in 1963 thru a C.O.E. Program at Festus Senior High School.I was actually enrolled in the program the summer before school started my Junior year.I went to work for Bentsen & Roth Automotive in Crystal City, Missouri.And worked there till 1968 when I had the opportunity to manage a parts department at a new Pontiac Dealer named Gene Waren Pontiac GMC in Crystal City,Missouri.(300.00 a week and a new car to drive plus an expense account.
I was the youngest parts manager in the Pontiac Division.
I left there in 1969-1970 to work in St.Louis.First job there was at Ron Bar Auto Parts in Sunset Hills,Missouri.
That's were I met TED KRAMER and raced professionally with him for about 5 years.We spent a lot of time at tracks running a "D" & "E" ALTERED ROADSTER. Named "SNOOPY II".We went all over the country and in 1969 at an Awards Banquit ,I met the following people Linda Vaughn (THE HURST SHIFTER GAL),Don (THE SNAKE)Purdonne,Mickey Thompson.And my biggest Hero of all time (next to Ted Kramer) Willie Borsch Top Fule Altered KING.

I owned my own Parts and Automotive Paint Speciatially Store for fifteen years and did or accomplished the following things.
I started W&R Enterprises,D.B.A. Osco Auto Supply in 1976.We Supplied Specialty paint products to over two hundred body shops in the St.Perers, Missouri ,St.Louis,St.Louis,Coumty,Warrenton,Missouri,Washington,Missouri,Sullivan,Missouri,Festus, Missouri and several other Towns to numerous to mention.
We sold the following lines of paint to those areas;
R&M,Inmont,P.P.G.,Ditzler,Acme,Moon Glow,House of Colors and Nason.

We at one time supplied our paint products for all the Motorcraft Race cars in the United States.
And many of the top fuel funny care also.

We were considered to be a large volume Parts Paint Store in those Years.
Th continued trips to the court system from a nasty Divorce and the Heavy Drug addiction of my business partner took all that away

Soon after closing the business down I had the oppertunity to get on board with Auto Zone as a Super Store manager, Recuiter, As a Super Store manager my job was simple they would move me around to enviroments that had issues and problems and I would bring the store staff up to their standards(or terminate them) and get the sales volume to projected amounts and any other issues that would arrise.I had no friends in any enviroment that I was assigned and soon my presence at a location would have everyone scrambling.
I had a great gift in those days to look at things see what needed to be fixed and do it.No matter what it took or whom it removed that was the job and I was damm good at what I did.I worked in Missouri,Illinois and in Kentucky.
I worked as a recuiter fo about 18 months and did hiring for all the high turnover stores in St.Louis and all of Southern Illinois.I really think in that time frame I never hired as many people as I terminated and my store staffing needs were about 25-50 people at any given time.
I had some great friends like Pitt Hyde (CEO),Bill Schull (President) Bill McCaully (Vice-president) and others to numerous to mention.
The changes came and every one was leaving and I did also.
I made President's Club 2 times.


I finally went to work for Hogan Truck Leasing,Inc.
I starterd out in the parts department under Curt Gabris.
When Curt was promoted to Body Shop Manager I was working under Andy May.
I was promoted to Asst-Parts Manager of the St. Louis Shop.
Andy May was promoted to Manager over Earth City and went to that location.
I ran the Parts Department for about 2 years as Asst Manager then was promoted to Parts Manager and stayed in that position for about 12 years.
Just before the second brain tumor I was moved into the Warranty Department.
This was a move to help me cope with the issues from the two brain tumors.
I am currently there.


If its one thing that I have learned in the last two years the people you have known for all your life age as well.Some more more gracefully than others.Everyday you find it a little harder to do the things that once were easy,but we must all maintain and struggle with the deficites that we are given,and do the best we can.
We cannot and must not give up for any reason or at any cost.
We are what we are Gods Children growing old together.

I have had two brain tumors.
The first was in 2006. It was what they called a Accoustic Neuroma.They removed about 80% and as a result i have become deaf on my left side.I have short and long memory loss.Balance issues.I transpose numbers.(not good for a life time parts guy).I have to sit sideways in the seat to drive straight.If I type something and look at what I have done it looks right but may not be.
In 2012 I had my second brain tumor removed.
This one was a Schwannoma Tumor.
It was about the size of a quarter and was located on my brain stem.
I can tell you that everytime they go into your skull and do brain surgery something goes wrong.I don't care how careful they are that's just the way it is.
I came out of the second surgery better than the last time.And I am learning to cope the best I can.I hate this memory loss thing.I hear someone talking and I remember short things or a face flashes by then a little later it is all gone.
I had a great surgical team.
Dr. Herzog @@ St. Lukes Hospital,St. Louis,Missouri.
One of the top surgeons in his field

This Tumor thing gave me headaches the first time after 13 months.
I was placed on a seizure med at that time.
The second tumor gave me headaches after 2 months.
They increased the medication.

I also have a new surprise for 2013.
The first tumor has come back and is the over half the size now as when it was removed.
These are usually slow growing tumors.
I will see in March of 2013 the approach for this one.

I am becoming more and more aware of the changes that these tumors have done to me mentally. I am getting to where I want to be alone more and more and the quiet is not as bad now. I miss all the people that I have known that are now gone. I wonder what will happen to me once the memory totally goes away. I really believe this is a worse fate than altzheimers.
I love all my children more than anyone will ever know. I do not want this to be a burden on them at any point.

I went fo a MRI at Anderson Hospital the 1 st on April,2013.
The following week I had a blood clot in the arm used for injecting the dye for the MRI.
Looks like the clot has went away now.
Todat April the 20 2013 The same place is hard and hurts when you straighten my left arm or to the touch.
Appointment with Dr. Hertzog will follow next month.

This third tumor has been growing at a rate the Surgery group is comfortable with. So it will stay where it is for a while.
I have noticed over the last year a little more pressure on the left side of my head and at times no amount of aspirins help.
Just have to learn to live with all the stupid stuff. Headaches,Balance,Tinnitus (at times like a chain saw full throttle) ,vision issues & best of all memory issues.

I had went to a group several years ago for about a year to try to cope with the Tumor issues. I quit after a year because it was the most depressing thing I had ever done in my life.Every one there was sure it was the end of the road. Wow that was 12 years ago.
Life goes on!!!!!!!
It is difficult at times all your close friends are either dead or like one friend who got Cancer believe that it was my fault. How Damn Dumb Can You Get.
I have my best friend Bailey my 3 year old Dalmatian ( love him to death) Just some times it would be really nice to talk with others  about these Tumors and what we can do to to make life better.
Go to the ZOO, History Museum , or just a walk.

Some one ask me last week why don't you retire your "71" now.
Could be that this tumor thing can really cost you a lot "out Of Pocket" and eventually you "DON'T Have A pot To Piss In" (so they say)

Let me here your thoughts

I will always be here.

Thanks
Bill