What a surprise and honor to be asked to be the featured member of the month, for I've only been turning for a short time. I started turning back in April of 2011. That's when I purchased my 46-460 Delta lathe.
I grew up on a farm in South Dakota near Mitchell. I went to a one room country grade school with all 8 grades taught by one teacher. Life was pretty simple back then. High school was a big jump to where there was 34 in my graduating class. One thing we did have was a good school shop and a teacher that taught us the love of using tools, both mechanical and woodworking, even if we didn't have a lathe. In that shop I built a cedar chest and a gun rack that I still have.
Next came the military: Jan 1967 to Dec 1970, because my number was up. So, I joined the Navy and did my four years on the aircraft carrier, the USS Shangri la CV-38. I had so many great times while I was in, that I will never forget it. I went around the world, stopped at 24 different countries, and I really doubt I will ever be able to do that again.
I got out of the Navy and went back home to the farm. With my older sister living in Seattle, I decided to move there and go to school where I got my AA degree in Horticulture. I worked at golf courses for awhile and then managed a sod farm for 8 years. While working at the sod farm, I became a volunteer firefighter.
As a volunteer, I became an EMT and worked my way up to Captain of my station. That has been a real high point in my life, and the 11 years that I ran calls was an experience that helps me every day of my life. Wanting to continue in this field, I found a job using my mechanical background with a fire truck dealer. Working there, helped me get a job with a fire department as their mechanic. I worked there for 15 years until they were annexed by the city that I work for at the present time.
A couple of years after I moved out here to the Northwest, I met and married the love of my life, Kristine. We have been together 38 years and have one son. We live east of Seattle just outside the town of Issaquah. We have lived here almost as long as we have been married. I have built my shop and a couple of other out buildings and have remodeled the house too many times. That's about all the woodworking that I had done until I started turning.
About 11 months ago, I went over to my 85 year old neighbor Ed, who has been turning for many years, and asked if he could show me how to turn a bowl. He said, “Heck, I just put a new blank on the lathe so lets go turn”. The rest is history and the vortex has swallowed me whole. Everyday I turn is a learning experience, and finding the WR was a God send. This place is like finding a family that all they want to do is help, and help for a new turner is a good thing. From the first bowl I turned, to what I'm turning now, there has been a real difference. I'm still a long way from being satisfied with my work. That being said, I'm happy with my progress, though. Life is good being a turner.
