Aldine High School 1958
Harvey Johnston
harjdotj@sbcglobal.net
After Graduation
After graduating in 1958, I enlisted in the Air Force for a four year tour of duty. My permanent duty stations were: Fort Walton Beach, Florida (Elgin A.F.B.), Sonderstrom, Greenland (Sonderstrom A.F.B.) and Cape Kennedy, Florida (Patrick A.F.B). This was quite a significant emotional event going from the sunny Gulf Florida beaches with the beautiful girls to an isolated (no women) Arctic of 85o below 0o and then back to the Atlantic beaches of Florida at Cape Kennedy.
Life and Family
In 1961 I married my first wife in Cocoa Beach, Florida while still in the Air Force. After I was discharged, we returned to the Houston Area. We were married 19-1/2 years and had two children, a daughter (Debbie) 45 and a son (David) 42. My children and I enjoyed many years of participation in sports (Little League baseball, football, softball) and scouting. We spent our vacations traveling all over the U.S. snow skiing, water skiing and fishing. My daughter graduated from high school with honors and earned a full 4 year scholarship and attended A & M for two years. My son, David, went to the University of Houston Clear Lake and earned his Bachelor’s degree In Science (Industrial Hygiene). He has a daughter 4-1/2 years old and is a Senior Executive Sales Representative for the Okonite Company. Both of my children live in the Houston area. In 1981 I was divorced and married my current wife, Dottie. She has a son, Doug, 41 who lives in Riverside, California with his wife and two children.
Work/Career
In 1962 I started my 22 year career with Armco Steel Houston. I worked 8 years in Industrial Engineering and the last 14 years in Management. I "retired" in December 83 when the Armco plant shut down. Following the shut-down, I worked for three Houston area manufacturing/processing companies over the next 14 years - Amedco Steel as Plant Manager, Evans Industries and Southline Metal Products as Operation’s Manager . After 28 years of management long hours, stress and burn out, I decided to make a career change into the Environmental and Safety field. I took some time off and went back to school at Texas A&M to pursue Environmental Management and Safety courses. In 1994, I started my new career as the Safety and Training Manager for SSCI, an environmental consulting company in Clear Lake. This new job involved traveling all over Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana and I really enjoyed the change. In 1998, I made my last job change and started my employment as the General Safety Manager for First Wave Marine (six ship yards located in Houston and Galveston area). This was another great challenge and I thoroughly enjoyed this new experience. As always, all good things must come to an end. In 2002, I was forced to retire due to a stroke that drastically affected my eye sight. Subsequently, my wife also retired from her job at General Electric and we moved to Madisonville, Texas in 2003.
Vacation
Shortly after Dottie and I were married, we decided to purchase a second home in the heart of the East Texas Piney Woods on Lake Sam Rayburn. We had a wonderful time over the next 8 years - weekends, holidays and vacation time enjoying lakeside life. We fished, entertained family, guests and neighbors with Barbecues, fish fries, etc. We fished, played poker, dominoes (42) and just kicked back and enjoyed the scenic view. We made some great friends.
Hobbies
I love fishing, gardening, some wood crafts (despite my eyesight problems). I still fish every chance I get. I really enjoy an annual fishing trip each year with my old Aldine School buddies, Bruce Ward, Kenneth Cohn and Jack Ward. We spend 3 days fishing, playing 42 (dominos), poker and talking about our old girlfriends in high school. So, if your ears are burning each spring, you now know why.
Education
All of my college education was earned after I was married, going to school nights for several years. I attended Florida State University, South Texas San Jacinto Jr. College, University of Houston at Clear Lake and Texas A&M. My majors were in Business Management and later Environment Health and Safety. I earned an Associate of Mid-Management. I had 132 semester hours total and planned to get my Bachelor of Science but seems like I just couldn’t find the time.
Last Comment
My wife and I attended the reunion last year and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing old friends and I encourage you to make it an annual event in your life. Friends are the most valuable experience any of us can enjoy in our life time. I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. I have been blessed by the good Lord and would never think of changing any of it.