My granddaughter, Jan Sanders,
Texas A&M/Class of 2005.
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I moved from Pampa in 1972 and have been living in
Houston since that time. Before moving to Houston, I worked 10 years as secretary
for Floyd Watson when he was President of First National Bank. My first
job in Houston was working in the Marketing Department for one of Houston’s
major downtown banks. At that time, Norman Rockwell had been commissioned
for a painting to be used on the cover of the bank’s annual report. The painting
was of a paperboy and his dog while opening his first bank account.
The chairman of the bank wanted his dog in the painting – but the dog and
Norman Rockwell didn’t get along and the dog bit him. However the painting
was finished and I enjoyed the opportunity to work (on a small scale) with
the great artist. My next job was also in banking working for the Chairman
of another large downtown bank. The bank sent me to Simmons College
in Boston twice a year for a three-year program to complete 6 institutes
in Management, with the courses applying toward my degree. When the bank’s
largest customer offered me a position to work in the oil industry, I made
the change. It was a great opportunity until the oil industry went bust.
At the present time, I am Vice President and Director of Human Resources
for a large insurance company that brokers medical malpractice insurance.
It is a great position and I plan on working several more years. I have currently
been with this company for 14 years. The good part is that I work within
2 miles of where I live which is in the Town & Country area of Houston.
While living in Pampa, I married Ken Sanders and we had one son. We divorced
after 5 years. I married an attorney in Houston, but have been divorced
for several years. Ken Sanders has remarried and now lives in Houston
and so does his best friend, George Collette – both graduated in 1956.
Another close friend of Ken & George was Keith Lawrence, who also lived
in Houston until he passed away in the spring of this year (2004). Having
the Pampa connection, we all get together during the holidays.
I have one granddaughter who has met a very special person in her life that
happens to be from Pampa. They met at A&M where they are both seniors
this year. It is looking like there may be another person with Pampa
heritage in the family.
Some of us who ran around in high school still keep in touch, being Judy
Ellis Taylor, Euleen Moore Thompson and Vicki Osborne Collier. After
all these years, I still consider them as my closest friends. Pampa
has very special roots for me. I look forward to seeing everyone at
our next reunion.
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