In 1952, after many years in Fort Lauderdale, the family felt that city was too big and we moved to Pompano Beach. We purchased the Marietta Motel, 205 S. Federal, and I was enrolled at Pompano Beach HS to begin my life as a Beanpicker.
High School was a normal experience of learning about life and making friends. But I had the typical teenage urge to leave home and be independent. Grant Townsend shared this feeling so we both enlisted in the U.S. Army.
The night after our High School graduation, I was on a train to Fort Jackson, SC. The army failed to fulfill my dreams and I was anxious to return to Pompano.
My active duty ended in December and I arrived home in time for a Christmas rush job at the Post Office. Pompano was growing rapidly and I was offered a full time job after Christmas. During my six years there, I got to work with two local notables; Glen Coursen (Barefoot Mailman fame) and Don Downie (Beanpicker reunion fame). I left the Post Office twice to attend the University of Florida but left after two semesters.
While delivering mail, I met some Pompano Beach police officers that encouraged me to become involved in law enforcement. After two years as a Pompano police reserve and two years as a part-time Lighthouse Point police officer, I went full time at Pompano in 1964.
Police work became a labor of love and I was motivated to return to college. Over the years I obtained a bachelors degree from Florida Atlantic University and a masters degree from Saint Thomas University.
The rapid growth of Pompano continued which provided many promotional opportunities. In 1978, I was promoted to Chief. After three years as chief, I encountered some philosophical differences with the city administration.
Knowing my plight, the local sheriff offered me a job to administer a countywide communications system and implement the E-911 system. I accepted and began an 18-year career with the Broward Sheriff�s Office. During this time, I also commanded various specialty units including Crime Stoppers, Police Academy, and Organized Crime Intelligence.
Besides being married to my work, I was married 24 years to Jennifer Jones Morton. We had four children, two boys and two girls who subsequently provided us with 11 grandchildren. Unfortunately, we divorced as the children began to marry.
After living alone for 14 years, I met Maria Helena Sandoval Perea de Bogot� during a trip to Colombia. She had also been divorced for 14 years. We married and I am now retired and relaxed with time to attend reunions.