Pembroke

My office was in Old Main. My Introductory Psychology class were taught ti The Old Main Auditorium. My other classes were in Child Development. While at St. Andrew’s I had taken a part time opportunity to teach Introductory Psychology at a Community college in South Carolina at night. I only went one day a week. The extra income was very helpful.
My second year at Pembroke I was made the acting head of the Psychology department, I was asked to hire another professor. An ad was placed in the Psychology Today magazine. I received several applicants. The one that impressed me the most was Wright Killian who was graduating with a Master’s Degree in psychology from East Carolina University. He had recently married and he was interested in settling down in Lumberton.. He was hired and the department offered two sections of Introduction
The department moved to Locklear Hall, a real separation from the Education Department and both Wright and I had an office. The third year a Department Head with a Doctorate was hired. Joe Sumner was trained in the same area that I was. He took away my Child Development course. He also took my office and sent me back to Old Main. This was a very unpleasant year for me. Since I wanted to begin work on my Doctorate, I worked out in several directions to take a Semester out for study. I selected Arizona State University because I wanted to continue exploring the Western scenery which we had seen briefly on our trip with the children. I applied for a federal grant for professors teaching minority groups which I received, Ellen was still teaching and I had accumulated some savings which was used for financing. I stayed in an apartment complex wh
ere other students were housed. I met a female student two doors down who liked horseback riding. She had brought her own horse and I rented one to ride in the scenic desert areas. This was as far as our relationship went.
My classes were of course in the psychology area. Statistics and Physiological were my most difficult courses. Child Development and Play Therapy were my most interesting courses. The Play Therapy class taught us the principles to be applied in the Therapy situation. I had a female partner. She was with the girls and I was with the boys. The partner talked with the parents while the child was in the play situation usually limited to an hour. The child was in complete charge to do as he wanted to.

Presbyterian Junior College

The opening at Presbyterian Junior College was for a Chaplain. I taught Bible, Psychology and German.This was like sunrise after a long sleepless night. The move to Laurinburg was a happy time for both of us- our own home,new friends, and a less stressful occupation. I enjoyed my work and friends at PJC. You were also included in many of the functions. The move to St Andrews was very uplifting for me. I also had access to the Swimming Pool to begin a real exercise program. I could see the handwriting on the wall and knew I would be ousted. I scheduled my classes so that I could go to the University of Richmond to take that one course that I had to drop. The Department head was a close friend of mine at John Marshall. I was forced to do pulpit supply work every Sunday in order to make ends meet. The second year this was eased as you went to work again at Covington Street School. You had some happy times in your work and made some special friends. You had some help with Stella, but she was not very good. These were hard years for you and you did not have a very understanding husband.
After two years at St. Andrews I was informed in a letter that I would not receive tenure because I did not have doctorate. I was moved to the Guidance Center. Dr Gwyn was in charge and Bob Urie worked from a wheel chair. He was a victim of polio and was permanently paralized. My most enjoyable experiences was playing Bridge with friends. I completed my course at the University of Richmond and worked on my Thesis for the degree at the Guidance Center. I selected to do the vocational pattern for the Presbyterian Ministry. The ministers came to the Center with their students and it was convenient for them to join in the desired testing. This also gave me a good sample of ministers in various sized pastorates. I did 100 with ability tests, interest inventories, and special area tests. The committee was pleased with my Thesis - The Occupational Pattern fo The Presbyterian Ministry. I received my Master’s Degree in Psychology.
I heard about a teaching position at Pembroke State College about twenty miles away from Laurinburg. They had an accredidation examination by the Southern Association. Since they did not have a Professor in the Education Department with a Psychology degree, I was welcomed to the faculty. The remarkable part was the keeping of my Associate Professor title and did not have to start at the bottom.

Kirkwood and Parsons

I remember well our happy experiences with the people at Kirkwood, the visits from the Parks and Carlene our Babysitter. I remember the Scout Troop, the active Senior High and Pioneer Group. My problem at Kirkwood was the Janitor and trying to get a Nursury started. You were very busy and happy watching Mary Ann, but Oh that Easy Washer and hanging out diapers. I got into trouble with my officers (Henry Pitts) when I tried to work for the Seminery campaign. I sent my distress signal to Dr. Appleby and we moved to Parsons.Our years in Parsons were some of he happiest in our 50 years. I had a good Congregation, a good Choir, an active Senior High group with good adult advisors, a good Pioneer group. I had a very enjoyable camp opportunity each summer. Our son was born and we watched the children grow in their cutest days and words. I remember your hard work with the Easy Washer and drying diapers in our vacant room. We had friends and good relationships all around us. You had regular help and good babysitters. I began graduate study with Charlie Moore in the sermonary in wittsburg according to Mary Ann. I remember how you went with me to my graduation. We spent the night in a room in the dormitory. I still had my stomach flare-ups and went to Phillippi hospital for a thorough check-up. I learned about stress and what it could do to your bodily processes. I was urged to engage in regular exercise and advised to seek a less stressful occupation. The following summer at Camp New Hope was a memorable experience for both of us. I swam every day, the children had playmates among the counselors and you had relief from some of your responsibilites The next year we moved to Richmond where I could begin study for the teaching field. You had a teaching position to support us. We were introduced to TV. This turned out to be one of the most stressful of our 50 years. Mary Ann started to school and brought home illness after illness which Fred contracted along with her. In my college courses I had one professor who made life difficult.In the spring your health broke down and you could not continue teaching. There would be no more monthly checks. Our only income was from my supply preaching as East Hanover presbytery was good to me. Annie came to our rescue,however. She told me at this time about some land Papa had set aside for his two girls. My only relief was swimming at the YMCA.

Ellen

I have been thinking about my future wife. The relationship began with an outing in the Ginter Park Young Adult group. Mary Hood somehow had a list of the Seminary entering class. She called me in Bon Air and directed me to pick Ellen up along with several others. We drove in my old Chevrolet with her beside me, to Massanetta. Most of our dates were with outings with the Young Adult where we got to know all the bunch. I remember going with Ellen to Tobacco Road and several Loewes movies. I remember well the library sofa and the trips out to Howard Johnsons. I remember well Ellen's summer school at UNC and my field work at Kenly. Every Friday and Saturday were great. I remember the back and forth letters and my spelling surprise with a Z. I remember the engagement and the wedding. Mitch was Best Man and Lawrence was just there to tell me how to act on the honeymoon. I remember well the train ride to New York City. I remember the beautiful experiences as we saw the City at Christmas, the Rocketts and the Play Carousel. Then back to our little apt. with eggplant purple floors. I remember the Tuna Fish dish that you knew so well and served often. I remember quite well that question: would buying a car be a good way to spend a savings account. You also brought home the check each month. The old Chevvy was gone and the new Chevvy adorned the driveway. My Field Work for the summer was a day camp at Byrd Park. I also had a little garden at Mission Court. You brought home the check for the next year. I remember Dr Fitzgerald had told you that you had a Tilted Uterus which would make it hard to get pregnant. We began to try in May and you conceived the first time. We moved to Kannapolis with a minimum of furniture. Lawrence sent us a refrigerator and washing machine. We gradually bought the furniture. Some of it we still have today. Ellen, I remember your struggle with morning sickness in a house without air conditioning. Mary Ann came on a Saturday night, and I had to preach the next morning
The birth process had its problems. You had a torn vagina and the doctor wanted to use surgery to to repair you. Henry Pitts told me about this doctor’s reputation for using the knife. I talked to Oren Moore the pastor in Concord and he gave me name of a doctor in Concord. He examined Ellen but felt that it would in time heal on its own. What a joy to escape the knife.

Wilma

I was completing my courses at the University of Richmond for a degree in psychology so our time together was somewhat limited. I proposed to Wilma and bought her an engagement ring. I drove to Connecticut to visit he. We were not going to get married until I started to the Seminary. It would have been a long engagement for planned to wait a year where we could visit each other during the vacations while I was teaching in Clifton Forge Virginia. I was given five different couses to teach and found myself overwhelmed. My only positive experience was singing in a community choir. To add to my distress Wilma broke off the engagement. She did not give any reason but I felt that she did not want to marry a minister as she knew that was the direction I was going.She only had a high school education, so I decided it was best. She had taught me some love making techniques which I put to use later.
I resigned my teaching position in Clifton Forge and returned home to wait to go to Seminary. A teaching position opened up at St. Christopher’s in Richmond. I answered the ad and took the position. I had to live on campus in the boys dormitory with another older more experienced teacher to control the dorm behavior. Here I taught only Geography to 4th and 5th graders. The course was simple but many of these boys in a private school had behavior problems. They broke me in early and I could see why my predicessor had resigned. One day several students came up to my desk to block my view while they asked questions while others tossed books over their heads to assualt me. I was enraged but withheld negative comment. I gave the entire class demerits which they had to work off on Saturday. I devised a little game with geography questions and answers. There were two sides competing against each other as the game continued for a week.

Glasgow

I received a pass to Nice France. I remember till this day - the ocean and the sunsets. I rented a bicycle and rode the entire length of the Riviera all the way to the Italian border.
After the war our unit was in the army of occupation. An opportunity opened up for me to study French for three months at Dijon University. I had a special teen age tutor named Jessie Laderick. She did not know much English but her older brother who was in school there did. We were a threesome most of the time. Jessie played the piano and I was able to sing with her in her home. We played tennis together and went to several movies together. I will always remember when we went swimming together in a nearby creek. The French put on their bathing suits behind a towel. They laughed at me when I went behind a tree. I wrote Jessie several times -half French and hafl English. She wrote me but I had to translate. I sent her several Care packages after the war.
My second post-war opportunity was a three month study at Glasgow University in Scotland. I took Scotish History and Philosophy. I had an army friend and we stayed at a Boarding House where we met a Medical student. There were many discussions but my primary joy was touring the countryside by Bike and hiking. Scottish heather was in bloom on Ben Lomend with Loch Lomend below and am reliving it now.
After Glasgow I went home for discharge. My first blow was Marguerite’s telling me that I was not the one but to soften the impact I met a nice of Miss Harder who had a appartment in my mother’s house. My relationship with Wilma was short and sweet. Her visit with Miss Harder was for one month. We were often alone in the apartment and did everything but enter. Wilma was experienced and taught me all the various techniques of hugging and kissing.

Denver

Was closed and everyone was shipped to Combat units. I was assigned to the 12th Armored Division medical batallion in Camp Barclay, Texas. It had long been fully organized with all of the major positions filled. Four of us ASTP soldiers were assigned to the very lowest level. The platoon sergeant was very tough and uneducated except in military discipline.. He seemed to want to make it difficult for his newest wards. The next months in the Texas summer were the most difficult in my entire life. The climate, the dust, and dealing with tasks well below my special training. combined to make me quite miserable. We had three doctors, two of them right out of med school and the company commander older and more seasoned. There was a dentist and his assistant. My two best friends were George Thalman,, a sergeant who understood my plight and Irvin Sternlicht one of the ASTP assignees. We went to town together on week end passes. My most pleasant memory involved a three day pass to Dallas. We soldiers hitch-hiked because drivers were very attentive to give us a ride. I was standing by the highway in a small Texas town with the heat bearing down. On a hot Saturday, a little girl brought me out a glass of ice water. I was grateful with many thanks. I toured Dallas spending the night at a USO center. I was getting educated about the availability of girls but I was afraid of VD. My most pleasant visit was to Southern Methodist University..During this period of time I wrote letters to two girl friends - Margaret Berryman in Bon Air and Dorothy Belk in Talladega. I corresponded with several of my friends in the old Boy Scout troop Mail Call was a very pleasant time.
In the Fall our division shipped out to New York to go overseas. While waiting in New York I was able to redo some of the experiences I had with my brother Mitch as a teenager. Our staying New York was short as we went in a convoy on our way to England. Our unit was together on one Liberty ship. My most pleasant memory on the ocean was viewing a number of beautiful sunsets on the water. In England I worked daily in a local army hospital but managed week end passes to go to London to the USO and Red Cross centers.I learned to play pool and developed some skill in Ping Pong. My friends were the same ones I had in Texas. We liked to do the same kind of activities. Opportunities for girls were plentiful but we did not participate. We toured the famous buildings of the day.