How we Met

Dad is always interested in finding out how people that are married first met.

I first met Sue in a freshmen orientation meeting. At Western State, the Freshmen class is called in early to teach them about the school and the what is needed to survive. The Freshmen were required to wear a crimson and slate beanie to designate Freshman status. When an upper classman saw you with the beanie, they could ask you to "button." You buttoned by putting your thumb on the top of your hat and said, Go Western beat Saint Mary's of the Plains. That was our first football opponent. It was an away game of little significance.

There were activities for the freshmen, dances and barbecues and get togethers so that we would get to know our fellow members. My roommate, Terri Hybeck, went to Sterling Jc. before coming to Western. He found out that through Sue's roommate Vickie that Sue knew Don, Sue's friend Jean's brother that also went to Sterling. So they made plans to go the dance. When we all arrived at the dance, Terri said to Sue, who thought that she was meeting him there, that he was engaged and so shouldn't dance.. and dropped Sue off to me, his roomate. I asked Sue to dance and the rest is history.

Terri didn't make it one month at Western. One third of people signed up did not make the first semester. Many were connected more with the social life in Denver than the academic life at Gunnison.

Sue went out with other people at Western, and at one time as many as three. Her mom told her not to settle in quickly with just one guy. We would all call up and get reservations to walk her to classes.

We got married after the second year at Western. I got a job at the library. We lived in an 8x30 foot trailer that was insulated for Arizona weather. We stuck together and became stronger for it.

Love
Pat