Dad and College

I think one of dad’s big regrets (and mom’s too) was the lack of a college education and degree. After WW II many veterans used the GI bill to fund a college education. I think dad was so stretched supporting me and mom that he just worked and blew off the opportunity to go to college.

By ‘52 or ‘53 he realized that he needed to get a college degree if he wanted to advance in the refinery. He may also have been up against a GI bill deadline, He signed up for night classes at Lamar Tech (now Lamar University). I remember his coming home from work, grabbing a bit to eat and racing off to the campus or hiding and studying.

Unfortunately, the liberal arts classes kicked his butt. He couldn’t see the point to them in terms of career advancement and they took a lot of time to do the outside reading and homework. He dropped out.

I think that for the rest of his life he regretted that decision.

A side effect of neither of my parents having a college degree was the effect on Terry, Janice and me. There was no question of whether or not we would go to college, the question was which college and what major.