Class of 1948 Biographies D-E-F

Welcome West Branch High School Alumni Association West Branch, Michigan

Class of 1948 Biographies D-E-F

Katherin Dotson

I made a career with the telephone company, Michigan Bell, that is...

I worked 33 1/2 years with them and was a first line manager when AT&T broke up.

Therefore, I was one of the first of many waves that was forced to retire in 1982.

After 2 years of volunteer work with the Telephone Pioneers, I started driving school bus.

After 6 years of driving my own run, I retired again.

Now, I still drive as a substitute...partly because I enjoy doing it and partly to survive.

I never married...don't have any children. I was dedicated to take care of my parents. My father died in 1968 and my mother lived with me until she died in 1976.

At the telephone company, before I went into management, I was a steward, chief steward, vice president of the local and served on the Bargaining Committee fo 2 years representing the operators.

I share my home with another lady who worked in the State office of CWA. She is still working.

That's about it!

Katherine Dotson...

* * * * * * * * * *

Florence Elmore Giessinger

I have been married to Leo for 47 years.(In 1998) I have lived in Flint for most of that time.

I worked at A.C. Spark Plug for 30 years.

I have been retired for 14 years(in 1998).

I have been helping to raise my grandchildren since I retired.

I enjoy bowling, golfing, and until lately I went snowmobiling every winter. I belonged to Ogemaw Hills Snowmobile Club in West Branch.

Florence M. Elmore Giessinger

* * * * * * * * * *

Gerald "Gerry" Fitzgerald

After graduation I attended Pontiac Motors Trade School where I obtained my Master's License as an electrician in 1957.

Then I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Upon discharge I returned to Pontiac Motors where I served my apprenticeship and worked as an electrician.

It was during this time I met and married Beverly Slayton, a Pontiac girl. From this union we produced four children and five grandchildren.

I returned to Clear Lake in 1958 with my family to run the Clear Lake Bar.

Then I bought the old Mary's Bar in West Branch and remodeled it call it Jerry's Joint.

Next I purchased the Argonaut Bar at Houghton Lake and re-named it Jerry's Junction.

After Jerry's Junction unfortunately burned to the ground, I moved to Florida in 1980 where I have resided ever since.

I worked on various jobs here as an electrician, managed Misty Creek Golf Course in Sarasota, and even worked at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta preparing for the Olympics there.

I have a company in Florida named J & S Gulf Coast Enterprise, Inc., with my son Scott.

We specialize in commercial painting and water proofing high rise buildings.

We do a lot of work on Federal buildings all over the country.

I have been semi-retired since 1990 and am currently single and enjoying good health.

The love of my life has always been golf, which I enjoy to this day.

* * * * * * * * * *

Gordon Ferguson

I sat here looking at pictures I had taken on the senior trip. I guess I took over twenty. I picked out a few and copied them on the scanner and printer.

....we had a great time with those kids along on the trip, especially on the ship. If you remember, it burned three weeks after we took our cruise...was totally gutted out.

A little about myself...I worked two jobs over a span of 33 years. Drove over 2 1/4 million miles without any kind of accident or a ticket.

I was married twice...first to Ruth Thomas for 23 1/2 years. We had five children.Ruth is still in West Branch..a very good Mother and companion.

She has just retired from teaching in West Branch.

My second wife of 24 years, has two boys and a girl. It was the best day of my life when I met her. Patricia, or Pat, is everything a man could ever dream of.

I tried out for the Detroit Tigers in 1949. Went back in 1950 but injured my shoulder and wouldn't go back.

I retired over 13 years ago (as of 1998).

I started volunteer work driving clients to doctors, hospitals etc.

I have over 5700 hours for FIA, River House Shelter, and VA Hospital

Other than that, I have camped in 37 states, and travelled in 47.

I own property in Baha, Mexico..and Pompano Beach in Florida.

I have had a wonderful, full, healthy and very happy life.

I have 8 children, 24 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

* * * * * * * * * *