Tom Porter

After Graduation from Grissom, I plowed through a succession of meaningless jobs while simultaneously taking courses at UAH. I eventually ended up in Mobile, AL as Director of Marketing and Advertising for the City with their Convention Bureau. I loved being 40 minutes from Gulf Shores. After 4 years of this, I returned to Graduate school to do something totally different which is where I met my wife Audrey. We moved to Atlanta in the early 90s.
I have been a Psychologist (Counseling/not Clinical) with the Atlanta VA Medical Center for 26 years where I am fortunate to work with World War II Veterans in a long term nation-wide research project which chronicles their experiences for historical purposes.

I am sure there are many funny stories from my years at Grissom. However, the 70s seem like a blur to me at 58. I did enjoy all my friends at Grissom and I feel bad that I have lost contact with some of my closest friends. I hope this is a way to reconnect.
In a weird but worthy of mention coincidence, my neighbor down the street is the neice of Gus Grissom. Her father was Gus Grissom's brother. I also have 4 Grissom Graduates here in my Suwanee, Georgia neighborhood and probably 10 more within 5 miles (all different years).
I really enjoyed growing up in Huntsville and going to Grissom. I believe the diversity of families from around the country and the sheer brainpower of Nasa people made for an interesting mix of students at Grissom. We had some very brilliant and interesting people among us. I read an article some time ago by Hans von Spakovsky in the Wall Street Journal and I see him on Fox News ocassionally. When I tell people here in Atlanta that I grew up in Huntsville they immediately ask if I went to Grissom.
Sorry, I got a bit off track.
Oh yeah, I remember playing murder ball in gym class with 5 vollyballs until coach Baker decided that 5 basketballs would make it much more interesting. Still have nightmares and drainbramage from that experience, but it made us Men!!! And Noogieball. Who could forget that!
Unfortunately, I was out of the country for the 35th reunion celebrating my anniversary. You can tell I write for a living!
My wife of 30 years and children are my life!