Reflecting on my 1977 High School yearbook and the two quotes I shared 47 years ago— “You never know what a man can do if you never give him a chance” and “You only go around once in life, so grab all the gusto you can”—I feel incredibly grateful to still live by these words today. In August 1977, I left New Jersey and made the bold decision to head northwest to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where I played football and studied Civil Engineering at Michigan Technological University. I’ll never forget the lifestyle change. Houghton, Michigan, truly felt like the middle of nowhere, 500 miles north of Detroit. That first winter (1978), we received a staggering 356” of snow, a testament to the wild experience that awaited me there.

I also had the privilege of joining a professional engineering fraternity (Theta Tau), which was life changing. My time in Theta Tau created lifelong friendships that I hold dear. It was in this remote corner of Michigan where I met my soulmate, Terry Dayner, and we’ve now shared 41 wonderful years together. In 1981, I graduated and embarked on my career in the Oil and Gas industry, traveling across Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. We eventually settled in Kansas City, where we created beautiful memories. I’m forever grateful for the friends I made there, especially those who traveled to Michigan for our wedding in 1983. It was a wild, unforgettable event!

I was fortunate to travel the world working on engineering projects in places like Norway, France, Saudi Arabia, and even the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Those experiences shaped me, and I’ve been blessed to meet so many incredible people along the way. In 1987, we began our family in Kansas City, and I was able to be deeply involved in my children’s activities—coaching youth football, supporting dance, cheerleading, and more. Kansas City, with its rich football culture, became home for over 20 years, and I cherish the memories we made together, from Chiefs games to BBQ competitions. I’ve even smoked a mean set of ribs in the American Royal BBQ competition!

In 2008, Terry and I decided to pursue a new adventure and moved to Southern California. With our children at different stages of life, we made this transition together, both of us finding new jobs. Over the years, Terry’s impact as a teacher, especially in STEM, has been incredible—she was named “STEM Teacher of the Year” in 2014. My own journey here involved coaching my son’s Pop Warner football teams and getting involved in the broadcasting of San Clemente High School’s games, something I continued for 14 years. What an amazing experience to connect with families, especially those with deployed parents, and to have my father watch every game from New Jersey!

As our children grew, we’ve been fortunate to see them begin their own journeys. Kaylyn and Kelly both graduated from college and embarked on their careers, and Kevin followed my footsteps into Civil Engineering, graduating in 2020. His college football team even made history with a conference win and a trip to Munich, Germany. That trip was an unforgettable bonding experience.

In 2018, our oldest daughter, Kaylyn, married Joel, and together, they’ve blessed us with four beautiful grandchildren. Kelly and Jeffrey are now married and living on a ranch in Montana, while Kevin and Emily live near us in San Clemente. It fills my heart with gratitude to know that we are about to welcome even more grandchildren in 2025.

In 2023, Terry retired from her 30-year teaching career, and we’ve embraced the joy of travel together. Our adventures have taken us from the pyramids of Egypt to the vineyards of Mexico and the shores of Cinque Terre in Italy. Looking ahead, we’re excited about the trips planned for 2025 to Spain, Japan, and Thailand.

Through all of these experiences, I remain deeply thankful for the friendships I made at LHS and the connections we still share today. I am truly blessed to have such a rich, fulfilling life, and I wish all of you continued health, happiness, and success. I also want to express my sincere appreciation for all the hard work Michael Hauser has done for our class—his dedication means a lot. If anyone is ever in Southern California, please don’t hesitate to reach out; I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me at fkling1@gmail.com.