After forty years of employment with American Airlines, I retired in 1987. My primary concern then was "What am I going to do with my spare time?" I should not have been worried…I bought a computer. Top of the line instrument. 20 mg hard disk, 6 mhz, 4.5" floppy, not too many etcs. I was fortunate to meet Dr. Sam Cook, a retired scientist and Ray O’Brien, a retired Air Force officer. They introduced me to the Southwest PC Users Group. SWPCUG is an institution dedicated to the proposition everybody should own a computer and we will teach you how to use it. Soon I was a volunteer, recruiting members through monthly seminars.

As part of their program we decided we would form a class and teach computers. After searching the city, the only place that could offer us an adequate room was the Lively Park Senior Center. They had the limitation that only trainees 55 years of age, or older, could participate. Dr. Cook – the only doctor I know that made house calls – started teaching a class of six. Jack Edwards, Dorothy Smith, Ray O’Brien, Hank Turner and two other trainees. It was a lot of fun so we called it "Computers for Fun". Shortly thereafter, Anita Hickey made the scene. She was seeking a formula to win the Lotto. Eventually we all became instructors. In the beginning we used a portable computer with a seven inch, greenish, flickering screen. A good Samaritan, who chose to remain anonymous, donated $1,500 toward the purchase of a computer (still in use). Another donor contributed $1,000 towards the purchase of the IBM computer. Through the efforts of Anita, the City contributed the screen and projector.

We have made substantial progress but there is more to be made. Thanks to all of you that have made the Computers for Fun Class the success it is today.

In Memoriam
Ivor H.(Hank)Turner
9-18-21 ~ 4-14-99
(You are dearly missed.)

 

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