Hello my name is Gene Rutland and I am currently from Port Isabel, TX (Next to South Padre Island) however, I was born and raised in Amarillo, TX.

MY PERSONAL BIO:

AMARILLO HIGH CLASS OF ‘55

50^TH ANNIVERSARY 24 Sep 2005

Jackie Eugene “Gene” Rutland

Address:  33840 South Garcia St., #554,

      145 East Bonnet, Port Isabel, TX 78578

Phones:  Home:  (956) 433-7178  Cell: (956) 433-7178

Email:  generutland@sbcglobal.net

I skydive, fish the Gulf of Mexico, water ski, scuba dive, lots of photography, and gardening.

Since High School:

I did not graduate with the rest of you guys/gals due to my stupidity at that time.  However, beginning the following Summer I did complete high school and entered the US Army.  I then spent 10 years as an Enlisted Man, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant in Special Forces.  Following that, I qualified for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Infantry.  I served another 19+ years before I retired during which time I served 2 years in Viet Nam, 1 year on the DMZ of Korea (during the time our USS Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans).  Served many other assignments world wide, graduated from the University of Tampa, Florida with a BS in Business Administration (courtesy of the US Army).  Later on the Army sent me to teach Military Science at Texas A&M where I concurrently worked on my MBA specializing in Computer Science.  Over the years I managed to survive combat and acquired a whole box full of medals which include the Silver Star, 2 Legions of Merit, 2 Purple Hearts, 5 Army Commendation Medals, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, several Vietnam decorations, and the list goes on.  Even though I was an Army Officer, the Army sent me to the US Marine Corps Command & General Staff College in Quantico, VA.  After that tour, I served a most interesting tour of duty for 3 years on board the President’s National Emergency Airborne Command Post operating out of Andrews AFB, next to Washington DC, following the President around the world.  Following that tour, I was assigned to Fort Hood, TX where I served in many positions and retired there as a Lieutenant Colonel on 31 October 1982.  After that, I became a Texas Real Estate Broker and a custom home builder in Bell County, TX.  Then the Army came looking for me again and I entered Civil Service at Fort Hood where I worked for over 14 years retiring from that Job in April 2003 as a GG-14.  Before I moved from Belton, TX to Killeen, I served 4 years as an elected Belton City Councilman.  Since then - - - the Army would not hear of me leaving - so long story short, I worked as a contractor for the Army for an additional 4 years.  Relatively easy job as I tele-commuted via my computer at home and traveled a few times each year to do classified work for the Army and teach.  JoAnn and I now travel, fish, and enjoy full retirement.  Guess that about covers it for now.  Lots of water under the bridge!