Biography of Rob Barrett

After high school I obtained a B.S. degree in Microbiology at University of Houston. Betty Smith (who also graduated with us in 1962) and I were married in June 1967 at the South Park Baptist Church by Rev. Overstreet. I then joined the U.S. Air Force and spent four years as a Communications Officer. We were in Key West Florida for two years, and I spent one year unaccompanied in Korea. Lisa was born in Key West in 1969. After the USAF, we returned to Houston and I went to work for Harris County Pollution Control, where I have been ever since. I started out as a Field Investigator, became Field Supervisor, and in 1992 was appointed Director. We at Pollution Control have always had plenty to do, and I’ve enjoyed the work.

Our son David was born in 1973. Both our kids are married and live in the Houston area. Neither has provided a grandchild, which has put Betty and me in a panic. We dote on our “grand dog”……a dachshund!

You can see all the characters in our family at http://wanspages.prodigy.net/rbarrett/.

In 1997 we moved from the South Belt area, where we’d lived since 1971, to an old house on Stratford Street in Montrose. The house was built in 1916 and is in good condition. We added a two-car garage in the back, and I have a little woodshop in the other small garage. We have made some improvements in the house, and Betty has plans to make significantly more which we’ll start in early 2002.

Betty and I enjoy working on the reunion committee. We have found that acquainting and re-acquainting ourselves with our Jones classmates is very rewarding. We have more in common with those who grew up in the same time and place, and were influenced by the same teachers and churches, and have the same values, than all other groups we’ve been associated with since high school. It is enjoyable and comforting to sit down with Jones graduates and talk and laugh about the old times. The most remarkable thing is we may not have known each other back then, but we have so many shared memories that we quickly forget who we knew and who we didn’t. We often talk about this phenomenon at reunion get-togethers.

Enough! Betty and I look forward to seeing you all at the reunion in April 2002. The facilities are great, the plans are comprehensive, and we’ll have a great time.

Rob