William Valles

After separation from the Army in 1970 I managed to salvage an honest life. I have 20 years service in bank operations and 17 and counting in the transportation industry. I have paid my dues.
I trained in the 80's as a lyric tenor and found more voice than I cared to use. I had zero desire for romantic themes. But now I would like to bring a bit more respect back to our National Anthem and am easily up to the task. I have trained recently with Haley Sicking of Dallas who is also training and mentoring my daughter, a lyric soprano with coloratura extension (same as Haley). She is a natural and will sing for the pure joy of it whereas I will need good cause.

As an executive limo driver for AJL I had called on JB Hunt, my employer at retirement in 2015 while at DFW waiting on a business jet in October, 2019 to inquire how old I could be and be rehired. To my amazement, they were onboarding me while I was on the phone with a 5k bonus! ?? Whoa! Guess if you are fit (and I am) age is just a number. LUCKY I did not take to recreational smoke after retirement! Hunt does hair testing. Had a episode with it in 1969 while on leave in December. It took me 2 years to recover. That was at a black light party and I was among "friends".
Glad I called Hunt, as limo business fell off in 2020. I was doing a lot of large group work with hotel/event venues, and specialty assignments; had my share of leading the pack.
I can be rehired there too. Head dispatcher did NOT want to see me go. He could really spin me around in traffic and count on me in the clutch. I enjoyed the challenge and the honor of serving VIP clients. All my passengers received my best.

I have memories of the morning workouts around the school that remind me to go back to work running in the morning. Sometimes we took those running excursions all the way to the Botanic Gardens. I am not sure how soap suds got in the fountain. But as another Bill with us was a prankster I have an idea.
I have memories of young men conducting themselves honorably even in conflict; considering the current behavioral standards among youth, I really appreciate that now.
I was a decent writer back in that time and I am still flattered by the compliments received from Mrs. Epps. She said I could put a lot of expression in a single sentence. In retrospect I believe I penned a few too many and expressed a bit too much. So much for youthful passion. I meant well.
I appreciate the mentoring and encouragement received from Mrs. Mary White. She said I had overtones in the tenor voice and should sing always if just to the glory of God. This was in open class on day one.
Both of these teachers inspired excellence.