50-Year-Reunion

Robert Gruver 871 Selkirk Way, Pickerington, Ohio 43147 rkgruver@sbcglobal.net April 25

As many of you may recall, my high school beginnings started off on a rather hard and somber note. My Dad, whom I looked up to with tremendous devotion, died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack on August 25, 1972. He was playing in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph golf tournament at Fincastle Country Club. In many ways this changed the trajectory of my high school years. I hung up my football cleats for other things to try and help fill the void. Having played golf since grade school, it became a welcomed activity for me. Church and high school youth activities were a big source of direction for me. I joined the Bluefield Rescue Squad at the prompting of my Mom. That opened up a broad range of opportunities for my high school years as well as my college years, and early years of marriage. High school graduation came. The highlight of that day was not walking the stage, but having my first car wreck on the way to the National Guard Armory. I still can hear Miss Reasor preaching to us that we could not be late. Think I made it just under the wire! College arrived, and I was off to the big city of Morgantown to become a Mountaineer! I began my educational endeavors with a pre - physical therapy curriculum in mind; that lasted maybe two semesters. From there I settled into Financial Management (B.S. in B.A.) tract. It was great having friends from Bluefield at WVU to connect with. Pat Haye and I connected and arranged to be apartment dwellers together starting with our second year. We actually made it the rest of the way through college together. We were “ THE ODD COUPLE ”! It was definitely a fun time! I was able to make new acquaintances and friendships during my four years in Morgantown. A group of us completed Scuba Diving Certification and spent many hours going on interesting dives. This was lifelong goal of mine, and I accomplished it! During college I was still anchored back home with Rescue Squad ties. EMS had really gotten into my blood. I worked my senior year to get my Paramedic Certification. This was yet another dream realized. After college graduation I felt compelled to return home to find my career path. Through short stints with several local companies, I was able to gain some much - valued OJT. I finally had the opportunity to interview for a position with Appalachian Power Company. This came by, as the saying goes, “ It ’ s not what you know, but who you know ”. This job turned into a career of 39 years. In 2002 it provided this hometown boy an opportunity to move to the “ big city ”. APCO was a family company, and I loved Bluefield. I truly expected to be born, raised, and buried there. God had different plans as He provided an opportunity for me and my family to move to Columbus, Ohio.

Which we did in late 2002. I retired in 2020.

58