TG Metzger surveyed the membership to find out what their first real jobs were. A few examples of his findings were as follows, Judge Marrs worked at a wallpaper and paint store, Ken Mallory sold Hoover vacuum cleaners, Teri Muse was a mail lady, Jim Rider was a cook at the Arboretum, Mike Hoey dug ditches, Dirk Hudson was a bartender, Bill Gleason set out smudge pots and TG himself, who had to wear a suit and tie doing menial jobs while working for Nabisco.
Tony Parrille’s first job was working for the California Division of Highways in the right of way department, which was responsible for the acquisition and appraisal of properties for new freeways. On his first day on the job he was assigned to a crew that boarded up houses that were to be moved to construct the 134 freeway. One of the houses he worked on in Eagle Rock was the first home of the movie cowboy actor, Tom Mix, when he came to Hollywood.
Kathleen Ellison’s first job was with the Pasadena Board of Education transcribing the results of interviews with special needs children. One of her most interesting experiences was the day the records lady was absent and she was ask to fill in. This was the morning after Robert Kennedy had been assassinated and hoards of reporters stormed the office wanting to see the personnel records of Sirhan Sirhan, who had been a student in the Pasadena Schools. Young Kathleen was able to subdue the onslaught by stating that no records would be available without a court order.
John Davis’s first job was at the San Diego Zoo. His first assignment was as a bus boy in the restaurant. The following year he worked at the “Skyfari”, the aerial tram ride, loading people into the gondola. His final two years at the zoo he was bus driver and tour guide. John related many humorous experiences he had during his college years working at the zoo.