Bio of Vernon Blalock

Family: Spouse: Charlene. Four daughters: Bobbie, Misty, Holly, Stacie 4 grandchildren-2 boys and 2 girls. All my girls finished their education and are actively pursuing their professions. The youngest Stacie will be attending BYU- Idaho this fall.

Church: Branch Presidency, 1st and 2nd counselor, YM presidency, Branch mission leader. The Church is still growing in La. and there are many opportunities to serve. We recently opened a new temple in Baton Rouge.

Education: Attended BYU briefly but missed my GRITS (girls raised in the south) and finished degree studies at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and Troy State University in Montgomery, Alabama.

Work: Have worked 25 years in plant operations. Employer is Georgia Pacific Corp. in Port Hudson, La. I work in operations and safety as a trainer to assure that our 1400 employees at this site are trained according to OSHA regulations to work in an industrial environment. Our location manufactures Xerox copy paper products, Brawny paper towels, and Angel Soft toilet paper (not very glamorous, but what would life be without it?)

Hobbies: LSU football and tailgating, major and minor league baseball, played minor league third base for Baton Rouge team, also collect sports memorabilia (especially baseball Hall of Famers and Green Bay Packer vintage), Louisiana sportsman especially enjoy bass fishing and telling lies.

Community Service: Elected Baker City Council (only Mormon ever elected to anything). Also served on Democratic Executive Committee. Delegate Louisiana State Democratic Conv. Chairman: Museum Commission, Secretary: Energy Commission (City of Baker). President: Lions Club.

Comps: Don DeCamp, Cory Allen, James Ashmore, Joe Bradbury, Alan Clawson, Tony Colindres, Allen Gerritsen, Fred Gill, John Dekker, Kent England, Eric Schwartz,

Areas Served: Managua, Nic.; Choluteca, Hond.; Escazu, C.R.; Panama City, Pan.; Tegucigalpa, Hond.; and San Jose, C.R.

Memories: Cory Allen punching out a pickpocket on a salsa bus. Geepers. Noche de Hogars. Mongongo (cow intestine), red Milca soft drinks, Copan ruins in Honduras, sister missionaries with gamma-globulin shots, Masaya meat market, paper-thin white shirts washed in the river and beat on rocks, Semana Santa parades, riding the train through the Panama Canal Zone, Cuna Indians of Panama, Pres. Eagar's huge hands that could encourage you to obey the rules, the little white book

Going to the Central America mission was one of the greatest blessings. We are privileged to belong to this special fraternity where we can laugh, cry and rejoice in a unique brotherhood chosen to serve among the latter day Lamanites. I would go back today if given the call.