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For the News Tribune
WESTERNPORT -- A 1961 graduate of St. Peter's High School in Westernport who went on to a fruitful career in the U.S. Air Force and the private sector will be the speaker for the annual banquet of the St. Peter's Alumni Association.
Dennis Joseph O'Rourke, will share his thoughts on St. Peter's, Westernport, and the years and world beyond, at the annual reunion celebration, to be held Saturday, May 28 at the Westernport American Legion. Dennis' class will be celebrating its 50th reunion this year.
Born in Keyser Hospital, May 18, 1943, Dennis is the son and fourth child of the late Hugh Martin and Frances Ann Shugart O'Rourke.
Back in the day, in a year that saw Mickey Mantle sign baseball's biggest contract, of $75,000, and when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, O'Rourke was named Most Carefree of St. Peter's Class of 1961.
Following high school, he enlisted as an airman in August, 1963. He received an Air Force Scholarship to Oklahoma State University, and eventually earned a BS in Management Science in l972.
His early military career included serving as a supply clerk in computer operations.
O'Rourke was commissioned a USAF officer in April, l973 serving in Computer Programming and Operations, and Instructional Systems Design/Development. He retired as Captain in June l984 as a Computer Systems Staff Officer.
O'Rourke served tours at Blytheville, Air Force Base, Ark.; Anderson AFB, Guam; Castle AFB, Calif., Peterson AFB, Colo., and Scott AFB, Ill. His highest honor was serving as commander of a small Training Detachment serving the NORAD Missile Warning and Space Defense in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs.
After the Air Force O'Rourke worked with General Dynamics, Medco, Chrysler, USAF TechnologyTransfer Center, McDonald's and Sprint. He retired medically from Sprint in October, 2002.
O'Rourke married Charlotte Lynn of Blytheville, Ark. in August, 1967. They have three sons, Brian, Sean and Kelly, and two grandsons. The couple divorced in 2001.
O'Rourke has lived in Troy, Illinois; Overland Park, KS and Nevada, MO for eight years. Currently he is living on the closed AFB at Blytheville and is now engaged to Margaret McHaney of
Leachville, Ark. They are looking for a home in the St. Louis area to be near sons and grandsons.
O'Rourke's hobbies include computers, classic cars, HO railroad modeling (Western Maryland/B&O) and collects Hull Pottery. He and Margaret attend car shows, flea markets, auctions, movies, theatre and concerts. He is also a dog lover and has always had dogs.
O'Rourke reported to reunion organizers that he is looking forward to being the speaker, visiting the Tri-Towns and seeing old friends and classmates.
For the News Tribune
WESTERNPORT -- A 1961 graduate of St. Peter's High School in Westernport who went on to a fruitful career in the U.S. Air Force and the private sector will be the speaker for the annual banquet of the St. Peter's Alumni Association.
Dennis Joseph O'Rourke, will share his thoughts on St. Peter's, Westernport, and the years and world beyond, at the annual reunion celebration, to be held Saturday, May 28 at the Westernport American Legion. Dennis' class will be celebrating its 50th reunion this year.
Born in Keyser Hospital, May 18, 1943, Dennis is the son and fourth child of the late Hugh Martin and Frances Ann Shugart O'Rourke.
Back in the day, in a year that saw Mickey Mantle sign baseball's biggest contract, of $75,000, and when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, O'Rourke was named Most Carefree of St. Peter's Class of 1961.
Following high school, he enlisted as an airman in August, 1963. He received an Air Force Scholarship to Oklahoma State University, and eventually earned a BS in Management Science in l972.
His early military career included serving as a supply clerk in computer operations.
O'Rourke was commissioned a USAF officer in April, l973 serving in Computer Programming and Operations, and Instructional Systems Design/Development. He retired as Captain in June l984 as a Computer Systems Staff Officer.
O'Rourke served tours at Blytheville, Air Force Base, Ark.; Anderson AFB, Guam; Castle AFB, Calif., Peterson AFB, Colo., and Scott AFB, Ill. His highest honor was serving as commander of a small Training Detachment serving the NORAD Missile Warning and Space Defense in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs.
After the Air Force O'Rourke worked with General Dynamics, Medco, Chrysler, USAF TechnologyTransfer Center, McDonald's and Sprint. He retired medically from Sprint in October, 2002.
O'Rourke married Charlotte Lynn of Blytheville, Ark. in August, 1967. They have three sons, Brian, Sean and Kelly, and two grandsons. The couple divorced in 2001.
O'Rourke has lived in Troy, Illinois; Overland Park, KS and Nevada, MO for eight years. Currently he is living on the closed AFB at Blytheville and is now engaged to Margaret McHaney of
Leachville, Ark. They are looking for a home in the St. Louis area to be near sons and grandsons.
O'Rourke's hobbies include computers, classic cars, HO railroad modeling (Western Maryland/B&O) and collects Hull Pottery. He and Margaret attend car shows, flea markets, auctions, movies, theatre and concerts. He is also a dog lover and has always had dogs.
O'Rourke reported to reunion organizers that he is looking forward to being the speaker, visiting the Tri-Towns and seeing old friends and classmates.
