(Prepared and delivered by Fred at the Masek family reunion, Lincoln, NE. July 13, 1996)

First tonight will be a family spokesman or more than one representative giving the family introductions, explaining their work, interests and experiences.

I will talk about Fred, Dick, and Brian Masek to lead off.

After finishing high school at Geddes, South Dakota, I spent 18 months in the Army including 14 months in Korea mainly as a company clerk typist or personnel clerk. Upon discharge I entered the University of South Dakota where my major subjects were journalism, government, speech, and radio. I was news editor of the USD radio station, KUSD, and delivered the 5:30 p.m. news daily.

After USD I joined KISD in Sioux Falls as 10 p.m. newscaster but also as continuity writer. That lasted six months because I was recalled for military duty. I took ROTC at USD and received a commission as a second lieutenant. The Korean war was hot and there was a big demand for junior officers in the infantry branch.

I served as a rifle range officer at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., later took the company officers course at Ft. Benning, Ga., and eventually received orders for Korea. However, upon reaching Camp Stoneman, California, for shipment overseas, the truce was signed in Korea and my fortunes were turned around.

Soon I was back in Sioux Falls and joined the Sioux Falls Daily Argus Leader as a staff writer. I remained there more than 20 years in various roles. I went to the capital at Pierre and covered several sessions of the south Dakota Legislature. I also spent 20 days in Europe on a special assignment. About 15 years ago the Argus Leader was sold and it was not a cozy situation working for the new owners. I was out the door after eight months and eventually was accepted as a postal carrier. I have been on that job for about 14 years.

I have gone through a divorce as at least three others in this group have experienced. I attend a lot of dances and have coordinated dances for single people at various times at three locations in Sioux Falls.

Now for older son, Dick. I was able to send Dick to Europe on a choir trip after high school graduation. About the same time, son, Brian, and I traveled to Los Angeles, Disneyland, Napa, CA., Sacramento, and Denver.

Dick became enrolled in a computer course at Mankato State University, MN. For the past seven years, Dick has been living in Anderson, Indiana, a short distance from Indianapolis. He works as a computer programmer for EDS (Electronic Data Systems) a company founded by Ross Perot and later sold to General Motors. Dick has an interest in art. I have one example of his work which you can examine.

Brian has had a more varied career but ending in the same role as Dick. Brian originally spent a year in Los Angeles studying guitar. He returned to Sioux Falls and organized a rock band called, "Tremor." Brian also worked two part-time jobs. Eventually the band members scattered and "Tremor" was no more.

In Sioux Falls, Brian received some experience as a recording engineer. He decided to enroll in a technical school for further study in Orlando, Florida. After three months he returned to Los Angeles and was hired by a studio. Things went well for a few months until the studio went broke and shut down. Brian went to a second studio but the pay was poor and the hours long.

Brian decided to enter a third school, one for computer training. Soon he was able to work part-time in the computer field while continuing his studies. Within a year he was able to shift to a programmer job in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. The Twin Cities setting has led to a second very lucrative job as a subcontractor for the Cargill Corp. Brian also has a new rock band in Sioux Falls called, "Closet Monster."

Brian continues to work for Cargill but has resettled in a rented home in Sioux Falls. He spends three days each week in the Cargill Twin Cities offices and also does work for the company from a computer based in his home. Brian travels to the Cargill offices early each Tuesday morning and returns to Sioux Falls Thursday night.