Page 96 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2022 - Online Magazine
P. 96
Ivan Cole Continuing in Integrity,
Service & Excellence
by Tracy Cole
traits that he’d advice he would give to those
learned from who are preparing to transition
his uncle, from military life to civilian life,
and he joined Ivan says, “Plan ahead early, use
the military. all the resources available to you
After his 18th for your transition, and get your
birthday in finances in order.”
1973, he began
basic training at In 1998, Ivan retired as a Senior
Goodfellow Air Master Sergeant after serving
Force Base in 25 years in the United States
San Angelo, TX Air Force and moved back to
where, during Lubbock to enjoy civilian life.
basic training, Ivan is considered a Vietnam
he proposed to War Era veteran and a Gulf
his high school War Veteran, but he was never
sweetheart called into combat situations.
over the phone; The first thing he did when he
they married in retired from the Air Force was to
December 1973. utilize the G.I. Bill to obtain his
education from Texas Tech. After
Ivan was 25 years of military discipline,
an Aircraft hard work was ingrained
Mechanic for in him, and while in school,
five years before he completed a work-study
being promoted program, made the Dean’s List
to Maintenance numerous times, and officiated
Management basketball. One of the greatest
where he says accomplishments from his
his “leadership officiating days, while still in
and ability school, was the purchase of a
to manage
van Cole was born and raised people” skills were sharpened in 1995 pearl-white Ford Explorer,
which I affectionately named
in San Angelo, Texas. At a
Ivery young age, Ivan’s father preparation for civilian life. “Fred the Ford.” Ivan graduated
from Texas Tech University with
passed away, and his uncle, Over the course of his 25-year a Bachelor of Arts in History in
William Sinches, became the career in the Air Force, Ivan was 2001 and a master’s in Education
male influence in his life. William stationed in Florida, Germany, in 2007.
instilled valuable lessons of hard Japan, Illinois, Texas, Utah, and
work and loyalty, as well as being New Mexico, and served two Upon graduating from Texas
a provider and protector. In third tours in South Korea. Being Tech University, Ivan moved
grade, Ivan had a teacher named stationed in Japan was news to Killeen, TX and taught at
Mrs. Alexander at Hammond to me, and in shock, I asked, Shoemaker High School for
Elementary in San Angelo, “When were you stationed in one school year, after which the
who inspired him to become a Japan!?” Without missing a beat, opportunity arose to move back
teacher. Upon graduating from he responded, “You weren’t to West Texas; he took it.
San Angelo Central High School even a thought yet, ma’am,” and
in May 1973, without a job offer chuckled. When asked what Ivan began working at what
in sight, Ivan remembered the is now Garza County Juvenile
96 Lubbock Senior Link
