Andrew Cullen

In the fall of 1969, my senior year at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I signed papers with the U.S. Marine Corps with the intention of reporting to Quantico, VA after graduation for officer training. Three weeks before graduation I was released from my contractual obligation to the USMC and entered the draft. My "lottery" number was high and I was never drafted. I spent 6 months traveling around Europe, returned to the United States, and was engaged to my high school sweetheart, Nancy Hage (SM East).
I have Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. I have served seven different Presbyterian (USA) churches since being ordained in 1981. I retired in April of 2015. Nancy and I live in Gladstone, MO and now attend Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City. We enjoy traveling, spending time at our cabin in Estes Park, CO., and keeping up with the activities of our five grandchildren. I continue to play tennis, walk, swim, and go fly-fishing in Colorado.

So many stories......I do remember my biology teacher, Dr. Good, calling up my parents and telling them that I was not living up to my potential in his class. I tried a lot harder after that phone call. Thanks to so many teachers for their dedication and interest in their students: Mrs. Barisas, Coach Cobb, Coach Ewing, Mrs. Weinberg, and Mr. Woods, to name a few
Thanks to my neighbor on 59th Terrace, Bill Truog, class of 1965, for getting me interested in tennis and encouraging me to join a literary society.
I do remember being in Driver's Ed with Mr.Nivens. I was in the back seat with another student while (name withheld!) was driving in the new parking lot of the Ward Parkway Shopping Center. The student headed right toward a light pole and Mr. Nivens hit the brake so hard his hat came off. What a fun day.