involved with family without exerting special effort. However, without a
law enforcement background, I may
not have the insight I needed to become a Professor of Criminal Justice.
Therefore, I would say, if one wants a
career as a professor of criminal justice, I would advise a common path
as a law enforcement officer simply
because relating personal experiences
to the words in a textbook offers a
special value to those aspiring toward
a career in criminal justice.
Q: What do you do to chill?
A: Even at the age of 67, I find little
time to chill. However, whatever time
I set aside is typically with my family or a specific family member. My
“personal time” rests with my artistic,
creative side as a sculptor.
Q: If you could visit any place in the
world, where would you go?
A: I have always fostered the desire
to travel the world with no one place
beckoning more than the other, but if
I had to choose, my first place would
be Australia.
Q: Who is the one person you’d like
to meet?
A: My next friend.
Q: If someone asked you to give them
your best piece of advice, what would
you say?
A: I have two philosophies in life.
My first one is based on what an old
salty sergeant told me during my time
in Vietnam. I told him I was afraid of
dying in the jungles of Vietnam and
asked him what I could do to ensure
my survival. His answer has remained
in my heart as a primary philosophy
in life. He said, “See Corporal Johnson over there (pointing to a nearby
Marine). I nodded, yes. He continued. “Well I cover his butt in battle.
Johnson then covers PFC Smith, and
then Smith another until they get back
to me. The bottom line is we have to
worry about protecting each other
out here instead of worrying about
our own life. With everyone’s butt
covered, we will survive.”
My next philosophy is based on an
old movie called, Cannonball Run,
which is a comedy about a road rally
across the U.S. As the race starts, a
driver jumps in his sports car where
his navigator already awaits and the
first thing he does is grab the rearview mirror and tosses it out onto the
roadway as he speeds away to take
the lead. His navigator asks, “Why
would you throw away your rearview
mirror?” The driver looked at the navigator and stated, flippantly, “What is
behind me is of n o concern.” Even
though this philosophy stems from a
comedy, one must admit the words
ring true.
Q: What’s your favorite hobby?
A: Scuba diving with my family
Q: What is the one thing that makes
you happy?
A: Seeing a smile on my granddaughter’s face … no, just seeing my granddaughter.
Q: What makes you really sad?
A: Many things, unfortunately, but
primarily being away from my family.
However, the present turmoil in our
country and the world truly sadden
me because it appears my children
and grandchildren are facing formidable challenges against their inalienable rights.
Q: What scares you?
A: I have done so many things in life
that force one to face and conquer
fear, but I would have to say my biggest fear is not being able to protect
my loved ones. As I grow older and
less capable of physical defense, this
becomes a concern; along with the
fact that my family is now spread out
across our globe. I can only pray for
their safety and hope that all I taught
them will keep them safe from harm.
Q: If you could go back in history,
who is the one person you would like
to meet?
A: John Wayne
Q: Who in your life has influenced
you the most? How?
A: I would say my wife has been
my strongest influence because she
challenged me to rise above the
difficulties overwhelming me because of PTSD and TBI relating to
my experiences in combat. She not
only tried to understand the trigger
mechanisms that cause PTSD and TBI
issues, she researched and offered
tools to empower me to move forward
with my life in spite of the seemingly
overwhelming issues. Because of
Cindy, I wrote my first book, which
served as my mechanism of release
from the bondage from PTSD/TBI and
turn those horrors into a publication
that has served to help others move
forward as well. Cindy also inspired
me to accept new challenges such as
moving from law enforcement to a career change toward education as well
as continuing that effort to include a
career in higher education.
Q: What would you most like to be
remembered for?
A: Empowering others to free themselves from any form of oppression.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Deborah Kernan
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. My husband suggested it while we were
dating, said the main character, Dagney, reminded him of me.
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
Q: What do you do?
A: I am a mom of two, a wife, a lawyer, a business owner, a friend, a teacher,
a daughter, a sister and an aunt. But what I do for a living is: I am a lawyer
and have my law office in Weatherford. I have practiced here in Parker County
almost 20 years.
MARCH 2016
Lawyer
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