Don Rhodes

 

Biography of Donald B. Rhodes

 

I was born in Modesto in 1944. Before I was born my dad taught high school in McArthur. It was during WWII and my dad couldn’t get in the armed forces-he was 4-F. The classification 4-F originated in the civil war and was used to disqualify army recruits who did not have four front teeth with which to tear open gunpowder packages. Although my dad’s teeth were fine he was disqualified for being cross-eyed.

 

As a teacher in McArthur he wore many hats- one as the band teacher. He came to Redding to buy musical instruments for his band and found Redding didn’t have a music store. So when I was two he opened a music store in Redding (we lived in the store) on the corner of Placer and Pine Street, next to the Damburger. After finding me in the luggage compartment of a greyhound bus headed to Seattle (the station was close by) they tethered me to the front porch to keep me from wandering off. Living next to the Damburger was great as they had a counter where I could do pull ups. My dad was impressed with my skill until he noticed I was chewing off gum stuck to the bottom of the counter.

 

When I was four we moved to Anderson where my dad taught high school and my mom became my kindergarten teacher. When I was seven my folks bought an 800 acre ranch off Dersch Road. There was a great swimming hole in Bear Creek and my dad became a good fisherman (used a rifle and a pitch fork).

 

After one year on the ranch we moved back into Anderson. By age nine I was helping my dad build a house we moved into before it was finished.  We nailed the front door shut to go on vacation. I then helped him build four rentals.

 

Sports were my passion. In high school I scored 49 points in one basketball game. I also played baseball, tennis, ran track and continued playing sports till over the age of 60. When not playing I coached; football, basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer.

 

My cross-eyed dad was my high school counselor and suggested I become an Optometrist, for which I’m very grateful. I went to Cal (the University of California in Berkeley) where I played basketball and obtained my Optometry degree. It was during the 1960’s and Cal was becoming known as the hot spot for protest, sit in’s and student unrest.

 

I joined the Lions Club in 1970 and was president in 1978. I enjoyed being chairman of the Lions track meet for grammar school kids for a number of years, and chairman of the Lions All Star basketball game for 15 year. As an Optometrist it’s rewarding to see that Lions helps the visually impaired.

 

My wife Lorna and I have six children and five grandchildren. We have lived in Palo Cedro since 1970 and have had the following animals: horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, pheasants, peacocks, cats, dogs, fish, snakes, lizards, a chameleon, an iguana, rats, guinea pigs, a scorpion, a turtle, hamsters and rabbits. Jim Clover, who stayed with us before we had children, had a pet rattle snake in his room.

 

I have two sisters: Lynn-a Methodist minister and retired professor who now lives in Claremont and Jean-the Executive Director of One Safe place in Redding.

 

When I’m not working I spend time in my garden, play golf, and am entertained by my grandkids.

 

Published July, 2016