Page 39 - 4-22-17 RP FINAL Flipbook pdf
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THE POWER OF TAKING THE PLUNGE
men and women marching before me, none
would ever hesitate to put their lives on the line
to protect me, and they knew I’d do the same
for them. Eight days later, my world drastically
changed. I walked in the front door of West
Virginia’s Maximum Security Prison. Let me
clarify; not as a prisoner, but as an employee.
Shortly before retirement from the Marine
Corps, I went home on vacation and spoke to
retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Chuck
Kinder, who used to play football for West
Virginia University. He was the kicker on the
team back in the 60’s and the only kicker in
WVU history, or perhaps in any college team’s
history to wear the number 100. It just so
happened that he was on the team during West
Virginia’s Centennial celebration of becoming
one of the 50 states. Anyway, Chuck worked for
the state’s Division of Personnel at the time,
and I’ll never forget the advice that he gave me.
He enthusiastically said, “Randy, just get your
foot in the door anywhere in state government,
and with your background and leadership
experience, you’ll write your own ticket.” He
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