Don Pettit
EducationAttended University of Missouri-Columbia, 1964-1965 and 10 years later graduated with a BSEE in December 1974. In between, attended Howard Payne University(Texas), Metropolitan Junior College(1968-1969), Longview Community College (1969-1971), and University of Kansas (1971-1972).
Professional LifeJoined the Air Force in 1965 and got out in 1968 coming back from Viet Nam (67-68). Was an electronics technician in the Air Force working on crytographic electronics gear (spy stuff). The technical experience in the Air Force helped me get a job with Bendix Corp.(Allied Signal) 1968-1973 working in their environmental lab testing missle heads and their gadgetry. Laid off from Bendix, I returned to the Universtiy of Missouri to finish my degree.
After graduation, went to work for the Aluminum Company of America (now Alcoa) at their Warrick Operations (integrated aluminum production with 300 acres under roof) in Newburgh, IN as a Project Electrical Engineer. Moved into management in 1979. Transferred to Badin, North Carolina (aluminum smelter and hydro power facility on 50,000 acres) and held positions in Procurement, Engineering and Maintenance management. Transferred to Primary Metals Division headquarters in Knoxville, TN in 1998 where I am presently Procurement Manager Capital Projects. My job with Alcoa has taken me all over the world, visiting every continent except Africa and Australia (but, I did visit there on R&R from Viet Nam). I have worked for Alcoa for 30 years as of January 2, 2005.
Family Life I met my wife, Cheryl, when I was stationed in her hometown, San Angelo, TX. We were married in 1968 when I returned from Viet Nam. We've been married for 36 years and she has worked for Alcoa for 27 years. We have 2 children: Erin, 28, a Domestic Violence Counselor at the Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, she just graduated with her Masters in Social Work Administration from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; Neil, 23, who attended Appalachian State Universtiy in Boone, NC but decided to turn his avocation (hot dog snowboarding) into his vocation and is the Lift Maintenance Supervisor at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort in Banner Elk, NC.
My parents are still living (Dad-82 and Mom-77) and reside on a farm in Lone Jack, MO where they raise cattle (we call it "Pettit Acres" because my brother, Tom, lives next door and my sister, Cheryl, built a home on 10 acres of the farm).
Hobbies & Interests Church and related activities.
Singing has always been a part of my life. Besides singing with my wife for all our friends' weddings, I was in a Barbershop Quartet (competing and for fun) for 7 years; 2 Gospel quartets (one for 15 years and one for 10); numerous community choruses; and, of course church choirs and ensembles. Since living in Knoxville, have been a member of the Knoxville Choral Society that sings with the Knoxville Symphony. The highlight of this experience was making a 2 week European Tour (120 of us) in 2002 singing with the choruses and symphonies of what used to be Communist Central Europe (Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovak Republic and Hungary.
I got involved in Community Theatre while living in North Carolina, acting in plays such as The Music Man, Sound of Music, Dracula the Musical, Cotton Patch Gospel, and others. Haven't had the time to pursue in Tennessee.
Golf is still a passion with me and I live on golf course. But, because of travel with my job, I don't get to play as often as I'd like or to improve my game.
My other hobby is "Illuminating Engineering" - I have 35000 lights on my house from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Retirement Plans No plans at present to retire. Alcoa has entered an expansion phase overseas and the job is still exciting. Even if I retire, I will probably still do consulting work.
If and when we retire, it will probably be in the Tennessee, North Carolina area.
Contact InformationDon & Cheryl Pettit
241 Valley View Drive
Lenoir City, TN 37772
865-988-4625
dpettit@chartertn.net
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