Today's Featured Biography

Glenice Cook Bellamy

After high school, I worked for a year at the phone company to earn enough money for college. Then off I went to Nampa, Idaho, where I met my husband Gil. I wasn't looking for a husband, but he found me. He tells people he looked over the freshman crop and there I was. We married the following summer and moved to LA where he had a scholarship to USC. After graduation he was accepted to Willamette University Law School, so we moved to Salem, Oregon, where we still live. I worked two jobs putting him through school and I like to tell people that I pushed him through. There's more truth to that than poetry. :-)

After graduation, Gil was appointed by Governor Tom McCall to head the Oregon Traffic Safety Commission, where he served for many years. After reading the statistics, he promptly declared war on drunk drivers and was very instrumental in saving numerous lives on Oregon's highways.

My career included working for: the Department of Justice, Governor Victor Atiyeh, Senator Glenn Otto, an attorney and a church district office. Whew -- makes me tired just thinking about it! I'm so glad to finally enjoy retirement with three amazing little grandsons, ages 4, 6 and 8. I wish I could bottle their energy and zest for life.

These are truly the best days of our lives. We live on the Willamette River where we raised our two sons and entertained a lot of their friends with boats and jet skis when they were kids. Now our grandsons get to enjoy the river too. We consider our sons and grandsons to be our greatest accomplishment and joy. Family, people and relationships are what matter most to us.

Oh, about the river . . . . I forgot to mention that we also have an Amphicar (an amphibious vehicle). We just drive through the back door of our garage, ride down our little road and splash right into the water. Our son Mark was married in our back yard last year, and he and his lovely bride made their getaway via Amphicar on the river. He was two years old when we bought that car for a song. How time flies!

My life is good and my heart rejoices. God is my best and dearest friend, and He has blessed me far more than I deserve. I knew about him in high school, but never really knew Him until I realized how much I need Him. When I went searching for Him, I discovered that He had been there waiting for me all along. I'm constantly amazed by His loving kindness to me and my family.

I don't know if I'll get to say this in person, but want to thank someone who may not even remember me. ROY POOLE -- thank you for being my guardian angel during our younger years. Sometimes when walking home from school, I would look over my shoulder and there you were, watching out for me. One time some guys tried to mess with me and you came to my rescue. I don't know what you said to them, but they never bothered me after that. Thank you for being my friend. I will never forget you and wish I had known you better!

Love and blessings to you all,

Glenice

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