MHHS 1965 Class Reunion

The Dixon Family - Xmas 2004
Left to Right: Patrick Dixon (Age 20), Peggy Dwyer Dixon, James Dixon, Daniel Dixon (Age 28).

The Dixon Animals, so far...
All rescued (taken in) animals. except Brigit, who was Mandy's planned AKC baby.

And for anyone interested in a brief Dixon history...

Jim and I started dating the week we graduated from high school. We attended most of the graduation parties together. (Interestingly, Jim and I met and walked down the aisle together in our high school graduation ceremony.) Jim went to Principia College the first year and I attended the U of Florida in Gainesville for the first semester. My father died New Year's Day, so I moved back to Indiana and started my second semester at Purdue University in math and computers. Jim joined me at Purdue and we both graduated in 1969 with degrees in math and computers. Jim spent another year in graduate school, but we married in the summer of 1970.

For a few years, we helped my mom run my parents company, Dwyer Vending. My mom died in 1976, and a few months later, we had Daniel, our first son. I am sad my parents never got to see their grandsons - they would have loved them so. Anyway, after computerizing the vending company, we sold the company to Jim's brother, Tom, and started Saturn Computers, which we still run in Anderson, IN. We are located on the corner just north of Shadyside Park and we build custom desktop and notebook computers, do networks, sell parts, and do service on most brands of computers.

Our second son, Patrick, was born in 1984 after being told we could not have more children, so he was our miracle baby and a true blessing. We have enjoyed both boys so much. And even though they are 8 years apart in age, they are very close and enjoy being together. Jim's mother lives on our farm, though he lost his dad 12 years ago.

We took the boys on a great trip to the British Isles for our 25th wedding anniversary and for our 30th anniversary, even Jim's mom joined us for a land and cruise adventure to Alaska. We took another fun cruise to the Caribbean with Patrick and other seniors and their parents during Spring Break in Patrick's senior year and I joined the Spanish group for a great, great trip to Spain with Patrick and other seniors and teachers and parents right after his high school graduation in the summer of 2003. In February of 2005, Jim and I will take another fun cruise with 4 of our high school classmates in the Caribbean on the Serenade of the Sea cruise ship.

Jim works hard and still enjoys playing tennis. He loves to watch sports on his new HD TV. I used to play tennis, but now I walk long distances usually with my cocker spaniels, Mandy and her daughter Brigit, at Shadyside Park. and I enjoy growing orchids and reading books. Jim and I thoroughly enjoyed finding and contacting many of our high school classmates as we became the self-appointed reunion coordinators for the 40 year class reunion.

Above: Dan, Jim, Peggy, Brittney & Patrick as reflected in the Silver Bean Sculpture in Chicago's Millenium Park

In February, we drove to Sheppard AFB near Wichita Falls, TX to take Brittney and Patrick their new golden retriever, Mason, from Brittney’s mother, Beth. We stayed three days, visited with the newlyweds and toured the Air Force Base. Then we made a few touristy stops on the way home in Branson and St. Louis, MO. In August, we all, met in Chicago to attend a lovely Quaker wedding between our nephew, Christopher and his new bride, Rebecca. We are still using our retail store some and Jim is still building computers and doing on-site service for companies and professionals and I love creating websites for businesses and individuals. My design website is www.saturnwebsitedesign.com. Jim still enjoys running about 3 miles every other day and playing tennis on a couple of teams while I still walk the dogs about 3 miles and enjoy reading and gardening. And Barack Obama won the election —YES! So, there should be some HOPE and CHANGE in 2009.

Our oldest son, Dan just accepted a great new job as a line producer for The Whole Experience—WXP, a game company located in Pioneer Square in Seattle, about a mile and a half from Dan’s Apartment.

Plus Dan has been perfecting his own programming project – watch the video, download the program and read the reviews at... www.unversesandbox.com Dan’s program, Universe Sandbox, is to be adapted by Dan and presented in a special exhibit in the TECHNOPOLIS, the Flemish Science Museum in Mechelen, Belgium next spring. They have hired Dan to make the needed changes so his project can be easily used by museum visitors plus they will be flying him to Belgium to set up and oversee the start of the exhibit. Also, a short video showing galaxies coliding will appear in an upcoming Discovery Channel program using Universe Sandbox. Dan is very busy and we are so happy about his recent successes. For more info on Dan.

Our youngest son, Patrick and his bride, Brittney, are still living at Sheppard AFB near Wichita Falls, TX. Brittney is working at a local museum part time. Patrick just finished half his jet pilot training in a T-37 and started training in a T-38 in November. He loves flying and they both enjoy camping all over Texas and playing with their dog, Mason.

Patrick Dixon's First ever solor flight in a T-37

Patrick Dixon in front of his T-37 just after
completing his first ever solo flight.

Patrick Dixon getting in a T-37 at
Shepperd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX.

This is the T-38, which Patrick is training in for the next six months at Shepperd Air Force Base.
Specifications (T-38A):
Engines: Two 3,850-pound thrust General Electric J-85-GE-5A afterburning turbojets
Weight: Empty 7,165 lbs., Max Takeoff 12,093 lbs.
Wingspan: 25ft. 3in.
Length: 46ft. 4.5in.
Height: 12ft. 10.5in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 36,000ft: Mach 1.3 (858 mph)
Cruising Speed at 39,000ft: Mach 0.9
Ceiling: 53,500 ft.
Range: 1,090 miles

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Peggy (Dwyer) Dixon & Jim Dixon

Jim and Peggy Dixon