Pete Bauer The fall of 1961 found me entering the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Four years and
no summer school later, I graduated with a degree in Physical Education
(no surprise) and with USAF 2nd Lt. bars on my shoulders. In June of 1965 it was off to
Big Spring Texas to learn how to fly big fast airplanes for Uncle Sam. As a C130
pilot I spent most of 1968-1970 hauling stuff around Southeast Asia. Actually spent
Christmas Eve of '68 &'69 flying recon missions over the HCM trail: but if I told you what
we were doing there I would have to shoot you! I left the regular Air Force in 1970
(though flew for the Reserves out of Milwaukee for the next three years) and returned to
graduate studies at the UW. Landed the Gymnastics Head Coaching in 1971 and held
that position until I couldn't afford to any more (1978); then established the Badger
Gymnastics Academy in Madison and directed that program until 1992. From 1980 until
2002 I held a lecturer position in the UW Department of Kinesiology, teaching
gymnastics, golf, racquetball and badminton, while, at the same time developing my skills at
sculpting wood in preparation for retirement. We show work at the Gallery on 23 in
Spring Green, two galleries on the Oregon coast, and the Harbor Gallery in the Big
Island. In November of 2005 my wife Candy and I sold our home in Mazomanie WI and
moved to the southern coast of Oregon; specifically a small town called Bandon. Here we
have an unlimited supply of ocean driftwood and I get to caddie at the Bandon
Dunes Golf Resort that hosts three courses ranked 2nd, 9th, and 27th in the country. It's a
great gig. |
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