In Celebration of MHS Class of 1958

In Celebration of MHS Class of 1958

A Tribute and Celebration

We were the class of 1958, members of the Greatest Generation as well as children of the Greatest Generation. Born in 1940, we are also called members of the Traditional Generation.

Our childhood, post World War II, "was the best of times . . . it was the age of wisdom . . . it was the epoch of belief . . .it was the season of Light . . . it was the spring of hope . . . we had everything before us . . .we were all going direct to Heaven . . . ." (A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens.) At least, that's the way I felt about it. We were truly blessed.

- Ouida Tomlinson -

This blog is a place for 1958 graduates of Meridian, Mississippi, High School to stay in touch, post their news, items of interest and photographs.

CLASS OF 1958 MEMORIES (Click to read all posts relating to sports, honors, graduation and other memories of our class in 1957-58.)

FACEBOOK PAGE FOR CLASS OF 1958
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MHS58/

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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

William A. Betts - Autobiography

Brentwood, TN

I lost my wife of 26 years in 1992 and have not remarried. I have two daughters, well educated, thanks to poor Pop. One's a journalist/lawyer, the other first, a former teacher and later a computer program instructor with the Hospital Corporation of America and the world's greatest Mom. Both daughters are married and are living in the Nashville, Tennessee region. I’d love to tell you about my 4 year old grand daughter.

Education: Bachelor of Science: Science and Education, Mississippi State University, August 1961; Master of Public Health: Environmental Health and Public Health Administration, University of Minnesota, June 1966; Doctor of Public Health (Preventive Medicine), Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, June 1969.

1961-1962 Teacher of Mathematics, Chemistry and Science, Greensboro High School, Greensboro, Florida

1963-1965 Malaria Specialist and Rural Health Advisor, Republic of Viet Nam, Binh Tri Thien, Quang Nam-Da Nang, and Nghi Binh Provinces.

1966-1967 Faculty, University of Hawaii, on a special project to train Peace Corps Volunteers for public health work in the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

1969-1998 United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (U.S. Uniformed Services). Progressive assignments in the Indian Health Service, international research assignments and US Public Health assignments under the direction of the USPHS Surgeon General. Career Assignments were in the United States and travel outside the United States, working at local, regional, national and international levels. As US Project Director, worked closely with the Government of Yugoslavia on an eight year health education/rural health research program which resulted in the development of Yugoslavia’s first modern rural health system based on the US Indian Health Service model.

Assisted approximately 25 Native American tribal governments in developing their primary health delivery systems for the first time. Developed quality assurance programs and evaluated health programs throughout the Indian Health Service (HIS) system nationwide. Retired from IHS in 1998, with the rank of Scientist Director and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest decoration of the service for ‘Distinguished, exemplary service to the nation.’
1998-Present Consultant to Native American Tribal health programs (Pro bono). Senior Health Consultant for International Volunteer Services, worldwide (Pro bono).

PUBLICATIONS: Approximately 25 articles/publications in public health and preventive medicine.

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