The Fight for Life

WILLIAM ELLIOTT was born on September 23, 1951, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his childhood, he was interested in baseball. He was also interested in science. He won first prize in a science fair for building a Geiger counter. He had a paper route as his first job. He was in junior high school when desegregation took place. He remembers playing baseball in his neighborhood with both African American and Caucasian children.In 1966, William and his family moved to Hot Springs, South Dakota. His family consisted of his mom, dad, three sisters, and one brother. He completed his high school education in Hot Springs. During high school, he was athletic and was involved in track and field. He graduated from high school in 1969. After high school, William took two years of college at Northern State College. Then in 1972 he joined the air force. He was primarily stationed at Altus Air Force Base in Altus, Oklahoma, and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He was honorably discharged from the air force in 1975.William completed his BS degree in environmental science in 1977. During college, he met Nancy Rempfer, whom he married in June of 1976. He later completed a master's in business administration from the University of South Dakota in December of 1984. His work experience includes being a health inspector for the state of South Dakota; a business manager for the Cheyenne River Community College in Eagle Butte South Dakota; a business and computer instructor at Little Hoop Community College in Ft. Totten, North Dakota; taught small business management at National American University in Rapid City, South Dakota; then took a position at Oglala Lakota College teaching computer science and business, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. William lost his wife of nearly 41 years in 2017. He is retired and continues to reside in Hot Springs, SD.William became interested in poetry while experiencing health issues and found it to be therapeutic. After retirement, he took his poetry to the next level. He recently took two first place and one second place awards at the Veterans Creative Arts Festival in the Black Hills Region. His insight of his surroundings is both humorous and inspiring.• A War of Love• Facebook• Twitter• Google Plus• LinkedIn