Life could not be better! I have been married to the former Debbie Sapp since 1989. Our son, Carl, is pursuing majors in Computer Science and Math at Truman State University and is interning at Cerner, a homegrown, international company that provides software to Hospitals. I suspect that Carl was switched at birth because there is no other explanation for his math abilities. Somewhere in Kansas City, there are a couple of nuclear physicists who cannot figure out why their college-aged child cannot tie his shoes - that is probably my biological son.
Some may remember Debbie Sapp as the prettiest and funniest woman in the Rock Bridge class of ’78. When Debra called her parents and told them she wanted to either get a Master of Journalism degree or go to seminary, her mother responded, “Seminary, why in God’s name would you want to do that?”
Fortunately for me, her parents were willing to pay for Journalism School. I reconnected with her when she returned to Columbia to get her Master’s in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Missouri. I was a teaching assistant in the radio lab while I worked on my MBA. I would say that we renewed our friendship but in reality she ignored me in high school. I was younger. I still am. However, she knew it was prudent to remember her TA’s name. So, we became friends.
We kept in touch while I spent three years pursuing my dream of being a television news producer in Lynchburg, VA and Greensboro, NC. When I became disenchanted with journalism, I returned to central Missouri and went to work for Duane Lammers (Hickman, ’79) selling advertising at KRCG-TV.
At the age of 34 I went to law school. The only place I applied was the University of Missouri – and I got in! By that time I had convinced Debra to marry me and when she accepted a job in Kansas City, I transferred to the UMKC School of Law. I have practiced law in Kansas City for 21 years. I have spent the last 18 years with Edelman & Thompson representing injured workers in Workers’ Compensation cases.
I have represented some truly incredible people over the years. Some of my clients have overcome devastating injuries. They have humbled me with their strength and grace. I am very fortunate that they have trusted me with their cases.
When our son started High School, Debra decided to go to Seminary. She graduated with the highest GPA in her class and won an award for best biblical interpretation. She is a licensed minister (soon to be ordained) and uses her incredible sense of humor and empathy as a hospital chaplain. She helps people make sense of difficult situations. More than one person has told her that they thought she was an angel when she entered the room.
One of my clients recently told me she thought I was an A-hole when I entered the room – that is why she hired me. Debra and I may have very different end-of-life experiences.