Jack Spittler, Sr.
Well, I was born in Miami, Florida in 1936. We moved to Georgia when I was 3 years old and spent the next thirty plus years there. I have lived in Georgia, South Carolina, New Orleans, Louisiana, and presently in Friendswood, Texas just outside of Houston.
I joined the L&N Railroad as a telegraph operator after college. I still enjoy Morse Code. 6 years later I became a sewing machine salesperson for 3 years. I still enjoy sewing up seams, sewing on buttons, and repairing buttonholes. I finally mastered freehand monogramming which I enjoy still. I was Distribution Center Manager 5 years, Import Export Manager 6 years, other Management assignments 14 years for Sears, Roebuck & Company. Logistics Manager for Westlake Chemical 21 years. Logistics Management Consulting 5 years.
I had enjoyed dabbling in creative efforts all my life. I painted acrylic, watercolor, and charcoal paintings for gifts, donations, and sales. I worked with silver and turquoise making rings, pendants, and other items for gifts and for sale. I also tried my hand at song writing and poetry.
When kids came along, I launched into storytelling. I have four children, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Night- time would often find me either laying across the foot of my son’s bed, and years later, laying across the foot of my daughter’s bed, telling never-ending stories. This continued with the grandkids. After listening to the stories, it was suggested that I should write some of these stories and get them published someday.
At the age of 80, after 50+ years in logistics, came retirement. I had always said that I wanted to write kid’s books when I retired. By that time, I had written Business Manuals, countless training programs and even edited the World Trade Club’s newsletter in New Orleans. So, creative writing was not foreign to me. I have written three books. One for preschoolers, one for middle schoolers and finally one for adults:
THE BLACK BRICK An “Indian Nation” Mystery
The Black Brick was my first effort at publishing for public consumption. The two earlier ones, written primarily for my kids and grandkids, are on my list for publishing soon. First, though, I want to publish a sequel to THE BLACK BRICK An Indian Nation Mystery and it, happily, is progressing nicely.
Why, an Oklahoma based novel? In Logistics, I have worked with many different ethnic groups. But because my Grandparents went to Oklahoma in a covered wagon in the second Land Rush, and my father having been born in a two-room house/general store in 1900, I felt a special attachment to the history and culture of the people. My father used to joke that he was a “Naturalized” American since he had been born in Ponca City, Indian Territory and was 6 years old before Oklahoma became a state and he became a citizen of the United States of America. That and the fact that I admire the Native American culture and their respect for tradition and for the land.
I hope I have instilled in my family, the same respect for history, tradition, character, and decency that has people standing in line to get into our Country. There are no lines of people wanting to get out.
Accomplishments and Affiliations
*A Life Member of the American Mensa Association.
*Appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Malcolm Baldrige to two consecutive terms on the U.S. District Export Council for the State of Louisiana 1983-1987
*Board of Directors, World Trade Club of Greater New Orleans 1984-1987
*Chairman International Relations Committee, World Trade Club, Co-Sponsors of the International Business Information Center at 1984 World’s Fair, New Orleans.
*Editor, World Trade Club Newsletter. 1985-1987
*Moderator, Foreign Trade Zone Operations Symposium, International Trade Mart, 1983
*Board of Advisors, New Orleans Adolescent Hospital. 1984-1987
*Board of Directors, River Road Historical Society 1975-1977 (President 1977)
*Chairman of Board and Founder, Metairie Children’s Carnival Club (dba Krewe of Little Rascals). 1983 to present. A Non-Profit, State Chartered organization for children.
*Sunday School Teacher, 1984 to 2011 Teacher In-Service trainer 2 years.
*Soccer Coach 1983-1993
*Business Sector Fund Raiser for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and United Way. 6 years
*Organizer for past 39 years of a 4-mile Mardi Gras Street Parade of 80+ parading units, including floats riding over 250 children. The first parade of the season and the only one in New Orleans strictly for children. Also, a full-dress Ball Masque with live orchestra, just for kids.
*Master of Ceremonies, grand reopening of San Francisco Plantation Manor House, Garyville, Louisiana. 1977
*Chairperson, “Battle of Destrehan” Civil War re-enactment. Destrehan, Plantation. 1976
