17 Life History -- 1964 SMS (Southwest Missouri State)

After I graduated from Licking High School in May 1964, one of the school counselors helped me get a job as a secretary at SMS and an apartment in Springfield. I was extremely anxious to leave home, so I enrolled for summer term and left Licking just a few days after graduation. Mom was quite sad and concerned, but I knew she understood. I hitchhiked and was picked up by a trucker. I found my way to 920 S. National Avenue, where I shared an apartment with a student several years my senior (I think his name was David). We roomed together for a year, then I shared another apartment in the same building with Tom Tiefke, an LDS friend. Next, I lived with a German family, the Ruf’s, for two years while Gerhard, their son, was on his mission (two years of service as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

18 Life History --- 1964 Friends at SMS

President Murray, Garrett Merrick (back), Ernie Chittim,  John Cochran, Sister Murray, Ruth Chittim, LeMerle Cochran  

In addition to Hermann and Gertrude Ruf, John and LeMerle Cochran were most supportive to me. They had me over for dinner occasionally, gave me good advice, and even financed my motorcycle purchase. I had previously bought a good 5-speed bicycle, and got around quite a bit on it. The Cochrans persuaded me to buy the motorcycle after I informed them of my intention to ride my bike to Ohio. I never rode the bike much after getting the motorcycle, so I sold it to Bell’s in Willard Missouri, near Springfield.  1971 pictures

21 Life History --- ROTC

Cadet Garrett Merrick

I chose to enroll in advanced ROTC* (the first two years were mandatory) since it was during the
height of the Vietnam war. For right now I had an educational deferment, but we all knew that most of us would be drafted right after graduation.  If I had to go, I intended to go as an officer! However, my ROTC motivation was low, and I was a rather casual cadet. I rode my motorcycle to ROTC summer camp at Fort Sill Oklahoma. I did well at camp, especially in the physical fitness events. I ran a six minute mile, but just barely.

19 Life History --- Learning Short Hand

Garrett in front of house lived in at SMS

When I was a senior at Licking High School in Missouri, I took short hand because I had already taken all the classes they offered. I attempted to use it at SMS (Southwest Missouri State in Springfield Missouri) for taking class notes, but it didn’t work too well because I had to transcribe it, so I switched to fast printing. I still use short hand a little.

I took my family to Springfield in 1993. This is the apartment I lived in during my freshman year, then when Gerhard Ruf left on his mission, I moved into the Ruf home in Springfield.