Al Melone

Profile Updated: November 2, 2014

Residing In:	Shiloh, IL USA

Spouse/Partner:	Peggy

Telephone and/or email address:	View Website

Past and current occupations:	Emeritus Professor (Political Science)

Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren:	Dominic, born 1972 Ann, born 1974 Peter, born 1977; grandchildren: Megan(born 2005), Wenonah(born More…2008), Hayden(born 2008).

What physical maladies do you have (so we can compare ailments)?

I have many including bad back, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and more but i am still erect and going strong.

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Favorite foods?

I still love Italian food but i have to be very careful and unfortunately I can't drink as much as I would like.

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Have you met any famous or interesting people?

many famous people, mostly political but also in the arts and academic life.

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Hobbies/what do you do in your spare time?

still play golf, garden, read, movies, and so on. I am on a few boards such as social service boards. Presently writing a novel-- for the last 7 or 8 years. Last year had the fourth volume of one of my textbooks published.

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Claims to fame! - been in movies, on tv, newspapers, any inventions, awards?

teaching awards, and other such things related to academic life. I have written a number of books and many articles and related matters but I am not terribly famous or should be-- I am "a modest man for ample reason."

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What are your military experiences?

None

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What circumstances made you live where you do?

I retired in Carbondale, Illinois where we had a large home and many conveniences. We moved in 2011 to Shiloh, Illinois about 15 miles directly east of St. Louis, Mo. We built a new home in a new development that is relatively near our youngest son and his family so that we could visit regularly with our two grandchildren. Our third grandchild lives in Seattle and our residence is closer to the airport so that we can visit there and elsewhere in the world. After I retired from Southern Illinois University in 2005, I was a visiting professor at Colorado College in Colorado Springs on two separate occasions. I admit I would rather live close to the ocean in California, but we can afford to live here with little difficulty.

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Where have your travels taken you over the years?

I have traveled in Europe and became interested in the transition to democracy in Bulgaria. I wrote a book on the subject published in 1998. Also spent five weeks in China where I lectured and traveled widely.

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Ever broken any bones and how did it happen? Or broken someone else’s bones?

Broke an arm when I was about 7 years old. i was walking down the street and tripped on my shoe laces and hit the sidewalk. Also broke a wrist while playing basketball in the gym at Covina High School.

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Where were you when President Kennedy was assassinated?

I was a junior in College at LA State College. I learned about it in between classes. It was a great blow to the country and the world.

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Ever been to a pro football game? Which one?

Yes, i saw the LA Rams in LA sometime in the early 1960s.

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Have you attended a past high school reunion? Which one/s?

Yes, the 40th reunion

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When and why did you move to Covina? What grade did you start school in Covina? Please share your memories.

Moved from LA to Covina in the middle of the 7th grade.

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Can you drive a standard shift car?

Yes

Have you been on a cruise? Have you seen Ole Faithful Geyser? Have you been to the top of the Seattle Space Needle? Have you ridden on a San Francisco Trolley? Have you been to the top of the Empire State Building? Been to Tijuana, Mexico? Been to Niagara Falls?

Yes, to most of the above.

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