| My Father: David A. Loiry |
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David Alan Loiry was born October 31, 1928 in Chillicothe, Ohio - the state's original capital city. He lived on his grandfather's farm west of Chillicothe where he attended a country school. After living in Kentucky and Indiana, his family moved to Sylacauga, Alabama - a small city west of Birmingham. He considers Sylacauga home because he graduated from high school there. One of his friends also attending Sylacauga High School was Jimmy Neighbors, who later became famous as a renowned singer and as an actor on the television series, "Gomer Pyle USMC". In 1946, David Loiry enlisted in the old Army Air Corps and attended radar training classes in Boca Raton, Florida. The 1947 hurricane destroyed the air base and he was subsequently moved to Keesler Field, Mississippi. Shortly thereafter, the Army Air Corps became the United States Air Force, of which David became a charter member. He then served in the World War II occupation of Japan. Later, David served a second tour of duty in the Air Force as an officer. David Loiry received his Bachelor's Degree from Auburn University in 1953, his Master's Degree from George Washington University in 1959, and his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Alabama in 1969. In 1956, when David was working as an insurance adjuster in Washington, DC, he went to a social event one Sunday evening at the National Presbyterian Church. There he met a beautiful young woman named Carol Bender. The following Sunday David proposed to Carol on the banks of the Potomac River (she said "yes"). Carol was the love of his life for 51 years. David was a distinguished leader in the fields of psychology, mental health, personal growth, and wellness for many decades. In Decatur, Alabama, he was the Executive Director of a four-county mental health center, during which time he was twice elected as the President of the Alabama Council of Mental Health Center Directors. He later became Director of the mental health center in Sarasota, Florida and Clinical Director of a private psychiatric hospital in Panama City, Florida. He was appointed by Florida Governor Bob Graham to the Florida Board of Psychological Examiners and was elected President of the Florida Psychological Association. For many years, David and his wife Carol conducted numerous personal growth workshops. And in 1982, they published a personal growth book, A Time To Live. My beloved father passed away in Panama City, Florida on September 24, 2009. Shortly thereafter, I received a message from President Bill Clinton: "Hillary and I were sorry to hear of your father's death. Our hearts go out to you and your loved ones during this difficult time. As you mourn this great loss, I hope that you take comfort in the fond memories of your father. He was a remarkable man, and you should be proud of the CGI Commitment to Action you made in his name. This good work will not only help to improve the world; it will continue Dr. Loiry's legacy and serve as a lasting tribute to the rich life he led." |
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