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Tusculum alumnus findsa home at YellowstoneYou never know who,where or when you willconnect with TusculumCollege alumni. Thatwas the case with JimOwen ’60 and his wife,Pat. The Owens recentlyEugene Gearity participated in a tour thatincluded YellowstoneNational Park. During their preparation they calledthe park concessioner, Xanterra. While gatheringinformation, Jim and Pat talked with ShannonGearity and learned she was from Johnson City,Tenn. and that her husband, Eugene, was a 1985Tusculum graduate.Eugene and Shannon have had a very interestinglife journey. After graduating from high schoolEugene did various jobs including working at afamily business in Massachusetts. Eventually, hefound his way to Tennessee and took a job withthe Paty Company in Johnson City. The ownerssuggested that Eugene take classes at TusculumCollege, and they would help pay for his tuition.In due time, Eugene worked his way up to storemanager. Everything was going well until anothercompany decided to acquire the Paty Company,but they did not, as Eugene puts it: “acquire me.”After his departure from the Paty Company,Shannon continued to work in a doctor’s office,and Eugene worked for a stock brokerage as acomputer analyst. These jobs were not satisfyingfor the couple, and the Gearitys decided that theyshould do something different, like start their“Golden Years” early.First, they took a trip to Alaska and whenthey returned home, came to the conclusion thatthey did not want to be completely idle, but didnot want to take a job in an office and contendwith office politics in an attempt to climb thecorporate ladder. They sold their home, got ridof unnecessary belongings and headed to BryceNational Park and took jobs with Xanterra. Theyfelt that this was a greatlife style and after acouple of years decidedto make a change butremain in the employment of Xanterra.The Gearitys have been at Yellowstone since2006 and have worked in various departments.Eugene provides transportation to park visitorsand along the way imparts wildlife, natural andgeological facts. Park visitors fully enjoy his talksand personal experiences. There is no questionthat both enjoy their jobs, are most enthusiasticabout meeting the public and providing great parkvisitor service and experience.They consider their jobs fun, meaningful andmost satisfying. On their days off, they get toexplore the many areas of the park and see natureunfolding before them. They take two, five-weekvacations a year. At such times they return to Tennessee,visiting friends and family on the way. Asthey say: “We love our golden years, feel we areon a continuous vacation and at the same time doingsomething constructive.” They have no intentionof moving back to city or suburban life.Eugene expressed a fondness for Tusculumand appreciates the doors that Tusculum helpedopen for him. He commented about the beauty ofthe old buildings on campus and how some havebeen nicely renovated. He is impressed with thepositive interaction between the College and theGreeneville/Tusculum community.Eugene, left,and ShannonGearity enjoyseeing natureunfold beforethem as part oftheir workplace.By Jim Owen ’6042