Dec 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 12

Copy Editor: Lt. John King, RET
Outdoor Editor: Rusty Barron
Hello, my name is John M. King. I was born and raised in
Houston, Texas. I graduated from Waltrip High School in 1975,
however prior to high school I attended Garden Oaks Elementary,
which is where I met Michael Barron, Founder and
Publisher of The BLUES. Michael and I became and remain
life-long friends.
In high school I received training as an auto mechanic and
in February 1976 went to work in the Houston Police Garage.
The exposure to police officers combined with a life-long
interest in becoming a police officer led me to apply for and
be accepted to the Houston Police Academy in January 1977.
After completing the academy in May 1977, I was assigned to
evening shift patrol out of the Northeast Substation. In December
1980 the opportunity arose for me to transfer to the
Helicopter Patrol Division. (now known as Air Support) While
in Helicopters I served as an Observer the first four years.
In 1985 I successfully completed the in-house pilot training
program and became a pilot. In 1987 I passed the sergeant’s
exam and was promoted to sergeant in January 1988. I was
assigned to a new telephone report unit known as Teleserve.
In 1991 I passed the lieutenant’s exam and was promoted to
lieutenant. I was assigned to Emergency Communications
Division (Dispatch). In February 1994 I had the opportunity to
return to Helicopter Patrol, where I remained until my retirement
in September 2006.
I have been happily married to my wife, Mary, for forty-one
plus years. We have three grown children, two daughters-inlaw,
and eight grandchildren. I enjoy reading and taking trips
in our RV. And finally, but most important of all, I thank and
praise my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his protection and
blessings during my life and career.
JOHN KING
Russell “Rusty” Barron’s first venture after his graduation
from college was to partner with his brother, Michael Barron
in the publishing business back in 1986. Michael had recently
started The County Blues and Rusty produced an outdoor
section within The Blues and then founded his own outdoor
publication called Barron’s Outdoor Update. However, after
only a year, Shell Oil Company offered Rusty a job in their
gasoline retailing division and he sold the outdoor newspaper
and started a new career in the oil business. Rusty is
now retired from Shell after 34 years as senior executive in
the Retail Gasoline and Lubricants industry. His vast experience
with Shell included Sales, Marketing, Strategy, Business
Development, Store Operations, as well as Commercial Real
Estate. He was Vice President of Marketing for Lubricants
North America, where he managed some of the largest
lubricants brands in the US, such as Pennzoil, Quaker State,
and Rotella. He last assignment before retirement was
Vice President and General Manager of Shell’s Fleet Solutions
Business for the Americas. His gained his Bachelor of
Business Administration Degree from Stephen F. Austin State
University in Texas and throughout his career he continued
his education with Shell’s leadership programs, including
senior executive programs through the Wharton School of
Business. His personal passions involve all outdoor related
activities like hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing and
worth mentioning is that fact that his family hand built a
custom log cabin and barn on their 50-acre property in the
mountains of Colorado. In his first year of retirement, he has
earned his US Coast Guard Captain’s license, his Florida Real
Estate license, and serves as chairman of The Retreat’s Design
Review Board in Blue Mountain Beach Florida. Rusty and
his wife Kristi have been married for over 37 years and have 3
adult children and 3 grandchildren back in Texas.
RUSTY BARRON
110 The Blues 40th Anniversary Issue