True stories of everyday people

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Don Steffy

May 4, 1970, Kent State University in Ohio: Having passed up a chance to attend The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, Don Steffy switched to Bowling Green State University for a draft exempt status. In this excerpt of Don’s life story he tells about...

Megan McKinney Cooper

Megan McKinney Cooper tells how In the late 70’s after her parents’ divorce, her mother earned an MBA, moved the family to San Francisco, and she and her brother became “Latch Key Kids.”

Matthew Steward

After graduating from IU Bloomington with a degree in Political Science, Matthew Steward considered law school but applied to the Indianapolis Police Academy on a whim. Thirty five years later he has no regrets.

Michael O’Brien

Michael Obrien talks about training to go to India with the Peace Corps in 1973, how growing up in a large family on a Wisconsin dairy farm helped prepare him for that work and how stories and language affect our world view.

Mary Lou Lofton

Mary Lou Lofton’s son Tim was full of energy and and joyful sound effects but he also feared two things that were designed to delight children. Both were to be found at the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis.

Dennis Paul Strickland

Beth, the babysitter, is nice but she does not know what four-year-old Paul wants for lunch when he asks for “Foffy.” So begins the quest for food and understanding.

Nancy Ann Barton

Nancy Barton’s Mother kept a journal about important moments in Nancy’s life from birth to eighteen years of age. It is a gift of love that Nancy encourages others to do for their children.