I have so many favorite SHS stories. Some of my favorite times were hanging with Mike Wells and others. Mrs Knighten motivated me into medical science and working on the science fairs became a passion at the time. I always loved track, tennis and basketball and enjoyed the trips in the busses/cars as much as the events. I remember Larry and Cindy dating and coming back with myself and several others from a tennis match and Cindy starting laughing so hard that red juice and chips came out her nose...great moment. Mike Wells, Bryan Gray, Terry Mosley, Andy Mayberry, Lance Ware, Laith Adams, and many others had so much great times together...we were like brothers and most days spent hours with each other for years. Mike Wells, Alan Gibbs and I later roomed together at UCA and had wonderful times. I grew up fairly poor but never knew it at the time due to the love of my class, community, school, parents and God. Sheridan is the best town that anyone in America could have grown up in...I am so greatful.
Life Since High School:
I spent 1 year at US Air Force Academy before transferring to UCA for pre-med (better pre-med program in 1980s) . I had great time at UCA (tennis team, Sig Tau, pre-med, ...) before graduating with pre-med/biology BS. I went over to Oklahoma for medical school and lived there for 4 years. I then did my internship in Tampa Florida (great beach life) and my residency in Orlando Florida (Florida Hospital...900 bed). I then joined a gastroenterologist and neurologist (friends)in Palm Beach Florida (private practice) for 5 years where I had a great life full of culture and experiences. I spent 7 months helping at Fort Knox, KY right after 9/11..I was and still am VERY patriotic... I was then recruited into the US Air Force to help with the war effort(active duty). I have since been stationed at Lackland in San Antonio and was recently an instructor and full scope (in/out pt) doctor at Nellis AFB (Las Vegas, NV)...losing money at roulette... I am finishing up this commitment term and am separating back to civilian life and may spend some time in Sheridan to visit family/friends before either going into practice for myself (single/independent) in either Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas or Florida. I am not quite sure if I will stay in AF past 2010. I do not have kids but was married but divorced (physician life/military, etc...difficult on marriage sometimes). I will hopefully be taking the dive into marriage again soon. I love life and try to live it to the fullest with frequent travel, hiking, boating and seeing the world when possible. I have been deployed to Iraq twice (two tours) and have the claim as the first Air Force Family Doc to be certified in Critical Care medicine and run a trauma ICU in a War Zone. (Balad Iraq, AF Theater Hospital). I have worked closely with special ops, US Army, special forces, in several areas of central Iraq (Sunnie Triangle) and have stories to tell my grandchildren one day. I still enjoy tennis but just now getting back into competitive tennis again. Hanging with US Special Forces and my units in the AF has kept me in good shape and I enjoy running, biking, climbing, and boating. My favorite spots are: Crystal River (FL); Eastern Kentucky; most Colorado resort areas; and southern California. I come to Arkansas often to visit with my family and hope to visit with many of you in 2009 while transitioning out of the USAF (possible). (Call me!!!) I have been the spokesperson for the USAF medical Corps. They filmed it when I was a Captain but am now a Major and soon to be Lt Col if I choose to stay in. Doing two tours in Iraq and working hard (inpatient/outpatient) has worn me down somewhat and I may chose to settle down closer to Arkansas or settle in Florida where I did my training and enjoy the beach activities, etc.....I am very active in the "Tea Party" and "GOP" and have helped to get the 'Tea Party' off the ground in locations nation wide. I was wounded in Iraq (not life threatening) but also spend a lot of time advancing both Veteran's and Wounded Warrior causes.
When you think back to our school years, for what are you thankful?
I am thankful for the wonderful, all-American small town life that I was able to enjoy without worries of crime, big-city,etc.... where small town values held strong. I am thankful for the wonderful and close friends that I had for many years (Brian Gray, Lance Ware, Laith Adams, Alan Gibbs, Andy Mayberry, Mike Wells, Renee Holmes, Kim Vailes, Terry Mosley and so many others...). I am thankful for the great sports memories in Tennis, basketball, track, etc... and in groups like the school paper. Being able to grow up in a small town where people knew you and truely cared is often missing in today's society but we had it...thank God.
Share one of your favorite elementary school memories:
My least favorite elementary school memory was getting paddled by Mrs Wells and Mr Buck (principle) with that paddle with holes (and taped handle)(I know some of you remember that---Dean and Andy C, . My favorite elementary moments included those walks to the cafeteria and times on the play ground. I still remember going up those steps in the old (red brick) building to class. I remember being amazed by the long line of busses lined up and looking for my cartoon character on the bus to know which one to get on. I remember hanging with Brian Gray, Andy Mayberry, and many others doing bike chases after school....life was all play back then....
Name any cassette in your tape player in 1988?
Van Halen 5150
NEW QUESTION: If you could go back and change something about yourself in high school, what would it be?
Not much....I probably would have played football and possibly been a little more outgoing with the girls....somewhat shy in HS.
I am building a website currently and should be ready by August 2010. (Drjamespollock.com)
please become friends with me on FaceBook.
2008 Picture of me at Nellis AFB (Las Vegas).
I was somewhere near Balad, Iraq...did not have on full gear in order for picture.
I am on the left. This was in 2005-06 at the Air Force Theater Hospital (combat/trauma) in Balad Iraq. I an the doc on the right ran the ICU for many months...We averaged 28 traumas per day.
Rounding on patients in Balad, Iraq 2005-06. Tent hospital...much like the show "MASH". We would get mortars about 3 times a day and several at the hospital.
My Friends and I at Lackland AFB in late 2004-05.
Hanging out one day with country music singer Aaron Tippon. He is a patriot and came to Iraq to cheer up the guys. We spent most of the day going from troop to troop in the ICU, etc...
I took care of this young kid for many weeks. He had severe injuries but managed to pull through.
Many of you knew my dad . He is still his same, fun self and in great shape for 72yo. He is playing Gangster with me in Vegas recently.
Just before the Military working in Florida.
My Golden Retriever Katie at Mt Charleston, NV. Katie is now 8 yo and very, very, very spoiled.
I am glad to be back in the US!!! Most people in the US do not know how good that they have it.
During training....me on the rope.
My mother (Faye Mosley-Pollock). She is now 66yo. She grew up in Sheridan.
I camp, hike and climb alot with friends. My favorite spot is Mt Rainer, Washington.
The medical practice and complex that I helped build up for years in Florida...near Palm Beach. There is great Sailfishing in this area.
Me at the Belagio in Las Vegas
Elvis and his brother are back!
I lived in the San Antonio/Austin TX area for 4 years and really liked it there. There is alot of culture and good people there.
I am looking back at the camera....I remember horse playing with Stephen (with the glasses) alot.
Working with the trauma surgeons in Iraq.
I had not had any sleep for days in this picture (I look tired) that I took in a chopper over Bagdad on the day of the first ever elections in Iraq.
This is looking out from my chopper over a suburb of Bagdad on the day of the first ever elections in Iraq. We would fly at about 100mph and low everywhere we went and the choppers often take on fire ...even the medivac choppers).
I have been to Iraq twice and these are the doctors that I worked with the first time. I am the person on the end (far left).
Many of you know my dad....He still plays bluegrass music in a group and love going to festivals and shows. He is doing great for 72 yo..runs daily and is writting novels now
To everyone in my class: God bless you, and I love you all.
Wow, Jim! I wouldn't have recognized you except for the smile! Thank you very much for your service to our country. I agree wholeheartedly with your philosophy. ; ) Take care! Vicki
Jim - I still have great memories of our first year in cub scouts together when your dad was the Den Leader. Our den would sometimes walk over to the Elementary school playground and play "Pom Pom Pullaway".