Max Griggs

Henderson, NV

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Hello class of ’58.  This is hard to believe … 45 years!

However, thinking back about the last three years in PHS they were some of the best years of growing up. There are a lot fond memories of the things we did and the people that make them memorable. It is also good to think that one of your best friends in school is still one of your best friends today, even if he is hard to beat at golf. 

I am sorry that I will miss the reunion this year. We, Margaret and I, just sold our home of 14 years in Yorba Linda, CA and are relocating in Henderson, Nevada. We still have about 200 boxes to unpack and family coming to visit at the same time as the reunion. We will make the BIG 50! 

My life over the last 45 years has been very full. I have had several jobs and business over that time of which some have been very exciting, and some I would just as soon forget. One of the best was in the late 60’s when I became the import/export manager for Nissan Motors in Mexico, Canada and later a Regional Manager in Denver. Then in the early 70’s I had a boat manufacturing company in Jacksonville, Florida. We had a patent for the only remote control water ski boat in the world, making the front cover of Mechanist Illustrated in March 1973. After 1,000’s of hours skiing, we sold the company and I returned to the automobile business. In the mid 80’s, I took a position with Lotus Sports Cars as their National Dealer Operations Manager. Now that was an exciting job, at least for a guy that loves cars. I was able to spend a lot of time in England at their headquarters working on production and design for the U.S. models. I even had the opportunity to run in a “gum ball rally” from New York City to San Francisco. The run was in 41 hours and 11 minutes. I am glad that I never saw a highway patrol, since we were hitting up to 160 mph some of the time. I retired from work in 1990 for about 3 months and got bored. For the past 13 years I have had my own consulting business. I help arrange funding for new manufacturing companies, travel and play golf. 

However, the really good and best times in the years since PHS have been my family. Oh, there were some hard times, like the rest of you have had. I have a son and wonderful daughter-in-law, Gary & Sherri Griggs. They live in Pampa, and he has worked at Cabot R&D for the last 25+ years. They gave me a grandson, Cory, who just gave me twin great grand daughters in May. I am double blessed. I also have two sisters and their families living in Pampa so I do get back there a few times a year. Margaret, my wife of 15 years, has a daughter in Anchorage that have given us two grandsons and her son in New Hampshire has two girls. With family all over the country, we are doing our part to help keep American Airlines from going broke. 

The Lord has truly blessed us, and the best blessing was when I became a Christian on October 31, 1977 in Jacksonville, FL. Life has never been the same since. 

I hope everyone that can make the reunion this year will be back for the Half Century mark. I will be looking forward to see you all there.                

Sure hope I don’t look old by then! 

God bless you

50th Reunion Update - 2008

After spending many years in Southern California (Yorba Linda) and Nevada we decided it was time to take a break. We moved to Clarksville, Arkansas in 2004.

Margaret and I were not sure how we would fit in after living in California for so long, but this is such a friendly place we feel right at home. We are active members of First Baptist Church, and they have helped us assimilate into the main stream of life here. I also have two brothers and their families living nearby and that helped a lot.

My life over the last 50 years has been very full. After spending a tour in the Navy I returned to Pampa but was soon transferred back to California. I have had several jobs and businesses over the years, of which some have been very exciting.

I retired from corporate life at GM in 1990. That only lasted for about 3 months. Playing golf 3 or 4 times a week was just too much. I knew I needed something to keep my mind active, so I started my own international marketing and consulting business. This has been a lot of fun, and it has allowed us to travel. We have seen a lot of the world and met some very interesting people.

My son and daughter-in-law, Gary & Sherri Griggs, still live in Pampa, as well as my two sisters and their families. I became double blessed as my grandson, Cory, gave us twin great-granddaughters in May, 2003.

The Lord has truly blessed us. He has made life fun, given us good health, good friends and a great country to live in, and a wonderful home to go to after this life is over.

A big “thank you” to Mike, Joy and all the reunion team. I know it has taken a lot of time to put an enjoyable program together for this reunion.  We are looking forward to the 50th reunion in September.

May God bless you all,
Max Griggs
Class of 1957 / 1958