By Staff
Senior Living
(This week The Atmore Advance spotlights Joe Gulley of Atmore. Gulley is 72 years old and enjoys hanging out at the Atmore SAIL Center during his free time.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Robinsonville, on Sept. 20, 1943. Robinsonville is right down the road. I moved to Atmore in 1968.
Q: Who were your parents?
A: My parents were Mr. and Mrs. Byron Gulley. He's gone but she's still there, she is 83, my mom is.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: I have four brothers. I had one sister but she died when she was 18 years old in 1963. My brothers are Winston, Bill, James and Tom. None of them live here. Bill lives out there in the country.
Q: Where did you attend high school and college?
A: I graduated from high school at Escambia County High School in 1961. In 1963 I graduated from East Mississippi Junior College. Then I went to Livingston, which is West Alabama now. I graduated from there twice; I got my Bachelor's of Science in business and my Master's in education.
Q: Do you do a lot of traveling?
A: No, I have never really gotten in to traveling.
Q: Did you ever join the military?
A: I didn't join the military; I chose to go to school instead.
Q: What jobs have you held?
A: I taught school for 30 years in Escambia County, Fla. My field was social studies and physical education. I had one little job that lasted a couple of months for the Census Bureau. If I make it until 2010 I may try that again, it was interesting.
Q: What school did you teach at in Florida?
A: I was at five different ones. The last 15 years was at Ernest Ward. I retired in 1996.
Q: Did you ever marry?
A: I was married twice.
Q: Do you have any children or grandchildren?
A: No children with either wife.
Q: Where do you attend church?
A: I go sometimes with my mother out in Canoe.
Q: What keeps you busy these days?
A: I come to the SAIL center a lot. I like to play golf. I walk a lot and work in the yard a lot.
Q: What do you do when you come to the SAIL center?
A: I eat, play games, pool and sometimes play dominoes and cards.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Well since I had to learn nutrition because of diabetes I don't get to eat what I want to. I don't know what my favorite food is, I try to eat things that are nutritious. I eat a hamburger every now and then though.
Q: What is your favorite television show?
A: "Jeopardy," it's a good one. I used to back it up with "Millionaire" but we don't get channel three anymore. Of course I watch any sports that come on. I used to watch "JAG" a lot but don't think it comes on anymore. It was a good show.
Q: What is your favorite sport?
A: Golf.
Q: Are you an Alabama or Auburn fan?
A: I am an Alabama fan but I'm also divided. I have two or three nephews that graduated from Auburn but the youngest just got another degree from Emory.
Q: What would you consider to be the most interesting fact about yourself?
A: I am not all that interesting. I guess the fact that I spent 30 years working with kids in school while at the same time being an umpire of baseball and sometimes basketball. I guess the most interesting thing about me is that I really care about people and want to do anything I can to help anybody else out.
Q: What advice would you like to give to people on staying healthy?
A: That's a really good question. I would advise people to study nutrition, the value of exercise. Education is best, and to do what the doctors tell you to do if you have a health situation. I have diabetes and that is why I say all of that. I had to learn to eat right because of diabetes. I learned that I had it in 1999.
(If you would like to recommend a senior to be spotlighted please contact Adrienne McKenzie at 368-2123 or e-mail her at lifestyles@atmoreadvance.com)