Six
We would like to thank the Gostonio Gazette for their help in our publicotion.
Departmental Focus
Robert Miller
Jim Wright
Leslie Sizemore
Jeffery Hinkle
David P. Simpson
Gaslight Reporter
When you talk about the Computer Science
Department at Gaston College, you’re in a
sense talking about the creative genius behind
it, Robert Miller.
Computer Science and Robert Miller
Mr. Miller graduated from Douglas County
High School, just outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
After High School, he attended Georgia Tech.
until he was called into service during World
War II. After the war, he returned to Georgia
Tech. only to be called away again with the
outbreak of the Korean Conflict.
While in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Miller
received his BS Degree in Mathematics at
Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Later he received his Masters Degree in
Statistics (concentration in computations)
from Stanford University. At that time there
were no set degrees for computers.
Mr Miller soon joined the Air Force and soon
found his second love — flying. After flying for
several years he was assigned to OPS
Anaylisis with CINCPAC, and then to the
“It’s the closest we can come to perfection, the
only limit is ourselves." — Robert Miller
Command Control Center (Information
Center) for the Air Force. While in the Air
Force, Mr. Miller went from a flying
instructor to a platform (Classroom)
instructor, and discovered that he really
enjoyed teaching. So upon retiring from the
Air Force he accepted a position at Gaston
College to establish the computer program we
now have.
The program which began with a class of 16
in the fall of 1970, has now grown into a
curriculum with more than 272 students
participating. Most of its success being owed
to the man who set it up those 11 or 12 years
ago.
What’s in the future? With the vast store
house of material to draw from, Mr. Miller
will be the first to let you know, the future is
unlimited. With the resources we have,
computers can act as aids to help students
learn regardless of the subject area.
With a seven handicap in golf, (a handicap
that has gone up four shots since he became
the Director of Computer Services) it’s not
hard to realize where Mf. Miller spends many
of his off campus hours. That is when he is not
working with a computer somewhere. His love
for computers can be felt just talking with
him. As he says, “It’s the closest we can come
to perfection, the only limit is ourselves.”
If you’re interested in getting into the
computer program at Gaston College, you
should be prepared to work, it’s not a
spectator sport. You’re hit in the face with the
shovel, so-to-say, right off, and the learning
takes dedication, there is no way you can fake
a programming.
Finally, keep this thought in mind.
According to Mr. Miller, if you were to get a
call in the middle of the night, because one of
your programs blew up, and you could turn
over and go back to sleep, instead of going
down and seeing what went wrong with^^it,
you’re going into the wrong business.
Computer Science and Jim Wright
Jim Wright is a native of Landis N.C., where
he graduated from Landis High School. Upon
completion of High School, he attended Lenoir
Rhyne College where he received a BS Degree
in Math and Business Administration.
Mr. Wright taught math at Behnont High
School for two years after leaving Lenoir
Rhyne, and then accepted a job with an
insurance auditing firm where he stayed for
three years.
Mr. Wright moved back into teaching again
when he accepted a position at Elkhardt Jr.
High School. After teaching at Elkhardt for
three years, he accepted a teaching position at
Richmond Technical Center, teaching
computer courses. While at Richmond Tech.
Center, he began attending conference at
Madison College where he later received a
position and was able to complete work on his
Masters Degree in Business Education.
With his Masters Degree, Mr. Wright came
to Gaston College to work in the Computer
Science Department. That was some 10 years
ago, he has been here ever since.
Off campus, Mr. Wright enjoys wood
working. Perhaps you have seen some of his
work hanging on the walls of the computer
offices. His talent in wood working has led to
many of his works being bought by a lady from
Charlotte, who sells them to the Charlotte
market. Mr. Wright says the sales give him
enought money to buy the wood for what he
makes, but that’s about it. He also makes toys
for kids. “Making toys for the kids,” he says,
“is what I really enjoy. ”
According to Mr. Wright’s philosophy,
which cannot be quoted in this paper, but in
short says, if you’re going to take computer
science, you better put your heart into it. The
opportunity is growing for qualified computer
programmer, but you have to be willing to
work.
Computer Science and Leslie Sizemore
Les Sizemore’s roots lie in the Tennessee
mountains. He attended Ketron Memorial
High School in Sullivan County, Kingsport
Tennessee. While in high school, he played
trombone in the school band. He also play«d in
a rock-band outside school.
After graduation Mr. Sizemore went on to
East Tenn. State where he received his BS
Degree in Education with a music
background. His interest were mainly in the
business end of things, even with his band he
enjoyed getting the engagements, and
working out the terms more than playing.
Upon graduation at East Tenn., he taught
band at Lynnview High School and worked at
night selling pianos, organs etc. He liked
selling so much that he went into it full time
and soon became manager of the store he was
working in.
The more you can understand the computer
the better chance you have of making it do
what you want. — Leslie Sizemore
Knowing that computers was the future of
business, Mr. Sizemore decided to further his
education. Beginning at UNCC they advised
him to come to Gaston College for his
computer training, as Gaston College has a far
better training program in computers. This
brought Les to our campus and we just never
let him go. Upon graduation he was offered
and accepted a position to teach here at
Gaston.
In his off time Mr. Sizemore enjoys playing
golf, directs a church choir of 20, dabbles in
ham radio, and each summer visits various
associate friends he made while in business.
Continued on Page Seven