JR'S TRAIN DEPOT

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            ABOUT ME

              Welcome to my Web Site, JR'S TRAIN DEPOT.

While my model railroading my be my latest endeavor in keeping myself busy, of course I have a life beyond

spending my weekends, and after work hours working on the layout.

Text Box: My name is John Riley.  I currently live in Antelope, California which is a suburb of Sacramento.  Along with my wife Ardis, we have lived here since 1979.  We have two children, both grown and gone.  Yes, we are what is know as "empty nesters." In My Trains you learned a lot about my early childhood, with my father in the USAF, until the age of 12 I spent my life chasing around the world with my parents. (what choice did I have?)  I thoroughly enjoyed that time, and would not give it up for the world. When dad retired from the Air Force we returned to Sacramento, and the following year I started high school.  In 1967 I graduated from Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks, and like a lot of my classmates enrolled at American River College where I spent 2 years pursuing a Small Business Management Degree.  Also in 1967 I joined what would be my first step in the Masonic Family, the International Order of DeMolay.  There I met several people who have had a great influence on my life.  I am proud to say that I am a Senior DeMolay and was a member of Robert L. Wade Chapter in Sacramento.  During my DeMolay career I held several offices in the Chapter, and served a Master Councilor of what was then know as the Valley Division DeMolay Association.  It was through DeMolay that I met my wife Ardis. Ardis and I were married in 1969 and after 39 years of marriage, I guess I'll keep her.  We have two sons, John Junior who lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife Laura.  John Jr. is an optical specialist's in Boise.  John Jr. is a former "swabbee" and served during Desert Storm. My youngest son Robert, is currently stationed at Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah, and is a crew chief for a squadron of F-16's.  He and his wife Amber live at Hill AFB, and they have three children, Justin and Shelby and Michela.  Justin is 8, and Shelby is 7  and Michela is 2. .  Robert is a Staff Seargent Select, and has spent one tour of duty in Iraq. He is currently doing his required 1 year tour in Korea, but will return home in early 2009 and move on to Misawa, Japan. In 1971, I petitioned Oak Plains Lodge #789 F. & A.M. to receive the degrees of Masonry.  In May of 1972 I was raised to the degree of Master Mason.  I have served my lodge in many different capacities, and served as Master in 1990.  Of course with my wife being a former member of Job's Daughters, and a member of Rising Star Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, after I became a Master Mason I was convinced to join Eastern Star also.  In 1987 I joined the Scottish Rite in Sacramento, and shortly after that I joined Ben Ali Shrine, also in Sacramento.  I am a Veteran member of the Cibara Motor Corps, and am currently active with the Ben Ali Shrine Keystone Cops. The official web page of the Keystone Cops can be found here. I am currently the Web Master for the Ben Ali Shrine web site.  I am currently employed by the University of California at Davis, and work a Computer Receiving Coordinator for the UC Davis Bookstore. Well, that's ABOUT ME in a nutshell.  I encourage you to take a look at the Oak Plains and Ben Ali Shrine web sites, and learn more about Freemasonry, and the concordant bodies.