The Echoes of My Life is a series of favorite poems, vignettes and longer stories, combined with photographs chronicling my life as it unfolded. The stories are heart felt and entertaining, . Some make you laugh while others bring tears to your eyes. Through the stories, core values and beliefs are conveyed along with my gratitude and love for those who have shared and shaped my life; my parents, my grandparents, my wife, and my children. The reader is transported from the prairies of South Dakota, the roots of my Irish heritage, to growing up on on a farm in the 1920's and 30's; to joining and serving in the navy during World War II; to courting and marrying my wife, Dolores, raising a family, and becoming empty nesters; to earning my Doctorate and climbing the career ladder as an educator; to dealing and coping with family loss and finally, to entering the threshold of the final crossroads of my life. Why you would want to read my story? I believe my life stories are informational as well as inspirational. I invite all those who read these stories to do so with the hope that they find a few gems of wisdom to pass on to those who follow.