Ralph L.
Kegerreis, Jr. and Phyllis Knepper Kegerreis
The
story of Ralph and Phyllis began as CASHS '65 high school sweethearts. It is a
treat to highlight both classmates simultaneously. You may remember Phyllis
through her involvement with the high school Glee Club, her participation with
the Choristers, and as a violinist with the orchestra. She continued her musical
interests with her church choir, a ladies church quartet, the church's bell
choir, the Mercersburg Community Chorus for 7 years, and the Chambersburg Towne
Singers for 15 years. She had the pleasure of traveling with the Towne Singers
on two European singing tours and a trip to Ireland.
Like
many of our classmates Ralph knew early what general direction he wanted his
path to follow, but also like many, or probably even most, he refined his life
journey periodically. His first redirection occurred late in his high school
studies as a vocational student pursuing the machinist trade. Although he was a
National Honor Society scholar, he lacked a specific college qualifying
mathematics credit. He remedied that by passing the self-taught course and
enrolled at Penn State - Mont Alto in the fall of 1965 in Drafting and Design
Technology.
In
May, 1967, Ralph graduated from Mont Alto with distinction and began employment
for the next three summers at Newport News Shipyard as a Detail Draftsman on
weapons elevator doors for the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy while
pursuing a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Penn State's main campus.
Ralph graduated from PSU in December, 1970, after earning membership in the Tau
Beta Pi Honor Society. Scholarship was not Ralph's only interest at that time
as he married Phyllis on November 1, 1969.
While
Ralph was pursuing his education, Phyllis utilized her high school secretarial
training as a secretary for an insurance agency, as a bank teller, and as a
secretary at F&M Trust Company. During Ralph's senior year at PSU, Phyllis
worked as a secretary for the Penn State food services and hotel management.
In
January, 1970, Ralph began what would become a 31 year career with Grove
Manufacturing Co. in Shady Grove PA, the world Leader in the design and
manufacture of mobile hydraulic cranes. He started as an entry level Design
Engineer and held various positions leading to Director of Product Engineering.
His career highlights included two trips to China to help explore joint venture
possibilities. His visits to China provided the opportunity to enjoy a walk on
the Great Wall.
While
Ralph was engaged in his career at Grove Manufacturing, Phyllis was busy with
her 22 year career of teaching at a church nursery school and later as a
substitute aid for special needs students at the Lincoln Intermediate Unit.
Together they teamed to parent three sons, all proud Penn Staters. Ralph and
Phyllis are proud of their seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Ralph
and Phyllis now enjoy retirement with interests in travel, hunting, fishing,
golf, gardening, and yard work. Ralph has hunted in Pennsylvania, Virginia,
Colorado, Wyoming, and Alaska and often enjoys fishing in the Florida Keys.
Although they no longer snow ski, Ralph and Phyllis have previously taken many
ski trips out west and have skied at Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Copper
Mountain, Winter Park in Colorado, Park City in Utah, and Mont-Tremblant in
Montreal, Canada. One current highlight of their yard projects is an in-ground
goldfish pond that has been enlarged twice and is now home to over 50 goldfish
and 2 koi.
Although
Ralph and Phyllis are retired, don't expect them to slow down any time soon.