Gene's Story (Spirits of Cibola County)

Really knowing a person requires viewing from the inside. A casual observer might say Gene is a severely disabled individual and feel sorry for him. People who have taken the time to disregard his physical appearance, due to a serious birth defect caused by thalidomide, know someone forgot to tell him he is different. He jokes he has no mirrors in his house.

Born in Ohio Gene has 10 brothers and sisters. He attended first grade in a special school until his parents told him he didn’t have to go there if he didn’t want to. He went to regular schools for the remainder of his formal education, ending with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Being a history and geography buff and developing a love for books early in life created a lifetime sense of adventure and a love of people. A high school aptitude test indicated he would be an accountant and lo and behold, five years later he was. Accounting has always come in handy when he needed a job.

Nine years after high school, Gene became an explorer and California was his first adventure. He spent two years traveling and making new friends. Wanting to travel while he was still physically able to do so, he moved on to Alaska. He wanted to hunt, fish and work for an oil company. He worked as an accountant instead.

One of his goals when he was young was to work in the Indian Missions. A friend, who became a Franciscan Priest, was being assigned to the Laguna Indian Reservation near Grants. Gene came with him and stayed.

At one time he tried to return to Ohio, where his mother still lives. It did not work out. He loves this area and the people who live here. He came for adventure and stayed because the people accepted him and made him feel at home.

From 1978 to 1985, Gene worked for the Laguna tribe, learning and teaching home repair skills. A home improvement program was funded by the government to teach residents skills needed to find jobs on their own. The job was fun and he loved using his hands to fix things. He rebuilt old homes until the program funds ran out and the job ended.

For the next five years, the casual observer might say, Gene was a bum. Looking closer, it might have been the portion of his life that allowed the greatest things to be learned and taught. He did not have a job, but worked every day.

If somebody had a problem he felt it was his job to fix it. In return for his expertise, people often fed him. Gene had a routine of friends he visited. Many gratefully trusted him with their most treasured possessions. He was the person people called if they needed a house sitter, a repairman, an accountant or a friend.

A few years ago Gene retired from the New Mexico State Highway Department as a traffic tech. He did work he had wanted to do all his life, traveling the highways and byways, talking to people. He fulfilled his life dream.

Today Gene and his wife of over 20 years, Rose, live in a house on the Laguna Reservation that they have refurbished. A little older and a lot less agile, he still helps others with their problems whenever possible. Gene wanted to be a mountain man and feels fortunate to live at the base of beautiful Mt. Taylor. His advice to others is to follow your dreams.