Prince-i-pal Prince
Interview of a local church member by: Ella T.
Meet a political rock star and educational leader, Don.
Don Prince, a man in his late 80’s, lives a very interesting life. He endured the challenge of receiving a full education that his parents did not. From serving in World War II to running for state government, Prince’s healthy and vivacious attitude towards life feels contagious. Don inspires all the people he meets. Please enjoy listening to his StoryCorp on the topics of schooling, titles, and politics.
StoryCorp #1
Transcription
(Ella Torres) ET - To start out I was going to ask you about your education and how that was important in your life.
(Don Prince) DP - My father only had 8th grade education and my mother 8th grade education. And they insisted I was going to go to college. I was in the Navy in World War II and when I got out the vertens – the federal government – gave them seventy-five dollars a month and free tuition to pay for their service. I later got a doctorate – a master’s and then a doctorate – then an MBA from University of Chicago.
ET - [laughing] That’s a lot of different titles. After college, what kind of jobs did you have?
DP - I was a teacher in high school: for a few years – not many years. Then I went back to graduate school to work on my doctorate. And I had an assistantship there to a professor. [beat] I guess the only jobs I’ve had had been in education. I was a high school teacher and then a high school principal: for several years.
ET - Huh. That’s interesting being a principal.
DP - Yeah. I loved it.
ET - You ran for state government one time.
DP - I did. I ran for the state superintendent of education: over the whole state. And I never ever wanted to do anything like that. But – the governor though I was the most qualified. And he and the democratic party talked me into it. It was a great experience. I lost. But, [um] I got to travel with the vice president on his plane and I traveled all day with Bobby Kennedy.
ET - Cool.
DP - And, [um] I met the president. It was a really interesting experience. But I wouldn’t do – they asked me to do it again. But I...
ET - You wouldn’t do it again. [laugh]
DP - No, no.
NEWSFLASH! JUST IN: Percy's Daughter Murdered
Yesterday, September 18,1966, Valerie Percy was stabbed in bed. Her step-mother, Lorraine, said to have saw the crook in Val's bedroom. By the time anyone got to the Percy house, could-be senator' daughter was dead. Charles Percy did a great job of handling all the press and media wanting answers. Though it is not known who murdered Valerie. "The more you know about this case, the more it haunts you," says Sgt. Dave Miller of the Kenilworth police. "It's human nature to want to have answers, and unfortunately we don't have any answers to why someone would do this to Valerie." Valerie has an identical twin and younger sister who yearn for justice. Nobody knows the reason why the innocent 20 year old was killed. Maybe someday justice will be served. For the meanwhile, the fall’s biggest murder of 1966 will hit home for many parents out there for a long time.
Voting is not for nothing...
Dear voters, non-voters, and soon-to-be-voters,
“Voting is the most precious right of every citizen, and we have a moral obligation to ensure the integrity of our voting process.” (Hillary Clinton) Our founding fathers of America based our government on federalism and democracy. Federalism is a political concept, similar to democracy, in which a group is bound together by an agreement; although, the power belongs in the hands of all govern people. Being an american citizen it is your duty to vote for your government.
Going to a voting booth to vote for government leaders and representatives might not be the easiest thing in the world; although, it is the duty of all American citizen to vote and voice their opinions. The Declaration of Independent states, “...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” It also says, “...it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it [government].” Even with an electoral college for the presidential elections, in local and state government your votes directly count for the people governing you. If nobody voted for anything, we would have a corrupt and chaotic government.
Now, you will go off in the world and travel around. When next election time comes around, you have the opportunity to do something, fairly similar, that will make change. The person who wins the election is a representative of you. Who do you really want representing you?
From a United States citizen of good insight and well-developed thoughts.
Money in Perspective
In context...
Storycorp Full Interview
Bibliograhy
Works Cited
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"Voting Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/voting.html>.