The nose is big 'cause I had septum reconstruction three weeks earlier. This was taken 1/2 mile from and several hundred feet below Sedona, Arizona, one of the prettiest places in the Northern Hemisphere.
I did a little statistical estimate a few years ago that indicated there should be about 50 people named "Brian Rock" in the U.S. (better estimate in July, 2001 is 162, jump to "The Brian Rock project" for details); this includes at least one other Brian A. Rock, Ph. D., who also happens to be an engineer whose work is not that different from what I might be doing. This info is here for past acquaintances to be able to identify me as the Brian A. Rock they know. It will also provide them with a bit of info about my life since we've parted. If any of you see this, please send e-mail!
If by chance you're not a previous acquaintance, but are curious, feel free to read on, too.
I was born Brian Anthony Rock on February 1, 1957 in St. Joseph, Missouri to George and June Marie Rock. I attended kindergarten at South Park School and grade school at St. Patrick's Elementary School. My high school was St. Joseph Central.
Upon graduation, I moved to Rolla, Missouri, in August, 1974, to attend the University of Missouri - Rolla (formerly the Missouri School of Mines), majoring in Chemistry. I lived in Triangle Fraternity during my time there. I graduated in May, 1978.
Flash! I just found out something neat about one of my instructors at Rolla. Tom Akers was my third semester calculus instructor while he was working on his Masters' degree. He's moved up in the world; he's been on shuttle crews 38, 49 and 61 and is scheduled for STS-79. Wow! Now, back to our previously scheduled autobiography.
I then started graduate school in September, 1978, at Arizona State University (Tempe), receiving my Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry in July, 1984. The title of my dissertation is Development of An Optical Emission Model for the Determination of Sputtering Rates in Ion Thruster Propulsion Systems. In addition to this work, I also worked on projects related to chemometrics and radiochemistry, and worked extensively with the computers of the day, from the very smallest to the very largest. I also found time to work four (or was it five?) great summers for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
In September, 1984, I moved to Akron, Ohio to begin working at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, where I remain.
In June, 1991, I married Catherine Ann Watson. In February, 1994, we bought a house in West Akron, where we currently live.
My hobbies and interests include computers, photography, Egyptian Mau cats, regional wines, cooking, beer (drinking and brewing), simulation gaming, historical & contemporary mysteries (e.g. who was the Zodiac killer, what happened to the airship Shenandoah, how did Sidney Reilly die, are there any thylacines left, etc.) and all sorts of other things.
What's playing on the
MusicMatch jukebox?
Hair Pie: Bake 1 - Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
On Deck: I've Found A New Baby - Louis Jordan
Themesong for the page: Demon in Disguise - David Bromberg
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