Bill Diebold

On the right you can see the result of my 50 years since high school...my most proud accomplishment;  my sons, Jimmy and Casey, daughter-in-law Saye, and my grand kids, Coco and Weston. How I ever pulled that off I will never know.

After high school I spent three years in college majoring in accounting. Hated it. But I did not know what I wanted to do with my life. Big mistake in 1967. Got drafted and spent two years and three months as a photographer in Vietnam. During that time (at Khe Sanh in 1971 actually) I figured out what I wanted to do. Three years later I graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1974 and was hired by Leo Burnett Inc. to manage a studio they owned in Chicago. I was there one year and went out on my own as an advertising photographer for 25 years with studios in Chicago and Dallas. You can see my photos from Vietnam and my professional advertising work at my website, www.debold.com (see the examples below)

I have written two books, Valley of the Queen and a sequel Palace Secret. They have both been well received and there is some discussion about making them into movies. I will believe it when I see it but agents are talking about it.

I owe my love for reading and writing to the wonderful English teachers we had in high school at St Monica’s.   Kids today in our schools are really struggling with those skills as they are confronted by the instant gratification of electronic media in its many forms. They lack the patience to read and thus are missing one of life's great pleasures.  Thank you, Brother Anselm, and yes, I can now proudly say that I have smelled ‘new mown hay.’ We need more passionate English teachers like you. With the perspective I now have as a teacher in high school I can see how lucky we were to go to St. Monica's.  We were given a good foundation for our lives whatever we chose to be.

What a crazy wonderful life I have had. I have been very lucky and I think it is a positive attitude that began at St. Monica's that carried me ever forward through the difficult times.

I have had a great time working on this reunion and talking to many of my classmates.  I am amazed of what many of you have done.  Who would have thought that a bunch of knuckleheads such as we could come this far. I welcome your comments.  Write me and say hello.


  Bill Diebold