Occupation: I am retired from my job as a supervisor for American Wire. Since then, I’ve done landscaping and plow work here in town, and my full-time volunteer job is serving as Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 308.

How Long In Newtown: As of August, I will have lived in Newtown for 61 years because I was born here.

Actually, you could say I’ve lived only two places in my whole life, on my ship and here. During the years 1960 to 1964, I was in the Navy as gunner’s mate Third Class Petty Officer. We were part of the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was just before Vietnam and looking back, I feel lucky things turned out as they did. I saw a program on the History Channel recently and Nikita Krushchev’s son said if it had gone any further, we would have been nuked.

Biggest Change You Have Seen In Town: Population and traffic. I can remember sleigh riding down the Sandy Hook Hill and not seeing any cars or plow trucks. I also remember riding a horse on I-84 when the new highway road was still being graded.

Family: My wife Linnea and I have a daughter, Corren Watson, and two sons, Ernest “Buddy” Ingram, and Brian Ingram. We have a grandson, Timothy Ingram, and another grandson, Benjamin Watson, and a granddaughter, Alex Watson.

I met my wife in my grandfather’s restaurant, Cantone’s of Sandy Hook. He was John Cantone, and the restaurant was where 100 Church Hill Road is now. My wife was attending the girls’ camp next door, called Fredericka House, and she used to stop in while I was helping out at the restaurant. We’ve been married 41 years.

Hobbies: I like hunting and fishing and camping, and I’m a racecar fan.

Pets: I’ve had hunting dogs and we always did have dogs, cats and horses, but no more.

Favorite TV Show, Movie, Book: I like to read outdoor books and magazines. As for movies, I like anything with John Wayne in it.

Organizations: Besides the VFW, I belong to the American Legion, and I was a 23-year member of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, and I served as assistant chief for nine years. I also belong to the Candlewood Sportsmen’s Club.

Most Vivid Memory About Newtown:  I remember   “Pat’s Drive-In” where the Mobil Station on Church Hill Road is now. We kids used to hang out there and have hot dogs and hamburgers. I have a lot of good memories from those days. It was sort of like the Sycamore in Bethel, and we never had any trouble with kids not behaving themselves. I also remember when     everyone was raving about the new McDonald’s in Bridgeport –– I guess     that really shows my age!

Favorite Vacation Spot: We like to go to Charlestown Beachway, R.I. We pull a trailer and fish off the jetties. Another thing we love to do in July or August is take our grandchildren to a farmhouse we rent through Candlewood Sportsmen’s Club in Pike, N.H. That’s where they learned how to ride a bike. We do a lot of things together there.

Personal Philosophy: Do unto others. Treat people the way you want them to treat you, and don’t belittle anyone.