Nicky Hourigan
I left Columbia in the summer of 1961.  I graduated from Encina H.S. in Sacramento, CA in 1963.  That same year I got married to the girl next door and we had a daughter, Patrice who is now 40 with two kids of her own.  My two grandkids are Nick age 14 and Tim, eight.   My first wife Jan and I were divorced in 1984.  I remarried a wonderful lady, Helen in 1991.

After high school I went to college and worked full time as a busboy and then as a  file clerk with the State of California.  I received a two year degree, finally, after five years in drafting and went to work for the Army Corps of Engineers as a draftsman.  I kept going to college and received a degree in Economics in 1975.  I stayed with the Corps and worked as an Economist evaluating flood control projects until I retired in 2000 with 33 years of federal service.  I now work two days a week in a bicycle shop.  My wife calls this my hobby job.   My wife hopes to retire in five or six years.  She is a Nurse Practitioner at the local university cancer center.

We both ride bicycles a lot and enjoy many miles and hours on our tandem.  Our first blind date was a tandem ride with friends.  My wife and I both ride to work.  I rode to work the whole time I worked at the Corps.  I truly think it kept me sane all those years.  I also get out at least two to three days a week and ride with the local bicycle club.  My oldest grandson and I will be going to Oregon for a week in June to do the club bicycle tour.  He fits great on our tandem and can use some of Helen's bicycle clothing.