Before we start, Ken wants everyone to know, he comes from very good "stock", his father, a decorated Air Force Fighter Pilot and 3 war vetran, serving 30 years in the United States Air Force before retirement. Here is his web link.
Let's see, KenC, x-long time surfer, graduated from HS in Hawaii, competing in surfing until he was well into his 30's, when, after moving to the East coast of the United States, and living inland for his job, finally bit the bullet and quit.
U.S. Air Force, Viet Nam Vet, then back to college, x-GM employee, and now with the U.S. Government: a Mechanical Engineer, primary field Automotive Engineering, and is recognized in the Federal Government as one of the few qualified tire engineers. He worked with, and still does, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on tire failure treands. He headed up the Government's Federal Tire Qualification Program from 1984 to 1995, at which time, during a downsizing effort, the program was canned to leave consumers and Govt. agencies "on their own" for quality ratings of new and retread tires. Now he sits in GSA Fleet Operations, handling the tire needs for the second largest fleet in the U.S. and doing recalls, preventive maintenance schedules, and lots of other interesting things to keep him out of trouble.....almost ;o)
On a lighter side, there are those who think Ken looks like Hulk Hogan!! He's even been asked if he was by small children..... Ken's thoughts on that are: "give me his money...and his size...and I might come close...but......", it's all in fun!!! ;o)
And yes, Ken is a "gym rat"... he goes to the gym every single day of the week.. at lunch at work and on the weekends from home, even on Saturday after playing 3 hrs of mens doubles tennis.... he believes in no fried foods, boneless skinless chicken, red meat one time a week, vitamins, herbal supliments, no soft drinks, lots of veggies, but good beer is a must!
MAX magazine thought he looked like him too and included this on one of thier publications.
Ken also enjoy's playing the role of what he calls "the troll" at Halloween and also for the entertainment of some of the car message forums he participates in......again..all in fun! hahahahaha
If you read the two links to Keona and Nikona, you will see that Ken really is dedicated to wolves and wolfdogs. He's very strong in wolf protection and wolfdog rescue/proper breeding and adoption.
Here is a write up off the Wolfdog Rescue Resources, Inc. homepage that comes from Ken's heart:
I have over 20 years experience with pure wolves and wolfdogs. I was educated by a very highly respected gentleman and his wife who resided in Nevada. They owned and operated a fairly secret test site in the middle of the desert. Their passion was the wolf. They had two enclosures, one with wolfdogs and one with wolves. In one of my Govt. positions, my job took me to that test site 1 week a month for 13 years. Instead of heading into town to the casino's like my assitants did, I stayed at the site in the evenings and learned about wolves and wolfdogs. Studied for hours upon hours thier behaviors and salient characteristics. Worked my way into the enclosoure with the wolfdogs then the wolves, we became friends. I got more involved and brought my education and experiences back east with me and began my own private operation of helping save wolfdogs and trying to change thier reputation.,h2>
With the introduction of the internet...after having lost my first wolfdog at age 11 due to a heart condition (which i brough back from a litter born at the test site, a rescued Alaskan timber unaltered mated with a 1/2 redwolf 1/2 husky before it could be blocked) , I began communication with the other members out there in the wolfdog community.... for the loss of my Nikona had thrust me into a deeper passion for the wolfdog, for she was my "soul-dog"...she taught me alot about life, and the true spirit of the missunderstood wolfdog. Her story is a link off my homepage below.
Personal Home Page
After some time communicating with the wolfdog community, I founded this organization with the untiring help of our Secretary/Treas. Karen C. from OK.....in order to fill a gap and provide service to the many hard working untiring underfunded wolfdog rescue sanctuaries......
We are recognized by the Defenders of Wildlife for our effort and experitise in wolfdog identification and placement, and many State and County shelters call upon me and some other members to come forth and phenotype animals labled as "wolfdogs" to insure that the right placement for them takes place. (90% of these animals turn out to be dogs.....and it's very refreashing to have them placed in the normal adoption circuit and taken off the "dangerous animal" list of the shelter.....)
I tell my story not to brag or boast, but to cleary identify myself, and some others of our organization as "wolfdog experts", for that can save lives, both with authorities and in the placement of "would be adoptions".
Feel free to email me privately at wolfdogs16@msn.com
I have spent an entire night in an enclosure with pure wolves, unprotected and alone, sharing fellowship with the animals and communicating, experiences I shall honor and take to my grave........... these animals deserve much more than the U.S community is giving them.... let's work together to change that.
And PS: I have the scars of play from the wolves.....to prove it... (laugh).. They do not mean to draw blood, and when they do, they act as if they have committed a terrible sin......
Ken also has a passion for gm muscle cars. It started in 1967 with his first new car, a 327 cubic inch Camaro which he modified. From there came the 1968 Chevelle SS396 which he heavily modified to race. Since then, it's been nothing but Trans Am's..until 1997 when he special ordered the rarest SLP Engineering Car made, the Comp T/A, which he went on to show and win several first and second place trophies at the Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. He also special ordered a 1997 Firehawk for his wife the last one built in 97..that became an icon on the internet for women into performance cars.
Ken founded the Mid Atlantic F Body Association in 1997. This turned out to be one of the largest F Body Clubs in the U.S. (F body is GM's designation for the Camaro/Firebird platform). He and Mary have since "retired" from the club with the animal rescue operations taking up so much of thier time now.
How ironic that Ken's fascination for "fast cars and hot rods" started when he was very young.....this was his first car.
(yes folks..this picture is old...it was taken in 1950...he was 3 years old.......:o)
That said..to quote his favorit expression: "On wit da show".
And on wit da show it is, for now, Ken has a new "ride"...he can't live without a performance car in his stable.
Though Ken is involved in all "this fun"...he will tell you if you ask him, "whats the most important thing to you in your life"?..........Ken will say "the wellfare of my family, which include 1,000%....my canis lupus familuaris (wolfdog) and canis familuaris (dog), your'e family is your pack.... and if you are the alpha male.......you give all to protect and make that pack survive."
Ken is not always as wild as he seems......
