91-Year-Old Encourages Others to Face Fears

Terror accompanied by waves of nausea occurred when John Gleeson was called to present his five minute speech in Basic English, 7th Grade at Jefferson Junior High School, Long Beach California. You see I am a stutterer. It was in the time of the Great Depression (nothing great about it), my family was dysfunctional, we were on welfare often, and life was very difficult. My wonderful mother provided the strength to keep our family unit together, for my sister and me. But I became a high school dropout.

 

While I was in elementary school a concerned neighbor took me to a University Speech Clinic but, regrettably, they did not see any short term solution. This neighbor apparently saw the unwarranted, self imposed humiliation that accompanied me as a stutterer. My life during elementary school was not the joyous occasion it should have been. While in the 4th or 5th grade a school yard bully would chase me and on occasion beat me. A kind lady saw it happen and encouraged me to fight back. I did, and the harassment stopped.  My other recollection of teasing (now known as bullying) was being called a Stutter Dope by the girl at the desk in front of me. Many, many years have passed but I can vividly remember those segments of my life.

 

I am a World War II aviation combat veteran having flown both combat and covert missions. As I recall my speech impediment did not affect me on the Aircraft Intercom System even during stressful combat conditions. I have no idea as to the reason for that phenomenon.

 

When I returned from the Korean War (my speech was bad during this period) I enrolled in Sacramento Community College and graduated. This decision completely changed the direction of my life; I now had a specialized career skill. Air Conditioning/Refrigeration remains a much sought after profession.

 

Early in my career I was given a position as a sales manager with a large mechanical construction firm in Reno, Nevada. I gathered all of the sales personnel together for a little instructional session and I was having some difficulty speaking. One of the sales men interrupted me and said, "Come on John spit it out." My reply was "Joe, I cannot help the way I talk any more than you can help being homely." Everyone in the meeting laughed and the subject was never brought up again.

 

During that time I was appointed to the Regional Planning Commission and soon elected Vice Chairman. This was acceptable as the job was strictly a symbolic position. It came as a shock when the Chairman stepped down and I was appointed as his replacement. At Commission meetings the Chairman would read aloud the upcoming zoning change request, case number and a brief outline applying to the applicant. I was nauseous and terror stricken once again, as reading aloud was still a terrorizing event for me. Our meetings were held in the City Council Chambers, which generally had an audience of about 200 attendees, including bankers, attorneys, architects and developers, etc. - a very professional audience. This was my first experience at being In-Front and In-Charge. It took me several meetings until I gained the confidence needed to portray the leadership role required. I was elected by my peers to a 2nd term as Chairman.

 

Joining Toastmasters made a great difference in my sales engineering professional career. This outstanding group provided me with many opportunities to polish my public speaking skills and be critiqued with constructive humor. I highly recommend Toastmasters.   

 

I am a retired very successful entrepreneur in Honolulu, Hawaii. My company John Gleeson Ltd. specialized in Engineering and Marine Sales/Consulting, seemingly an unattainable career for a stutterer named John Gleeson.

 

As a stutterer it was necessary to face my fears.

 

It is my pleasure to report that I am married (very happily) 68 years, with three daughters, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. My life is a blessing and a joy. This year I will be 91 years young.