Education allows secure retirement
Doyle W. Moore
Age: 75
Occupation: 40-year career at Southwestern Public Service Co.

Where did you receive your education?
Amarillo High School; bachelor's and master's degrees from West Texas State College.

How has your education played a role in your life today?
I am enjoying a level of retirement I could not have attained without the company positions my education allowed me to have.

What was your greatest educational challenge and how did you overcome it?
I joined the Navy in January 1951. I married Doris Wrather while home on leave in May 1952. In 1955, I enrolled at the Amarillo Center of West Texas State. Doris worked outside the home while raising two children. I worked all day and attended evening classes three nights a week. When not in class I was studying. Doris never complained and was my greatest "encourager."

What is the value of your education?
I was fortunate to receive six promotions through the years and I am totally convinced they all were the direct result of my continuing education efforts and ultimately my degrees.
I retired as a division manager responsible for more than 400 employees and half of the customers divided into six districts.

What would you say to someone who is undecided about continuing their education?
A college degree is infinitely more important today than ever before because business, education and every facet of society is changing exponentially.
In my opinion, a bachelor's degree today is equivalent to a high school diploma of 75 years ago and a master's degree today would equate to what a bachelor's degree was worth during that same time period.

When did you make education a priority?
I started with SPS in a warehouse and it immediately became apparent those with the higher paying jobs in the company were college graduates.

What made you realize the importance of education in your life?
General observations told me the road to a better economic future for my family was paved with a college degree.

Did you ever think about quitting? What made you keep going?
I did get discouraged from time to time but I never considered quitting. I was blessed by having a very supportive wife and a work environment that encouraged me to keep going while I majored in tenacity.