High school student Alex Ross Ortiz is interviewing North Shore senior citizens throughout the summer as part of his “Operation No Generation Gap” project. The interviews will be published twice a month in the LOG. If you are someone who would like to be interviewed by Alex, or know someone who should be, send an e-mail to operationnogenerationgap@yahoo.com or  call Alex Ross Ortiz at 584-4989.

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Green, because it represents vegetation, money, and who doesn’t like green traffic lights when driving?
Q: When and where were you born?
A: Feb. 2, 1938, in Las Vegas, N.M.
Q: What were your parents’ names?
A: Phil Gold Sedillo, and Lucy Martinez.
Q: Did you grow up in Las Vegas?
A: I did for 13 years.
Q: Where did you go to school? And what was it like?
A: I actually attended three different schools, and completed high school in those three years. I attended Las Vegas High School, and then attended a seminary, and then El Rito Boarding School. As far as school goes, it was rather uneventful.
Q: What did you do in high school?
A: I played the trumpet for a short time, and then the tuba.
Q: Who was your best friend in high school?
A: Carlos Gallegos
Q: Have you kept in touch?
A: Yes, we are still friends to this day.
Q: What did you do after high school?
A: I joined the Marines. By the end of my time in the Marines I was a Buck Sergeant. As far as college goes, I attended New Mexico Highlands University, and The University of Nova. I majored in both criminal justice and dramatic theater.
Q: What was your career like?
A: Well, at one point I had a Texas Private Investigator’s license, I did five years of CIA contract work, but overall spent 38 years in law enforcement, and retired from the DEA.
Q: How did you meet your wife Mariana?
A: Well, when I was working as a police officer, I pulled her over because she ran a stop sign and gave her a verbal warning. Three months later we got married.
Q:  How long have you been married?
A: 43 years.
Q: What is your favorite kind of music?
A: Contemporary jazz.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I enjoy reading and painting.
Q: What is something people might not know about you?
A: I was a State Golden Glove Champion in New Mexico.
Q: If you could give advice to teenagers, what would it be?
A: Stay away from drugs, they compromise your life, and really love and appreciate your family.