OAK RIDGE MAN SEEN AND DONE IT ALL

Gregory owns two Vietnamese pigs, Ho-Chi (after the Ho-Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam) and Mama. At one time Gregory owned over 50 of these pigs.

Gregory also owns three horses and a pony. He says that owning so many animals can be pretty expensive.

Jim Gregory of Oak Ridge has seen it all.

From the Vietnam conflict to setting up security in the West Indies, he's certainly had his share of experiences.

He even collects things; from bar mirrors to Vietnamese pigs.

Let's start at the beginning: Jim Gregory was born and raised in Cape Girardeau 49 years ago and went to high school there at Cape Central.

He went on the graduate from Southeast Missouri State University in 1974 with a degree in criminal justice.

When Jim Gregory was 21 he served in Vietnam, this country's most unpopular war.

Of course, like most Vietnam vets, he doesn't like talking about it.

"Unless you were there," Gregory said, "you really can't understand what it was like."

Gregory will say that it isn't much like what you will see on TV or in the movies.

"There was nothing glamorous about it," Gregory said. "I just hope nobody has to go through it again."

Gregory came home from Vietnam after a two year stint in Phu-by. After graduating from college, he was ready to put his degree to use.

His time as a student wasn't his only time at the university, though.

He was Southeast Missouri State Universities first chief of security.

"I liked my job there," Gregory said. "I saw three university presidents come and go."

His job there was to maintain security on campus and protect student and faculty life and property.

After 10 years of doing that, Gregory was ready for more travel.

While reading a professional journal called Campus Law Enforcement, Gregory came across an ad for a job in Trinidad, Tobago, in the West Indies, setting up security for the school system there.

Gregory was intrigued.

"I sent in a resume," Gregory said. "I was called back for an interview and ended up getting the job."

He said his time there was very interesting, to say the least.

"It's very different than here, obviously," Gregory said. He said a bizarre fact is that he got burglarized in the two years he was there.

Gregory said that theft in the West Indies is really high.

"They've got the mentality that all Americans are wealthy," Gregory said. "I'd come home and everything would be wiped out.

"They would use fishing poles to steal your pants through the window, or do whatever it took to get your stuff."

That was the reason he had to set up security for the school system.

"The people would rob the schools," Gregory said. "They'd take typewriters or whatever was there."

Gregory said he was there two years under a "turn key" system.

Turn key meant that he would help the government set up the security system, and then turn it over to the government.

When he arrived back in the U.S. he had hoped he would put his criminal justice degree to more use, but, unfortunately, he could not.

Gregory said he didn't want to leave the area, and he couldn't make the money he wanted in a job in security, so he decided to leave the security business.

But he went into a business where his training would often come in handy: the bar business.

"I ran the Hitchin' Post in Cape Girardeau for 10 years," Gregory said, until his "tolerance for over intoxicated people ran out."

He must have seen plenty of bar fights, lovers quarrels, loud mouths and unconscious people in the 10 years at the Hitchin' Post.

"I've seen my share," Gregory said with a grin.

Now Gregory's living his life easier.

He manages a much quieter establishment in Jackson, a place all Jackson residents are familiar with, Delmonicos. There he manages a staff of 36 people.

And he lives in Oak Ridge, a quiet little town 10 miles from where he works, where the people are usually polite and always mind their own business.

"I like it here," Gregory said. "I wouldn't live in the city again if you paid me."

While his life may not be as dramatic as it used to be, Gregory manages to keep it interesting.

Just this year he married Bonnie and they live in a virtual shrine of collectible items.

Their home is full of dolls that Bonnie has collected since she was in high school.

She has close to 300 dolls and they're more impressive than you think.

Just to give you an idea, she has her dolls insured for $35,000 and she said that "wouldn't begin to pay for them."

They also have a juke box in their home full of country she done did me wrong songs.

And Jim Gregory has an entirely house (where he lived as a bachelor) that sits close to where they live, full of his collection.

On the outside, the house just looks like a, well, a house.

But on the inside, it looks like a place where everybody knows your name: a bar.

In the front room is a pool table with an antique slot machine in the corner. The walls are littered with bar mirrors and it are these that Gregory is most proud of.

"I have the largest bar mirror collection in the state," Gregory boasts. He says he has close to 200, many of which are limited editions or one-of-a-kinds.

In the adjoining room he has a bar and a dart board. What bar is complete without a dart board?

He even has a cold drink machine for making daquiries and other such drinks.

Gregory said he and wife entertains there sometimes and the guests are always impressed.

Oh, and wasn't there something said about pigs?

In the back of this "fun house" is a barn with two very special Vietnamese pigs, Ho-chi, (after the Ho Chi Minh Trail) and Mama.

At one time Jim Gregory had over 50 of these pigs but they reproduce too quickly so he sold or gave away all but two.

He also owns three horses and a pony, a goat, and two dogs.

While Jim Gregory has seen his share of travel, battle and bar fights, these are much happier times for him.

He and his new, lovely bride are content to enjoy the outdoors with their dogs or shooting a game of pool in the play house.

They both love birds and like watching them eat from the bird house Jim built that sits in their front yard.

And today is a special day for Jim Gregory; it's his 49th birthday. Happy birthday, Jim. And many more.