Ken Cheek

>>Where the heck are you now?

Lake City, Florida

>> Are you married? Single? Secretly a cult member? What have you been up to all these years?

I've been married to my bride, Vickie for 19 years. She and I have two kids. Rachel is 16 and will be a senior this year(!) and my son, Eli is 12 and will be going into the 7th grade. What have I been up to? Let's see...well, I went to Monmouth High until the middle of our Junior year and my Dad transferred to Danville, IL and my family moved there shortly after. I ended up graduating High School from a small town called Georgetown in 82'. (It was nothing like Monmouth and I've got to say that I missed some of you people) After a year or so I went to Danville Junior College and got a degree in Liberal Arts. I took some time off and earned my living in the Construction Trade and eventually became a Journeyman Painter in the local union. I got married around this time and had a baby girl a few years later. Once I realized that painting was NOT what I wanted to do I applied at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and got in. I studied hard and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture in '97. I looked for a position in Illinois and didn't have much luck. I was working in the Danville Municipal Urban Planning office when my wife and I decided to take a vacation in Florida. I applied for several Landscape Architecture positions in private firms without much luck until I was directed towards the Florida Department of Transportation.

>> What on earth do you do for a living?

I'm a Florida Registered Landscape Architect for the Department of Transportation. Been doing it for 10 years now. I oversee all landscape designs on state roads for 18 counties in NE Florida. I manage numerous Landscape Architecture consultants for the Department.

>> Last time you were in Monmouth?

Oh jeez...10 years ago or so? My older brother Dan moved back to Monmouth years ago and I went back to visit him. I really enjoyed seeing it again. Him...not so much. (I'm kidding)

>> How do you explain "Zippers" to people?

I don't.

>> Favorite motion picture of all time?

Wow, my favorite? I'm a film buff so it's hard to pick a fave. Let's go with my top 5. Each one rotates as my favorite depending upon my mood.
1. Miller's Crossing (The Coen brothers take on a 30's era gangster film. Up is down, black is white)
2. The Last Waltz (Martin Scorsese's send off to The Band as they play their final concert)
3. Snatch (Guy Ritchie's fantastic diamond heist film. Characters galore!)
4. Godfather I and II (Coppola's masterpieces)
5. The Kids Are Alright (Outstanding documentary of The Who)

>> You've come this far.. how bout an email address for folks to keep in contact with ya?

Sure. I can be reached at kjcheek@comcast.net