The diverse culture we have here in Pacific Beach always fascinates me. Every day I meet different people from all over the country and the world who call Pacific Beach home. Back in October 1942, a tall, thin 16-year-old “country bumpkin” named Dale Barkley moved from the sticks of Sullivan County in Missouri to 1827 Oliver St. here in our beautiful seaside town. This farm boy, who lived on a 320-acre ranch with no electricity and no radio found himself in an entirely new world. World War II was in full swing and Barkley’s father took work at Convair in San Diego. Barkley and his older sisters were swept up from the middle of nowhere in the Midwest and transplanted to the ever-growing Pacific Beach. It was a transition like none other for Barkley back in the fall of 1942. He was bused over to the fancy La Jolla High School, the only high school for students of Pacific Beach back in the day. Barkley felt out of sorts wearing overalls and was referred to as the “hick from the sticks.” He was also a poor student. His only claim to fame was that he lettered in basketball during his freshman year, which he expressed to then-LJHS head coach Chuck Henson as Barkley checked into gym class. An immediate tryout was arranged for the young, 6-foot Barkley. Barkley’s skill level, however, was no match for the team and, consequently, he did not make the team. Barkley soon realized that he was not going to be the next promising athlete. He took his farming skills and began working part time for Milton Sessions Nursery, (Milton was the husband of Kate Sessions). Finally, he felt some gratification and a sense of purpose for the 25 cents an hour he made. But by spring of 1944, his father’s employer, Convair, offered the younger Barkley a job as a transient for 66 cents an hour and Dale found himself on a gasoline tanker headed toward New Hubertus, south of the Solomon Islands. By the end of the war, he was back in Pacific Beach, where he became a petty officer and an electrician for the Navy. For the next 20 years, Barkley worked as an engineer on submarines in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Barkley retired a true, loyal American serviceman with three wars under his belt. But not one to rest on his laurels, Barkley took his electrician skills and was hired on by the San Diego Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium) as an electrician in the late 1960s. He watched both the Padres and the Chargers in their infancy. He’s lived in several parts of the county and even moved back to the sticks in Missouri for a spell. But Southern California kept calling and he picked up and moved back. Barkley has seen a lot for all of his 85 years and now enjoys his retirement by growing artichokes in his garden and making cabinetry. He served his country with pride and dignity. I personally salute you, Dale Barkley, for your service to this great land of ours, and for making a wonderful addition to our beautiful seaside town — our beloved Pacific Beach. — Kevin Di Cicco is the owner of Buddy the dog, who is best known for his roles in the long string of “Air Bud” movies and his ball-playing skills showcased on popular television shows. For booking inquiries, contact www.airbud.com.