John Degroat

Memoirs John Degroat

John DeGroat has lived more, loved more, lost more-and laughed more-than almost anyone you know. This memoir transports readers back in time, beginning with DeGroat's hardscrabble childhood in Minot, North Dakota, where he showed an early talent for entrepreneurship, and a nascent love of basketball-before finding his life suddenly upturned by the tragic death of his father. Relocating to Helena, Montana, with his family, DeGroat continued to work a remarkable variety of jobs while pursuing a priestly vocation until receiving the crushing news from a beloved mentor that the priesthood was not ready for him. Fleeing to the West Coast, DeGroat rekindled a romantic flame with his long-lost love, Michel, and tried his hand variously at teaching, coaching, fishing, restaurant ownership, and other ventures before finally finding his true calling building, developing, and licensing Learning Tree early childhood education centers throughout the Pacific Northwest. Now happily retired, the avid tennis player looks back on his life, sharing stories with a twinkle in his eye. Honest about his successes and amused by his failures, DeGroat's frank accounting of his colorful life is sure to make some readers ask themselves, "What if . . . ?" Read John DeGroat's memoir both to share in his lessons learned and to enjoy a fascinating look back at the West as it was.