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Alumni Spotlight
Diane Rambow Stevens
Vicksburg High School Class of 1960
Diane has lived in 9 states since she graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1960. She also spent 4 years traveling the United States in a motor home and loved every minute of it. She and her husband designed and built custom computer systems for Boeing Airplane in Seattle, Washington in 1980, which is how she got her first taste of what, a computer could do.
Then from 1986 through 1988, she worked on a project with Communications-Satellite (COMSAT), out of Washington, DC and was involved with the initial concept of launching satellites into space for the purpose of communicating with telephones, and the developing concept of what is now known, as the I-net. Pertinent to part of that project, was developing a hotel management system that allowed large hotels and casinos across the country, to not only monitor and control their management systems in-house, but to communicate "on line" across the United States. The project also included upgrading and improving upon what is called a "set-box" that was installed at all the major hotels, for the purpose of providing movies "on demand", and allowing the hotel guests to view local programming; provide the ability to check out from the key-pad of the remote control, and streamline the hotel and casino operations to maximize efficiency and cut overhead costs.
In addition to her life-long friends; those who became her new friends over the years, Diane has many "cyber-friends" from France, England, Wales, Holland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Mexico and Canada. Through the power of the I-net, Diane found a small group of children in the Philippines, whom she has adopted for Christmas gifts. Each year she sends them enough money to have a full party and gifts at their church.
She helped a young lady in Malaysia improve her piano skills, using e-mails and helping her with technique, etc., as well as sending her links to sites, so she could read more and watch a few young people who had recorded their piano music on You-Tube. Diane finds it fun to help people build blogs and upload pictures, so they can use a link to see each other. She enjoys helping to build a "cyber-community" that is as joyful and rewarding, as she enjoys when she says "good morning" to her neighbor when they pick up their newspaper from the front steps.
One accomplishment Diane is most proud of is that she designed the concept for the first portable computer; her husband finalized the technical design and completed the electronics for it. Diane named it, 'The Commuter-Computer', and it successfully beta-tested in Seattle in 1981. In 1982, a design firm in Ann Arbor bought up the design; exclusive rights, etc., and added the touch-screen feature for industrial applications. Diane's former husband then modified the internal workings of the computer; together they rendered a version that was rugged enough to go on to oil rigs for down-hole exploration, and they sold that design and provided the first 10 systems, to AMF-Scientific Drilling in 1984 and 1985.
As Diane now reflects, while the exclusive rights for these designs provided a very comfortable income for both my husband and me; our family and the few people we employed under contract, it might have been better to have negotiated a long-term limited production agreement so we'd have on-going royalties as a steady income for the future years. As Diane puts it, "Who knew how this industry would grow – who ever could see the potential, was truly much more confident of this 'revolution' that I ever was."
Diane enjoyed a several years as a part-time fashion model, as well as promoting fine art for locally-renowned artists, and a number of Hollywood celebrities when she lived in Laguna Beach, CA. Diane has provided both a picture of her in more recent years, as well as a picture from the newspaper that shows one of the exhibits, where she was featuring the art-work of Doug McClure and where she was first introduced to him. Also, you can find this same picture on one of her blogs; as well as see some of her photography. There are a few photos that are from third-party sources, but the majority that make up the slide-show and those that are posted individually on her blog, are all taken by Diane as she shares pictures of her more recent travels.
You can check it out these pictures; read her entries as she describes some of the places she's visited these past few years, at whyilivewhereido.blogspot.com. Diane created not only a montage of photographs that are a compilation of her personal photos and art-works she's purchased, but added a play-list of music that she feels make reading her posts more enjoyable, and contributes to the theme that she's tried to define. It's not only why she lives where she does now, but also why she's proud to be an American, and what she sees as some of the beautiful parts of this country that should make all of us very proud to live in this country.
Diane enjoyed her 36-year career as a working mom; a traveling sales and marketing professional who was part of the developing electronic market; part of the advancement of the computer age, and able to see the results of a new and growing industry, before she retired in 2000.
She is a very accomplished classical pianist, talented photographer, writes poetry; has authored two cook-books for local PTA sales, to the communities of Des Moines, WA and Laguna Hills, CA. Diane loves traveling, camping, hiking, sports, cooking for her family and spending time with her grandchildren.
Diane keeps busy with local volunteer activities; is aiding in the support of a Safe-House for the Lakota Nation in Big Rapids, South Dakota, and is periodically invited to play piano for local night-spots, and events that often feature other headliners such as Ray Charles (to which she fondly recalls sharing a lovely lunch with, and learning more about this dynamic and gifted musician). As with Ray Charles, many of the older comedians and musicians have found Laughlin, Nevada, to be a key venue to wind down their full-time careers of traveling and headlining large theatres. Likewise, Diane felt it was a good place to retire, and while she's still much involved with outside interests, she appreciates the slower pace of this small community that is but a few feet from the Colorado River.
Diane is married to Richard Stevens; has 4 married children; one daughter and three sons. Diane is blessed with 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
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