Alumni Profile – Harold Guckin ‘80

What have you done since graduating from LI? 
After graduating from LI and not finding many job opportunities in the Northeast Kingdom, I enlisted in the Air Force as an Air Cargo specialist in January, 1981. This job is similar to working in a FEDEX air terminal/flightline. In what I thought would be a 4-year enlistment learning a trade turned into a 23+-year military and 13-year government civilian career. After attending my trade school and wanting a stateside assignment, the Air Force decided to send me to Germany instead, where I served for three years. When my time was up, I received orders to Pope AFB NC where fate had me meet my future wife, who was also in the Air Force. When not deployed, our unit had the responsibility of ensuring the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division could deploy as well as support their training missions. After two years, it was time to move on. In 1986 we received orders to Germany. During our time there, we witnessed two significant events – the fall of the Berlin Wall and the commencement of Operations Desert Shield and Storm. After 7 ½ years in Germany, it was time to return to the states where we were assigned to Scott AFB IL, just outside St. Louis, Missouri. Over the span of my 36 years, I was afforded the opportunity to earn 3 degrees and travel to some pretty unique locations. such as Kenya, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Columbia, and Paraguay. I now enjoy retirement in the panhandle of Florida.

Tell us about your family. 
I met my wife Melissa “Moe” Guckin at Pope AFB, NC where we were both in the same squadron and lived in the same dorm. She didn’t like me at first and thought I was really arrogant. Fortunately, I was able to win her over and in 2025 will be celebrating our 40th Anniversary. In addition, we continued to serve our country, and both retired from the United States Air Force, 2004.

How many people in your family graduated from LI?
My brother, Patrick Guckin ’87.

What was something that you absolutely loved being a part of at LI?
Sports. I loved winning the 1979 Baseball State Championship. In 1979, baseball at LI was only in its second year of being reinstated. I also loved beating St. Johnsbury in football my senior year.

Do you have any scars on your nose from pushing pennies on Freshman Day?
No, I kept a low profile. Coming from the Sheffield and Wheelock area, I wasn’t well known.

What do you miss most about your time at LI?
The caring staff, academic culture, as well as the closeness of students.

What was your favorite activity during winter carnival?
Making snow sculptures

What is your favorite quote? 
“Integrity is the only thing in life a person can truly call their own. You can have your freedom, your fortunes, your loved ones taken away by others; but the only person that can take away your integrity is you.” ~ Joshua Paul Anderson 

Who was your favorite teacher and what class helped you with your future endeavors? 
Mr. John Emery and Auto Mechanics class. He made our classes enjoyable, and Auto Mechanics gave me mechanical skills which became valuable in my career. I’ve used those skills ever since I left LI.

Who were your best friends?
John Roy, Jim Albright, Ron Gould, Jim Gilman, Mike Masure and Scott Urie

If you had it to do all over again, what would you do differently?
I would have taken Spanish as a foreign language.

What advice can you give a student at LI that would help or inspire them on their journey?
Stay positive by always looking at the glass as half full vs half empty. Things will happen in life, and you will not know why, but they will build you as a person.