The author, Chris Ryan, born in St. Johnsbury, VT in 1960, was formerly a parishioner of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in the Class of 1978, before furthering his higher education at Harvard College and George Mason University. A resident of Alexandria, Virginia since 1990, the author and his wife are the parents of three young adult children. The profound impact of the local St. Johnsbury/Northeast Kingdom of Vermont men and women profiled in this work continues to live on with the author, who fondly recalls his upbringing in Hometown U.S.A. No. 1 - St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The author hopes that the readers will be similarly reminded of the great contributions of these men and women, who made such a profound impact towards the betterment of the civic, commercial, cultural, and educational life of St. Johnsbury, VT during the latter half of the 20th century.