Welcome from Chip Eckles

Chip Eckles was born in Cleveland, Ohio in the late fifties. He is the first of six kids. He comes from Northern European stock (German / Swedish / Scotts- Irish / English) and tops out at 6’-4”. He grew up in Ohio and Michigan and went to the United States Naval Academy. Shortly after graduation, he married Colleen Gilligan, the love of his life. They have three children. He served in the US Navy for five years and then went to Drexel University for a Master Degree. He started working in the space industry and has had a productive career designing space systems and spacecraft. In 1996, the family moved to Tempe, Arizona and he retired in 2020.

Photography

I have loved photography since the 1980’s with my first EOS Rebel film camera. Children caused a short hiatus but with the advent of digital photography, my love was rekindled.

Genealogy

I have alway enjoyed genealogy and have built on the work of others to develop an extensive family history. My Mom provided early Juers and Nelson information and photographs. My grandparents, uncles and aunts provided additional information and photographs. Many of the photographs were small and damaged, and I scanned then and fixed them. A Schmidt cousin provided an extensive Schmidt family tree. The biggest find was made by my father’s mother. An Eckles friend had a whole book of all the Eckles and Eckels in America. I copied the whole 435 page book back in the late 1970’s and have since created an electronics copy that I have embellished from 5944 people to 8500 people with numerous photographs.

Favorites

When I was a grade school child, I had a hard time reading and my parents worked hard to help me. By high school, I was a voracious reader and I have not stopped since. Science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction and westerns are my favorites. My reading interests are reflected in my movie interests.

I have come to love art and have a soul mate in my wife Colleen. She comes by it naturally as an art teacher. We have been collecting art for many years.

We love to travel and see the country. We favor the outdoors and over the city, and nature over amusement parks.

Every Family has a set of sayings and rules that get passed down from one generation to the next, and these are some of ours.

My grandfather - Papa

Born in 1908

1. You’re going to find yourself walking down the road talking to yourself

2. Grandma was slow but she was old, what is your problem?

4. You had a good home but you left

?. My cow died, we don’t need your bull

My Dad - Bill

Born in 1933

1. You’re going to find yourself walking down the road talking to yourself

2. Grandma was slow but she was old, what is your problem?

3. You had a good home but you left

4. Were you born in a barn?

5. Who ever eats fastest, get the mostest

?. I want to frozen with my assets

?. Life is short, eat desert first

Me - Chip Eckles

Born in 1957

1. You’re going to find yourself walking down the road talking to yourself

2. Grandma was slow but she was old, what is your problem?

4. Were you born in a barn?

5. Who ever eats fastest, get the mostest

?. There’s the quick and the hungry

? Go to bed

5. Get a job

6 Keep your pants on