My Life's Adventures From "A" to "Z"

About the Book

Frederick E. Sowders' second book soon to be published is titled “My Life’s Adventures from A to Z.

The book contains stories of his childhood as well as adult life. There are several chapters which details his flying experiences! Beginning with his first lesson of flying an airplane. The chapters on flying cover the beginning to the end of his flying career.

There are many stories of “special people” in his life.

There are many stories of and about his wife Retha as she suffered with brain cancer which ultimately took her life February twenty fourth, two thousand and seven.

The book concludes with details of his automobile racing career and how the whole family took part.

About the Author

Fred’s motto for life is:”don’t put off to tomorrow if you can do it today”. He and his family went more, did more than just about anyone you may know. While stationed at the Naval Air Station at Memphis, Tennessee Fred bought a used go-kart from his brother-in-law, Richard Lee. The family was living in a nice three-bedroom brick home. The lot was large enough that he and his children built a small track for the kart and soon his son Steven was traveling at a high rate of speed. Fred would put a large cardboard box on the track. The objective was to come as close to box as possible, yet not hit it. After a short period of time a box stock legal engine was purchased. Soon he and Steve were racing at the Memphis Go-Kart club. Steve won several races and Fred, well he got a trophy or two. Later the kart was traded for a motorcycle. Then the motorcycle was traded for a boat. The family was transferred to Charleston, South Carolina, where the boat was put to good use. First there was water-skiing, then fishing. Then two go-karts were purchased and both father and son raced at several tracks. The boat was sold when Fred received orders to the Lemoore Naval Station located in the middle part of California. While there he and Steve continued racing the karts. Finally Steve was old enough to get his drivers license. Life changed to include girls, cars were a major concern, and several were purchased. Steve drove many makes of cars. Fred finally was able to get his private pilots license, something that he always wanted but could not afford! Quickly he soon had a commercial license and followed that with an Instructors license as well. Fred had a heart attack in the early part of nineteen seventy-eight. Never to fly commercially again! He returned to his training while in the Navy and was soon working for a management company who furnished all the personnel for Japan Airlines flight training center. He retired in 1999.