Wow, I skimmed most of this.. Oh the names.... Here's my list. I rate not by good or bad, but by sneaky or straight. Never be fooled by a smiling CO. Big life lesson for me. Also, my opinion as to whether they really believe all the bullshit.
Steve Gilmore. My last CO, the one who made two of the most amazing comments to me as I was leaving. "It takes so much more reading of the publications just to keep your faith these days." and "It all comes down to if you still believe and have faith that the Faithful and Discreet Slave is being used by Jehovah" as I was bawling my brains out over the phone. (haven't told that story yet) He was "nice" and a total company man. One of the new breeds who imo, learned from the old hardliners that you could kiss just as much ass, and be just as loyal without flaunting your title. Didn't mean they didn't flaunt their power.
Richard Findlay. Amazing speaker. Amazing intellect. Amazing golfer. He was sufficiently self aware to realize that he could potentially come across as overbearing, and actually slow played his intelligence. Do I think he believed the bullshit? Depends on the day. He was/is a Knorr guy. Probably still too stuck at the nipple of the GB to try and pay attention. Besides that, his wife Cece, a gem of a woman, IS dyed in the wool, and Richard adores his wife. So his marriage and religion are probably a package deal, regardless of what he really knows or believes.
Paul Koehler. Nice. "Humble". And absolutely scary. This guy is totally in the background and knew how to play the game imo. Would always talk of his faults, how bad of a speaker he was. And at elders meetings, well, I wasn't an elder then. I heard bits and pieces, and read his S-2 reports. Nothing much to learn really. Would I trust him? No. This guy really does believe that the GB walks on water.
Paul Illingworth: DO and the brother most responsible for me being appointed on his visit to my backwards congregation in Michigan. Removed one old stubborn, stupid elder, chastised two others. Big "scandal" involving associating with DF relatives by 2 elders who were father and son. MTS guru. Said one of the weirdest prayers I ever heard at a CA, as he talked about Jehovah as if he were staring at a picture of him in the Revelation Climax book. Overall, much more balanced and reasonable then I would have imagined....
Douglas Hunter. Sorry Doug, if you are reading this, I am saying this because I bet you are here sometimes. I know you don't believe this shit. Give it up. You know it all.
Timothy Bland: Absolute weirdo. Great sense of humor though, could really do Rodney Dangerfield well. He lasted a year, taught my pionner school in Muskegon MI. That last night, we had a camp fire and as that was his last official CO day, he just stared whisftully at the fire for hours. I couldn't blame him. Was as human a CO as I ever met. Evidentally, his wife in Nebraska left him, and it left him a wee bit bitter and/or broken. Went to the 2nd or 6th class of MTS, something like that. From what I gathered, he and Doug Hunter didn't regard each other in high esteem. A year after he left the road and returned to Omaha Nebraska, rumors were rampant that he went apostate. He called us and left a message saying he wasn't apostate and not to believe every rumor you hear. (??!!) It wasn't even us Tim, it was F_____ B______. (I digress. And F____, if you are reading, I miss you...) Oh well. He was emotional and not well suited to be a CO.
In Florida, I have working memories of 3.
Haislup. The CO who encouraged us to pioneer, but not to move to Michigan. Oh well. He got started in the CO work in New Orleans and was nice, his wife was aloof/tired/burnt out/sick/sick and tired/used up.
Franklin Park. Korean brother, wife was Judy (?) and totally a nutcase. I swear she always talked to you like she thought she was vauguely aware she might be hallucinating. Park was a great
