Profile Paper

Daniel Conrad
Professor Yerks
Comp 106
30 March 2009
Profile Paper
One day, as a child, Bernie Conrad was out fishing on the Wabash River with his two sisters and brother. One of his sisters fell out of their small fishing boat and into the river. She was able to swim, but she got caught in the undertow. Without hesitation, Bernie took action and dove into the water after her. He was putting his own life on the line to save somebody else. He managed to pull her out onto the bank. This heroic act showed the enormous potential for someone of his character.
Bernie was born in West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1942. He grew up on a small farm just outside of town. Every morning he would get up at sunrise to complete his chores before walking three miles to get to school. After school, he would go horseback riding, shooting his dad’s rifle, or playing basketball with his older brother. In high school, he was captain of the basketball and baseball teams, while also playing football. There were numerous activities he enjoyed doing, “One of my favorite things to do was to go out into the cattle fields and shoot my dad’s rifle. Me and my brother had lots of fun taking target practice, even though he was always a little better then me.” Bernie had a lot of friends and was one of the most popular kids in school. He will be the first to admit it did get to his head, “I was very arrogant and wasn’t exactly the best kid in the world. I did a lot of things that I regret.” However, the important thing is that he learned from his mistakes and was able to become a better person.
Bernie Conrad was introduced to sports at a young age. His father had played college basketball before him, but it would be a long, hard road if he was going to follow in those footsteps. He practiced his long ranged shot by playing in the barn where mud would get on the ball making it heavier, and in turn making him stronger and more accurate. Along with basketball, he would also play baseball in the fields with his brother and cousins. He was exposed to a variety of sports early and often, “I remember being only six years old when my dad taught me to throw horseshoes. I couldn’t screw up. Quitting or failing wasn’t an option, my dad wouldn’t allow it.” He took this attitude and used it to become a great player and leader, eventually earning a sports scholarship to Purdue where he played both baseball and basketball. He was a backup point guard in basketball and rarely got in the game, but when he did get in it was for his defensive tenacity. On the baseball team, he started in centerfield his junior and senior years and batted seventh in the lineup. He was never a star, but he worked hard to be the best he could possible be.
On the academic side, he was just an average student through high school, but still got into Purdue University for his college education. At Purdue, along with playing basketball and baseball, he got through his first four years with a degree in agricultural economics. After graduating, he started working for a small farming firm. Shortly after he went back to school to get a degree in accounting. After receiving his second degree, he got a job working for Chrysler in Detroit. He left his home town and family farm behind. After working for Chrysler for a while, he decided he wanted more out of life. “The work I was doing was just an everyday routine, there was no excitement and so I though maybe I should try something else.”
Once again he decided to go back to school, this time it was for law school. With three years of studying at Wayne State University under his belt, he started to practice law. However, being a lawyer was not what it seemed. As a lawyer he expected to be upholding laws and the constitution, establishing justice for those who had been taken advantage of, and protecting the weak. In reality, he discovered a world of greed and selfishness. Everybody around him was all in it for themselves. He hated the work and the people so he quit, “Being a lawyer isn’t what it is cracked up to be. You pretty much have to be a jerk to be any good and make money. It just wasn’t for me.” In the end, he landed back with Chrysler and got his life long career going. Due to the tough economic times and all the job cuts at the car companies, he retired the day before thanksgiving in 2008. He has lived out his short retirement reading numerous books that he never got a chance to read in the past.
Bernie is also a family man. He got married to his wife Anne, and had two kids. He has raised his kids to be the best they can be. He teaches them the ways he learned to be successful, but also telling them to have fun and just be themselves. “I try to teach my kids to be great people, and the foundation of that is being a good Christian. Following the ways of Jesus Christ and constant prayer with the Lord is where it all starts. From there I teach them to work hard, be honest, and be respectful of the people around them.” Bernie grew up in a Catholic family and continues the traditions his parents taught him.
For someone to come so far there must be stops along the way that make that person who they are. Bernie’s greatest experiences came as a college student, “My greatest experiences happened during college. I learned countless lessons and really matured from an irresponsible kid into an adult.” There were certain moments that stood out in his life both as a student and as an athlete. “Graduating was my greatest achievement. I was sort of a fool back in those days and wasn’t too serious at all. So just getting out of there successfully at first was a great achievement in itself….as an athlete it was just getting into games and playing.” All of these defining moments paved a path for a man who would grow up to be loved by his family and friends, and honestly, it can’t get much better than that.