Donnie Joe Orender – Distinguished Alumni
Donnie Joe Orender was born in Humphrey, Arkansas on October 10, 1938. Don was the fourth of eight children born to Clyde and Jewel Orender.
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In 1943 the Orender family moved to Bauxite, AR and Don began the first grade. Don remained in the Bauxite school system until he graduated in 1956. During his time at Bauxite, he played right guard for the football team until a knee injury left him in a cast and ended his football dreams in 1954. Don was a pioneer for “The Work Study Program” allowing him to attend school in the morning and work in the afternoons. This required a special agreement between the principal, Mr. Hopper, and the owner of Hendrix Grocery, Putty Hendrix. As well as Don meeting his 12th grade English requirements the summer before his senior year via correspondence from The University of Arkansas.
After graduation Don joined the United States Air Force at just 17 years old and was sent to Lackland AFB for basic training. Don’s high scores in electronics sent him on his way to Keesler AFB where he received his formal education. Later Don was reassigned to Burton Wood RAFB in Warrington, England. This was the Depot for all USAF in Europe, so this is where Don received his hands on training. Don’s next assignment was at RAFB Fairford during the peak of The Cold War! Don maintained navigation equipment on six B47 Bombers loaded and ready to launch on a 15-minute notice. Being in the USAF afforded Don the opportunity to travel the world including the Islands in the English Channel, Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, Spain, Scotland and Iceland. During Don’s 4 1/2 years of active duty, he attained the rank of A/1C and was selected Airman of the month and airman of the 6th month. He was released from active duty on Dec. 6th, 1960, and returned to Bauxite.
Don enrolled in Draughon’s School of Engineering during the middle of the semester to brush up on Electronic Theory with the goal of passing the FCC Exam (A requirement to work on transmitters). Two weeks after taking the exam Don’s instructor found him in study hall to congratulate him on passing. Don quickly shut his book as now he held a First-Class License and was ready for gainful employment. Don’s instructor informed him 2 gentlemen were at the school looking for an employee. This was the beginning of Don’s career working with Motorola.
The very next day Don went to work for Central Arkansas Communications, Inc., an authorized Motorola Two-Way Service Shop. Don worked hard all day and was on call all night. By 1972 Don was 25% partner. In 1986 the Senior Partner was ready to retire, and the decision was made to sell the business to Motorola, Inc. Don stayed on as manager for Motorola until 1996 when Motorola decided to return to sub-contracting and offered employees the opportunity to purchase the Motorola Service Shops. Don and his wife, Mary, had a very intense prayer meeting and God answered quickly.
Don chose the company name based on answered prayers and Grace Communications, Inc. was born on February 15, 1996. They had maintenance contracts with most major public safety and emergency agencies in Central Arkansas and opened a sister shop in Jonesboro in 2012. At the age of 77 Don sold the business and retired in September of 2015.
Don and his wife of 63 years, Mary, have two daughters Donna and Sharon and one grandson Alex Falls. Don and Mary currently reside in North Little Rock where they are active members of Faith Missionary Baptist Church.
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