THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994 TAG: 9406030285
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Medium
DATELINE: 940605 LENGTH:
But she did not start out as a field engineer.
{REST} After high school graduation in 1963, Quales went to work for the company as a clerk. Over the years, her jobs included drafting, estimating and working in the engineering section.
``I was the drafting department for the gas company at the time and did all the mapping for Norfolk Virginia Beach and Chesapeake,'' she said.
In 1986 she earned a bachelor's degree in financial management after 13 years of night classes at Old Dominion University.
She is the current president of the Chesapeake Hospital Auxiliary, where her drawing and drafting background have come in handy.
``This year under my leadership we are putting our a brochure to explain to the public what the auxiliary is about,'' Quales said.
She and another auxiliary member headed up a project to produce a Monopoly-like game called ``The Game of Chesapeake,'' which will be sold by the auxiliary to raise money to purchase equipment for the hospital.
During the last 15 years, she has logged 2,800 hours as a volunteer at the hospital's information desk.
Quales is the chairman of the Friends of Chesapeake General Hospital and the treasurer of the Virginia Natural Gas volunteer committee.
Full name: Louise Neal Quales
Birthdate: Dec. 15, 1944
Hometown: Born in Chesapeake. ``I've lived here all my life. I went to school at Hickory Elementary, then went to what was then the new high school - Great Bridge High.''
Childhood memories: ``Everything was fun. I got to travel in Virginia some with my aunt and uncle.''
Marital status: Single
Occupation: Field engineer for Virginia Natural Gas.
Hobbies: ``I like to design. I designed a room and had it built onto to my house. I redesigned my kitchen and had everything ripped out and started over. But my all-time hobby is travel. I have been to about 25 European countries on about seven different trips. That's quite an education in itself. Probably the most memorable thing was going to Yugoslavia just before the war broke out. We returned in June of maybe 1991. Seeing on TV all the bombed out places that we had seen before the war really brings it home.''
Favorite song: ``I go from old music to new. I like `The Rose' by Bette Midler.''
Last book read: ``Many Thanks - Loving Thoughts For All Occasions''
Favorite magazine: ``I love National Geographic and Victoria.''
Favorite movie star: ``John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. They are my two favorite guys.''
Can't resist: ``I love sweets. I'm addicted to sugar and junk food.''
Pets: ``I have created a new fish pond and have about 30 fish. I guess they could be called pets.''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``I'm pretty happy with myself. I'd like to lose a few pounds.''
Greatest accomplishment: ``My college education. All that was done at night with the exception of one class.''
Favorite TV program: ``Law and Order,'' ``Picket Fences'' and ``Kung Fu''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: Frankie's II
Biggest problem facing Chesapeake: ``The growth that we're having. It seems that the City Council is not facing the issues of water, sewer and roads.''
Favorite way to spend a day off: ``Probably working in the yard. Either that or shopping. I love to shop.''
by CNB