By JANET McGREGOR
Contributing Writer
John "Mac" McMenamin was born and raised in Philadelphia, Penn. Annie Petersen was born and raised in Pensacola, Fla. Both are the second oldest. Annie had eight brothers and sisters, Mac had four. Both attended Catholic schools. It seemed obvious from the beginning they had a lot in common.

Mac joined the Marines in 1956 on a bet. He was working two summer jobs to help pay his tuition at La Salle College in Philadelphia. He and a co-worker, Jesse, worked fast enough to be ahead of the rest of their co-workers. They quickly learned that getting their foreman to talk about his experience as a Marine in World War II was good for "at least a 20-minute break."

During one of their many discussions, Lou, the foreman, bet the pair $20 that they wouldn't join the Marines. If both joined, he said he's pay each $20. If one joined he was to receive $20 from the one who didn't join. If neither joined, Lou received $20 from both.

Mac eventually received $20 from Jesse after he joined the Marines.

After basic training, Mac tested high enough to qualify for Annapolis. Not wanting Annapolis, or the second offer of NROTC, his company commander suggested flight school in Pensacola. Mac's reaction was the incredulous question, "The Marine Corps has airplanes?"

Mac "got motivated" and took the tests and about a year later went to Pensacola for training. He received his commission and wings in July of 1959 and married Annie in September.

Annie, a native of the area, thought she was going into a convent until she "discovered Mac."

Mac was introduced to Annie while on a blind date with her best friend. They were immediately attracted to each other and one year later, in September of 1959, they married.

From that point forward, John and Annie's life followed a pingpong pattern.

The couple first moved to Marine Corps Air Station at New River, near Jacksonville, N.C. One year later, they returned to Pensacola. Two years later they were transferred to Marine Corps Air Station at Justin, in southern Calif.

One year later Mac went to Vietnam and Annie went back to Pensacola.

Mac came home, the family was transferred back to southern California. Ten months later, Mac went back to Vietnam and Annie went back to Pensacola. When he returned home, they were transferred to New River again. Two years later, Mac went to Vietnam for a third tour and Annie went to Pensacola.

When Mac returned from his last tour, they were transferred to Jacksonville and then to Alabama, where Mac completed his college education on the "bootstrap" program. They spent 18 months at Auburn, then went back to New River. From there they were transferred to California while Mac worked on his masters in financial management.

Mac was transferred to Okinowa and Annie went not to Pensacola, but to Opelika, Ala. One year later they were transferred to El Torro, Calif., and finally, they were transferred to Atlanta, where they elected to stay and end the pingpong tournament.

In talking about their years in Peachtree City, Mac jokingly says it's 'time to move "cause the walls need painting." He noted they had never lived in a home prior to this long enough to need to paint.

Mac retired from the Marines on Jan. 31, 1985, as a Lt. Colonel. During his service he flew a variety of aircraft. In Vietnam, he "mostly flew helicopters." During his first two tours, he flew a Sikorsky H34; in the last he flew a "Sea Stallion" (Sikorsky H53).

Asked about flying during the war, he said he liked to joke that he was the "shootee," not the "shooter." While the helicopter had door gunners, his main flying consisted of carrying troops, cargo and doing "an occasional medi-vac."

Mac received the Distinguished Flying Cross, 38 air medals, two Navy Commendation medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with a Silver Star plus numerous campaign medals.

During their 28 plus years in the military, Annie remained active in various civic and charitable organizations. In addition to the civic activities, she was actively raising the couple's three children. Johnny was born in 1960, Terry in 1961 and Susan in 1967.

When they moved to Monterey, Calif., so Mac could complete his masters degree, they went to the standard "welcome aboard" speech by the Commander. During his presentation he told the wives that while their husbands were getting their masters degrees, their wives did one of three things: they got a pet, they got pregnant or they got a divorce. Annie said she chose to get a job.

She went to work for a local real estate firm. Annie was chosen from a field of 70 applicants for the position. She was later told by her new boss that she was chosen because she was "the only one over thirty and wearing a bra."

When they retired form the military, Annie told Mac "if I'm not out of the house looking for a job within six months, kick me out."

She went to work for Woodcraft in Peachtree City. After a year, she moved across the hall to work for Bob Truit's CPA firm where she stayed for the next eight years as the firm administrator.

At the urging of several friends, Annie applied for an open seat on the Peachtree City Council in 1991. She was selected and began her tenure in office in June. In November, she was reelected without opposition. She has run for office twice since then without opposition.

When asked what her greatest accomplishment in office has been to date, she quickly replied, "Watching the Gathering Place become a reality."

Annie was the first female president for the Peachtree City Kiwanis, something of which she is "very proud." She has also served as president of the Fayette County American Heart Association.

Mac went to work for Joel Cowan doing "you name it." He flew a King Air for Cowan, did the books for some of the smaller corporations he owned and controlled construction lending for approximately two years.

Mac has been self-employed since the spring of 1987. He flies for various corporations and companies although for the past few years one company, Data Supplies, Inc., has kept him so busy he rarely flies for anyone else.

Next month Mac is flying company members to Alaska where they will hunt and fish. Mac doesn't hunt, but he's looking forward to fishing. Last year he managed to get some skiing in at Steamboat, Colo., while "working." When asked about retirement, he said "Why should I stop? I'm making good money and having fun."

Both Annie and Mac listed their grandchildren as their greatest enjoyment. Annie mentioned one of her favorite quotes, "Grandchildren are God's greatest reward for not killing our own children when they were teenagers."

Mac is an avid golfer, playing whenever "I'm in town and the weather's decent" with a group self-titled as the "Swinging Seniors." The group boasts a membership of around 70. They play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Planterra, Braelinn and Flat Creek golf courses. Mac noted that, to the best of his knowledge, he was the second youngest.

Annie loves to read and sit on the beach. Her favorite books are those with a historic flavor, both fiction and non-fiction.

In addition to their three children, they have four grandchildren, Ashleigh, 8; Nick, 6; Sydnee, 6; and Raleigh, 7 months.

They also have two pets, a cat and a dog. The dog a poodle by the name of "Bouncy" belongs to Mac.

Annie said Mac worked with German Shepherd dogs while in the military and always called poodles "dog food." Now she says she has threatened to shoot Mac and bury him in the backyard with the dog when it dies.

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