Bruce Perry
555 Giles Ln
Madison MS 39110-9534
601.853.0546
Biography of Bruce D. Perry
I started my time with the class of 1956 when my dad was transferred to West Helena from West
Memphis, Arkansas to be the agent at the ESSO bulk plant. We rented a house on West Perry
Ext. in Helena, so I started the third grade at Jefferson in Helena.
When I was in the fourth at Jefferson, my dad bought a house in Edgewood Circle in West
Helena. I completed the fourth at Jefferson, and the next year enrolled in Woodruff for grade
five through eight and then to Central to graduate with the stellar class of 1956.
In June, after our May graduation, I enrolled at Georgia Tech in their co-op program (go to
school a quarter, then work a quarter) with a major in chemical engineering. On work quarters I
worked in a research lab for the Tennessee Corp. in College Park. Ga.
In the fall of 1958, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and given two years. At that time my
dad had been transferred to Memphis. I elected to transfer to Memphis State and change my
major to chemistry. I worked 48 hours a week at the ESSO training station at Poplar & McLean,
and went to school full time. I graduated with a BS in Chemistry with a math minor in June of
1962. My mother passed away in September 1960.
Going back to November of 1955, I met Diane Allen at the Methodist Church in West Helena.
She was only in the seventh grade, but I was hooked. We dated and remained very close. Her
family moved to Jackson, MS in June of 1956. She graduated from Forrest Hill High in Jackson,
MS in May of 1961. We were married on June 10, 1961 at the Methodist Church in West Helena.
After graduation, I went to work for Humble Oil in industrial sales. I had decided that I did not
want to work in a lab.
Our first assignment was in Memphis, then in 1966 to Jackson, Ms, then in 1969 to Blytheville
AR, then in 1970 to West Memphis.
While in Jackson, Diane's dad, brother and I decided that we wanted to go into the carbide tool
business. We started building our machines in my storage room and carport with the intention of
starting our business at some time in the future when we had finished our needed machines. This
was delayed somewhat by my transfer to Blytheville.
In April of 1973 we formed Pyramid Saw & Tool Co., Inc. and started getting a healthy dose of
starting a business from scratch. We have now been in business for 32 years. At this time I am
the only one active in the business and have begun to scale back somewhat.
Diane and I bought a home in Jackson and were very happy there until 1988 when we bought just
over 4 acres in Madison County just north of Jackson. It was wooded and hilly, and we worked
at clearing and cleaning up and working on our plans until February of 1992 when we started our
dream home. We acted as the prime contractor and sub let most of the jobs. Since I was very
much into woodworking, I made all of our molding, crown, case, base, etc. We also painted and
did wallpaper. We moved in June of 1993, and have been very happy with it. We have woods
all around us and thoroughly enjoy watching the birds and other wildlife from our covered patio.
Hawk.............................Raccoon................Hummingbirds..................................Turtle................................Crow
This is just a sample of the many different critters we see.
Oh yes, children. We have two boys, Alan 1962, and Bret 1965. Alan has four boys and one
girl. Bret has two girls. I guess that gives us seven grandchildren. Bret's oldest, Karin, is a
sophomore at Belhaven College in Jackson and is a pitcher on the softball team.
Alan graduated from Southern Mississippi, and is presently a LAN administrator at the
University of Mississippi Medical Center. He lives in Madison, Ms.
Nicole, Melissa, Karin, and Bret...................................................................Caleb, Alan, Mary Catherine,.Ginger, Samuel
.................................................................................................................Matthew and Nathan in back
Bret graduated from Belhaven College with a major in biology, and then received his masters at
Mississippi College. He is a research scientist with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Groton, CT. He
and his family live in East Lyme, CT. They have adapted very well to the Yankee way of life.
In February Bret was diagnosed with colon cancer, underwent surgery and is now undergoing
chemo. He has had 10 treatments with 2 to go, and has taken a very positive outlook. We are
optimistic and look forward to his full recovery. It is interesting to note that he was doing cancer
research at the time.
