Curt Ground was born July 19, 1956, at Lakeside Hospital, Kansas City, MO, the son of Curtis C. Ground, Jr. and Virginia Stankard Ground.  When Curt was 3 months old, the family moved to Parkville, and Curt was a life-time resident of the Parkville area.  After graduation he attended Park College one semester and left for automotive training.  His first job as a mechanic was at Montgomery Ward auto service in Indian Springs, Kansas City, KS.  After 2 years he left to begin a 15-year career in the airline ramp service beginning at Braniff International.  He worked for Braniff at KCI and JFK airports.  When Braniff closed, Curt said he "had always wanted to go to the service, but hadn't had time" so decided to join the US Army.  He was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY; Fort Benning, GA; Fort Wainwright, AK; and Panama.  He was a member of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles.  At Fort Campbell in the Air Assault School, Curt wished he was back home on Main Street in Parkville, when he made his first airplane jump.  However, he did well in Air Assault School and made the Commandant's List.  He was Honorably Discharged at the the end of his 2 year term in 1984.  Within a week after the discharge he was at Eastern Airlines, and then with Vanguard.  He then decided to return to studay and became a Certified Master Mechanic and worked 17 years at Lincoln-Mercury dealership, retiring in 2015.  He traveled extensively while employed with the airlines, and had wonderful memories growing up in Parkville, his many friends, and participation in the Parkville Presbyterian Church.