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As
transcribed by K.Collins, editor - Uinta Times
Born
in Venice, Florida, I lived in the home of my Grandparents
who owned the town grocery, the toy store and co-founded Venice
Bank. My uncle was postmaster, my aunt was the church organist,
and my mother taught school. I loved Venice and am glad to
have reconnected with childhood friends, the beach, and the
smell of the salt air.
 Historic
Childhood Home of Joe Griffin
"This house at 208 Palermo Place
in Venice is part of the Venezia Park Historic District. It
has the Northern Italianate architecture that was common in
Venice during the 1920s land boom." - The Herald Tribune
Read
more at the Herald Tribune
While in grade school, my family moved
to Brevard, N.C. which was another ideal setting for a boy.
This was America at its best; a genuine “Mayberry”
mountain town you might see in an old travel brochure or postcard.
Mountain creeks, green pastures, blue skies and friendly people.
I made many friends there and became fascinated with biology
while spending my days in the appalachian mountains.
I left Brevard
in my junior year for Palatka, Florida located on the St.
John's River where my father practiced dentistry and where
I stayed throughout the remainder of High School, daydreaming,
drawing, and surfing.
It is in Palatka where I first began an interest in engineering
and at 17 years old was asked to assist in the design of the
Palatka Waterfront Beautification Project and what became
the Dr. Frederick Griffin Rotary Club Park and Amphitheater
named after my late father.  My
design contribution included the lighted walkways and the
stone pedestals and locations of the original WWI bronze soldiers
at the entrances of the new St.
John's Memorial Bridge.
After
High School I joined the Military, attended basic training
at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and Ft. Sam Houston, Texas and
was then assigned to the 1st and 5th /25th Infantry Division
at Schofield
Barracks, Hawaii. I took advantage of my free time surfing
the North Shore. I was later reassigned to Her Majesty's
Royal Army where I attended the University
of Cunnungra Jungle Warfare Training Centre in Queensland,
Australia.
After
my stay in the military, I returned to the south where I attended
TCC, UNCA, and finished at UF in Science and Business Law.
After
college, I moved to Dallas, Texas where I started my first
business that same year. Dallas, Texas! Big hats, big hair,
big oil, and big money. This was truly the emerald city for
an enterprising young man and I loved and breathed it. I started
my first corporation at 24 years old and later considered
running for City Council of Lewisville, Texas but decided
to join a growing Internet technology movement in Scottsdale,
Arizona in 1993.
Within
a few years, I launched Submitawebsite.com, a successful internet
marketing agency which I sold to a publicly traded company
in 2007, (nasdaq: wwww), making my name in the Wall
Street Journal.
In
addition, I created StopDog.com, one of the largest privately
owned search engines in America.
I
currently maintain residences in Scottsdale, Arizona, and
Highlands, North Carolina. and continue to study marketing
trends and consult clients with Search Engine Placement and
Social Media.
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