Reception for John A. "Jay" Locker @ the Osage Branch

Join us in the Woodland Art Gallery to enjoy the talented photography of John A. "Jay" Locker of Freeburg and enjoy light refreshments at his reception as you visit with this gifted photographer.

John Locker was born and raised in Detroit, Jan 10 1954, to Missouri born parents. He attended St. Gemma Parish and School for 1st-8^th grades, then attended and graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School. He always told people, from second grade on, he would drive a truck and make photos. He did that!  John played around with photography starting at 12 with his Dad and big brother Don, in Boy Scouts. He bought his first camera in high school and started making yearbook photos as a junior. When he graduated from high school, John took a job as a machinist for a year. Then, he went to work for a food wholesaler as a warehouseman and dockman. During that time, he bought a 1970, W1000 Ford Tractor with 350 Cummins RTO 913 Roadranger Gearbox, Rockwell 411:1 Rears at 150,000 # Hendrickson Walking Beam suspension and started hauling fabricated steel and lumber (building materials). A camera was with him most of the time.  When fuel went to 75 cents per gallon, John sold the truck and moved to Missouri in July of 1977 and worked for Quaker Windows driving a truck. He carried the camera with him. John married in August of 1979 and continued to make photos and drive until the kids got older. In 2000, he stopped driving and stayed inside as a foreman of a new vinyl department at Quaker Windows. He continued making photos for various customers as well as Quaker. John retired from Quaker as per his personal plans, at 62 years, and continues to make photographs with his business Locker Photographics.