Grew Up in Jersey City, New Jersey. New Jersey Golden Glove Champion in 1979. Lived in Panama for 8 years. Retired from the Air Force. Married with 6 children. I received a chance to write an article for the Jedsey Journal. Jed Dimatteo the editor was inspirational in helping me write my book. He coached me in writing by telling me to write a story by taking people on a journey. Jed said make the people feel like they are a part of the story. Jed is also a great friend and a great human being. Adeyinka Makinde who wrote Dick Tiger was also inspirational to me. It was great to be able to receive coaching from an author who was willing to share his knowledge. Many people have told me they have written a book and have asked for advice on being published. The best part of publishing a book is being able to share the knowledge you have gained with your experience. My book gives you an insight to the problems children face in the inner city. Learning how to fight to protect themselves, love and loyalty of great friends, a child's experience of coping with a divorce. The book will give struggling children the knowledge that they can make in out of a tough situation if they take responsibility for their actions. The book touches on the power of a mother's love and how that love can change a child's life. I would encourage teachers and children to read the book.

Earned a Bachelor's Degree from Park University and a Master's Degree from Webster University.

Growing Up in a Tough City
Book Description Growing up in Jersey City, New Jersey, from 1966 to 1979, Tony quickly learns that there are few rules on the streets. A child born in the city has to learn fast, and Tony is no exception. From the beginning day of first grade in Catholic school in 1966, Tony creates friendships that will last a lifetime. There's Chubs, one of the leaders of the group and the toughest boy in the class; Patty, a skinny blond kid with a penchant for making people laugh; Mickey, the boy who loves sports; and Chucky, a short kid who always bounces when he walks. Through the school years and the summer months, the boys play football, basketball, and baseball-and land in a whole lot of trouble. Tony has his first fight while walking home from first grade one day and soon learns from his mother, It is a tough world and you have to be tough, too. Yet in this rough city, the boys protect each other and learn the importance of honor and loyalty. But they also realize that escaping from the inner city isn't as easy as they think. The fictionalized memoir of author Jerry McGrellis, Growing Up in a Tough City speaks to the carefree days of the past while simultaneously focusing on the current problems of inner-city youth.