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Billy Slovick
Billy Slovick’s life has not taken the traditional path. Slovick fell in with the wrong crowd when he was young, and ended up serving much of his 20s and 30s in jail. But recently, Slovick has found a new support system at a church in Hamilton, and turned his life around. “Who would have thought that me, of all people, would be kicking it with a pastor?” he said.
Slovick spent part of his childhood in Alaska. His father’s family was from the Carrolton area, and Slovick’s father met his mother while he was serving in the Army and stationed in Alaska. Slovick was born in Texas, but his parents separated when he was a baby and his mom took him back up north to be with her family. He came back to Dublin when he was 11 and started attending school here.
Slovick didn’t finish high school — he dropped out when he was in the 10th grade — and spent the next two decades in and out of jail. At the end of his most recent time in jail, Slovick was placed in an halfway house in Hamilton to help him reintegrate into society. “I met some people there, and a pastor helped me get out of there,” he said. “I go to church here in Hamilton now.”
The church is called Calvary Baptist Church, and one of the people there helped him get a job with Carvana. For nearly a year, he’s been contracting with the company, helping them build their car display towers. The job lets him travel around the country to different Carvana sites.
“Since I was locked up for so long, I didn’t get to see the world, and I want to travel,” Slovick said. “Now my job is to travel and get paid.”
He hopes to stay at his job for as long as he enjoys the time away from home. He’s also focused on trying to stay out of trouble. “I’ve got too much to lose right now,” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if it wasn’t for God, and I’m trying to have a fresh start. I’m done with the unnecessary drama.”
When Slovick is not working, he enjoys spending time outside. “I love to be at the lake or river and swim and fish,” he said. “I like to go and be in nature, to get away from all the stress. It helps me get peace of mind and gather my thoughts.”
He also likes to see his family when he can. Slovick has two children. His daughter Anna is 25 and lives in Odessa, and his son Henry is 15 and lives in Virginia. “I get to see my son pretty soon because my job is sending me to Virginia,” he said.
Throughout his life, Slovick has found inspiration in the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
“It can be aggravating too, not being able to see God’s plan for me and my life,” he said. But when Slovick’s life has taken unexpected turns, the verse helps keep him optimistic. “I dare to believe,” he said.
Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.