My Family: I married Denise in August 1974. We have three daughters, all grown, and three granddaughters, two almost on their own and one in elementary school. Two of our daughters and the youngest granddaughter live in the valley.
My Story: I grew up on a farm in southwest Oklahoma in a Christian family. I accepted Christ as my Savior when in grade school. I attended Oklahoma State University and received a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics Business and Marketing.
I was immediately drafted in the US military upon graduation and enlisted in the Navy rather than go to the Army. I attended Aviation Officer Candidate School and received my officer’s commission in 1973. I completed Navy pilot training in 1974 and flew for the next 20 years. I then retired with 26 years of service. Most of my career was located in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA area.
We stayed there another seven years after the Navy as I worked as a government contractor. We moved to Oklahoma to help with the farming in 2005 where I managed and did the farming for three years. I later worked for the Farm Service Agency and then as an Army Civilian until moving to Festival Foothills in 2015.
During each phase of my life I can see where God was preparing me for something he had/has planned.
Things Most People Don’t Know: I am currently an Maricopa County Arizona Master Gardener, and I also was one in Virginia Beach.
My Trademark Expression: I don’t know. Maybe that is it.
Besides the Bible, My Recommended Reading Would Be: God’s Smuggler by Andrew van der Bijl, Elizabeth Sherrill, and John Sherrill – A story of great faith; The Other Side of Infamy by Jim Downing with James Lund – Starts at Pearl Harbor and tracks Jim Downing’s career in the Navy, his great faith and as a founding member of the Navigators a faith based group; Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand – A story of a POW in Japanese prison during WWII, his conversion during a Billy Graham crusade after the war and the change it made in his life.
I’m Most Excited About: The plan God has for CSV and its people.
My Favorite TV Shows: Sports less NBA, Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds
In My Free Time, I Usually: Run, watch TV with my wife or bike.
