Biography
The Early Years
I was born in Denver, Colorado in 1955 (you do the math). I spent every summer in the Rocky Mountains at my Grandma Ruth’s house in Estes Park. We fished, rode horses and go-carts, and spent lots of time hiking around in the Rocky Mountain National Park. I played in snow on many July 4th’s at 12,183 feet on Trail Ridge. I was a mountain boy until the end of the sixth grade. I still love the mountains!
My Teens
In 1967 my dad, a sixth grade teacher, got tired of shoveling snow. Fresno Unified was interviewing at the University of Colorado, Boulder, so my Dad went down and interviewed. He came home that day and said, “We are moving to Fresno, California.” I was smart enough to ask if it was near the ocean (he said that it was), but not smart enough to look at a map. It’s two and a half hours to any part of the Pacific from here. I attended Ahwahnee Junior High and Hoover High School where I played soccer (before it was a letter sport). I have many great memories of my high school days and nights.
College
After high school I worked at a gas station for about a year and then got smart and signed up for college. I spent 5 years at Fresno City College (a two year college, never mind) and then transferred to Fresno State. I got a BA and a teaching credential. I was on my way to fame and fortune – finally!.
Fame and Fortune
After college I went to work at a private Christian school. I did not make enough there to feed a mouse, but I did meet my future wife at the school. After two years she went to work for Fresno Unified and I went to work at a paint store, a big ranch and then back to the paint store. After another two years of working hard and dating Lois, she decided she would marry me, but only if I got a real job. I went to work for Madera Unified right away! I am not very famous and I can’t make a fortune working for Madera Unified, but I am very, very, happy.
My Family
I have been happily married to my wife Lois for 24 years! When I met her she had three small children. Our oldest boy, Steven, is now 32 years old and a fine salesman for a national glass company. Our middle child, Michael, is 30 years old and is also a saleman for a local solar electricity company. Michael stands 6 feet 11 inches tall ! Our daughter, Megan, is 27 and very beautiful. She has recently blessed us with a beautiful granddaughter name Catherine Margaret. In the last six months, Catherine has become the center of our world. Michael is married to a wonderful girl named Portia, and she brings a lot of joy to our family. We love them all very much.
Lois and I live in Fresno, California. Lois has taught 3rd grade for over 25 years and is now a Lit. Coach for Fresno Unified at the same school. We enjoy playing golf and ping-pong. We both are water people and spend as much time as we can at Pismo Beach or floating on our boat at Shaver Lake. If we can’t get to big water, we swim in our pool or just sit in our hot tub. We love water! We attend Northside Christian Church where Lois sings in the choir.
