As far back as I can remember, I wanted to go to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and become a career Army Engineer officer. My dad served in World War II and remained in the Army Reserves afterwards so I had some appreciation of what life in the military could be like. Learning that West Point was habitually one of the three hardest colleges to enter, I worked on conditioning so I could pass all of the possible physical tests administered as part of the entrance exams. I became involved in Boy Scouts, church activities, and school sports. I worked to keep my grades high, and eventually I received my appointment to West Point, graduated in the top 8%, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Air Defense Artillery.
After Graduation leave, I reported to the Air Defense Officer’s Basic Course (TDY) at Fort Bliss with subsequent PCS orders to a Hawk Missile unit in Vietnam. But God had other plans for my life. I learned that the Hawk unit was no longer in Vietnam, so I chose an assignment in Germany – a newly-activated Vulcan/Chapparal unit. In late August I met Jane and we were married several months later. We have been happily married for more than 50 years and have one son and two granddaughters.
Jane and I were the only Americans living in a small farming community outside Bitburg airbase. In the fall of 1972, I decided to take some time to see southern Germany, so I applied for leave for a religious retreat to Berchtesgaden. Once again God had other plans for my life, and it was during that retreat that I dedicated my life to Jesus Christ.
After a hardship (no dependents authorized) assignment in Korea, I received a US Army Reserve (USAR) commission, spent 22 years in the 75th Division in Houston, Texas and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC).
My civilian career has been varied and exciting. We moved from Houston to El Paso to San Antonio and back to Houston where we have lived for the last 34 years. I started as a sales representative for commercial air-conditioning equipment in Houston, Texas and proceeded through several project manager jobs to Program Manager/Vice President. During this time, I completed my MBA at UT San Antonio – my Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) training and Green Belt training. At one time I was a Program Director for the renovation of 30 school campuses for the Houston Independent School District. I am currently working as Project Manager for Major Projects for Johnson Controls, Inc.
I spent seven years in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) learning all I could about the Bible, God’s will for our lives and the nature of Jesus. I am active in our church and served as the Men’s Ministry Leader, Accountability Group Leader, Deacon, Bible Study teacher. I learned that as long as my focus is on Jesus I will have JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself) and this perspective complements the motto of the United States Military Academy of ‘Duty, Honor, Country’!