USAFA Class Heritage

Entered the Academy from suburban Chicago.   After graduation, pilot training in Arizona flying T-37 & T-38 aircraft.  Then Forbes AFB, KS flying C-130  missions in U. S., Europe, Caribbean and South America. In mid 1966 assigned to CCK AB, Taiwan flying C-130 missions mostly in Vietnam.  Returning to the U. S., assigned Vance AFB, OK as a T-37 instructor/check pilot.  Resigned in 1970 to attend Stanford Business School.  MBA 1972. 

After business school, joined a small, well financed public company with plans to expand by buying a portfolio of different business.   I managed the acquired companies starting as General Manager and progressing to President.  Included in the companies acquired was Simplex Products Group in Michigan and Anthony Group/Shakespeare Company in South Carolina.  .  Resigned in 1983 to pursue my ultimate goal of buying and managing  my own company.  After a lenghty search process, which included working with major buyout firms, I bought an underperforming industrial distribution company in Columbia, SC.  Turned it around; then made a series of acquisitions to create AIS, Inc with 10 distribution locations in the Southeast.  Sold it to a large French corporation and stayed on for the obligatory two years as President through 2001.  Next a large bank engaged me to help with some of their troubled portfolio companies.  That consulting work included serving as interim CEO of a large sporting goods company. Retired from active management in 2007. 

Living in Columbia, SC.  Married since 1965; two children, three grandchildren.