USAFA Class Heritage

Logged 5000 hours in the C-124 (that was the big four engine recip with the clamshell doors in front) after pilot school at Vance in OK.  Then multiple flights monthly into Viet Nam for six years including carrying troops from Ft. Bragg in and returning with anything and everything including, sadly, caskets.  Remembering how flight operations would come to an uncomfortable halt at the small TAC bases we supplied, parked on the loading ramp as one wing hung out over the runway.  Fighter pilots at those bases amazed that an A/C that fat and ugly could still fly.

Graduated from Ohio State with MBA in Finance in 1972.  Woody Hayes was still there storming the sidelines.  Hired into North American Rockwell Corp as a financial and strategic planning analyst at the corporate office in El Segundo.  Advanced to Corporate Director, Financial and Strategic Planning for Aerospace & Electronics Operations.  Exciting times: Rockwell was heavily involved in Apollo, Gemini, Saturn, Space Shuttle, it's main engines, B-1 and B-2 programs.  Chief Financial Officer at several Rockwell operating divisions which developed and built the Hellfire missile (originally HELFIRE for helicopter), submarine inertial guidance and warfare systems, GBU's, microelectronics, etc..  All needed financial guidance and I enjoyed being the fix it CFO. 

Recruited to be CFO at Fairchild Industries (DC area) in late 1980's to turn around an old but reputable aerospace company.  Corp office still had the Fairchild airplane which was the first to fly over the North Pole hanging from the ceiling in the lobby.  Eventually left the aerospace industry for an interesting job as Vice President of a research company in Alabama doing both government contract and independent basic research in anti-cancer and anti-aids programs.  Another turnaround situation.

Left Corporate America in late 1990's to open and run a Native American art gallery on Main St in the heart of the arts and antiques district in Scottsdale AZ.  My wife Sharon and I had for many years been avid collectors of original Native American art and used our shop to acquire and sell original Navajo blankets, Pueblo and Hopi pottery, Zuni jewelry, stone sculptures, carved folk art, etc..  The well-known Heard Museum in Phoenix promoted us as the best "Navajo Gallery" in the area, came to us for advice on contemporary Navajo artwork and sent some of their Native American artists to our gallery to display and sell their work.

"Retired" 2007 in Las Vegas NV, but it didn't last long.  In 2008 we joined a friend in starting up and running a Kumon Math and Reading center here.  After we put the business together, I began teaching high level math to high school and college students while Sharon took on the job of developing operating procedures and basically running the place which grew to an enrollment of over 400 students when we finally said "Enough".

2013:  I think we're finally retired now and still in Las Vegas.  Sharon and I have six children, nine grandchildren and our first great-grandchild in the hanger!