USAFA Class Heritage

I was born in Huntington, W.VA. and attended 12 years of Catholic school. I earned my private pilots license during high school and applied for an AFA appointment twice, attending Marshall University before receiving  an appointment for the class of 1963. After graduation I went to UPT at Williams AFB and my first duty assignment was T-38 IP at Laughlin AFB which was switched to a T-37 IP at Webb AFB several weeks later. I resigned in 1968 and was hired by TWA on the B707 based at san Francisco. My career at TWA was "up & down" lasting until 1984. In 1984 I was hired by Far West airlines in Fresno and was a captain flying YS-11 aircraft. Unfortunately, the airline was under capitalized and went bankrupt a year later. I joined the California ANG in 1972 and flew C-119s for 3 years, then transferred to the Fresno ANG in civil engineering for 3 years, and then to AFA liaison officer to finish my 20 years for reserve retirement.

I purchased my own business in 1981-two Baskin Robbins stores in Fresno, CA and enjoyed the self employed way of life until 1997. I did some consulting in the workers comp safety field for a number of years until full retirement in 1999.

My wife, Jan and I moved to the mountains near Lake Tahoe in 1999 and enjoy skiing, hiking, traveling, and doing volunteer work. We have 4 children and 9 grand children. Our life has been good and we have good health.