I can remember the spelling tests on Friday, which I studied for 5 minutes before the test. I remember Mr. Hall telling us about being bitten by a rattlesnake, which made him very ill. I remember the enthusiasm and energy Mr. Hall brought to Spanish class. I remember answering Mr. Hall correctly in Spanish and his "Muey bien!" were a much anticipated response. I can remember Mr. Hall helping me with a Spanish passage from a John Steinbeck novel Cannery Row – "Pon un condo a la cabesa!" Even Mr. Hall had to look that one up. I was, as my dad would say, a "knot head" when I was younger (some say I haven’t changed), but Mr. Hall earned my respect and admiration. Mr. Hall was the first teacher I had that had "long hair". Not only was his hair long, it was gray. In the words of a ‘70’s teenager – "That was cool!" Until recently, I thought all the Spanish I learned in Mr. Hall’s classes had gone to the wayside. I have been working on projects (for the United States Navy) in Puerto Rico and have amazed myself that I can still converse in Spanish with the locals. That is a credit to Mr. Hall’s persistent "Muey bien!"

Since Lackland HS, I graduated from Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz, Texas. I subsequently graduated from Texas A&M with a BS in Petroleum Engineering (1984). I worked for Core Laboratories in Dallas after I graduated. I met my future wife at work. I went through Officer Training School (Medina – where I lived while going to Lackland HS) and got my commission on December 17, 1985. I was married to my wife (Vickie Fuller) four days later. I went to Mather AFB where I received my (navigator) wings. I received additional training and became an Electronic Warfare Officer (E-dub) in a B-52. I was assigned to Barksdale AFB, (Bossier City) Louisiana. I stayed in the Air Force for 5 ½ years. While in the Air Force, I pursued my MBA. I graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a MBA (Finance) in May 1991. I subsequently moved to Knoxville, Tennessee with my wife and got into the Environmental Engineering business, where I have been ever since. I have three boys, ages 10, 7, and 3 years old. Two of my three sons were born in the University of Tennessee Medical Center. The last son was born in The Woodlands, Texas. I moved back to Texas (Houston) in the summer of 1996. In the summer of 2000, I took a transfer with my company and I am now living with my family in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The job is much less stressful and I can now enjoy my sons to the fullest. I miss Texas, but I love it here. I am blessed and life is good.