I grew up in North Palm Beach, Florida where I was fortunate to enjoy surfing, boating, fishing, scuba diving, riding motorcycles, and racing cars at Palm Beach International Raceway. In 1968 I traveled with Cast C of the Up With People musical group, including a three months tour performing all over Italy. After returning to Florida I joined the United States Air Force as an aircraft mechanic, beginning a long career in aviation. During my active duty I spent some time in 1969 and 1970 in Vietnam and later was assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron's Hurricane Hunters for two years in Puerto Rico. A few years after leaving active duty I joined the Air Force Reserves in 1977 as a C-130 Flight Engineer for three years. Then from 1980 to 1989 I managed maintenance bases for several freight airlines on large turbo prop and jet aircraft in Missouri, Utah, Arizona, and Texas until I was finally hired as an Aviation Safety Inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration at DFW Airport, Texas, until retirement in January of 2010. I currently live in Spring Hill, Florida and enjoy Caribbean cruises and scuba diving. My travels brought me to places in about 25 different countries and through parts of all 50 states, of which I lived for a time in 5 of them. I resided the longest in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas and I can say I truly miss Texas, but I don't miss the tornadoes.