U.S. Navy ‘60-’63; Texas A&M; Texas Game Warden (31 yrs., now ret. thank God!); Private Investigator; Honor Guard bagpiper; former Scoutmaster (15 yrs.), husband, Dad of 3, Grandpa of 7 grandgirls (I’m training them to spoil grandpa but in reality, I jump at their every whim...).

Like Robert E. Lee (no, I'm not comparing myself to such calibre of a man, gentleman, Christian, I fall far short of him!) as he thought of Virginia, I think of Texas as my "country" but interwoven in all that is the fabric of AMERICA above all.

It all came together when, as a sailor coming back to the ship from Liberty in a port in Japan at sunset, the flag flying from its staff on the stern seemed to be glowing. At that point, all the lessons my dear Mom impressed on me about patriotism, duty and service came together and left me speechless. I knew then the real meaning and blessings of being an American.