I grew up in Arlington, Texas and I obtained my novice ticket in 1973 and received the call WN5GMD. I retested in 1986 and received the call N5JWU. I kept this call until the vanity call system was introduced and I received my current call.

I have an Master of Science in Geology from Texas Tech University and have been working as a petroleum geologist for the last 25 years. I have made the typical oil field rounds and have worked one tour in Midland, two tours in Houston and I am currently on my second tour in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. My wife has a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Sul Ross State University. We do not have any children, so I have a lot of hobbies in addition to amateur radio, namely astronomy, meteorology, and jeeps.