After 23 plus years serving the local church, I am now officially retired from episcopal appointment in the itinerant ministry of The United Methodist Church.
I was born in California's San Joaquin Valley at the end of WWII and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. I served in the U.S. Military as did my forebears. My paternal grandfather served with "H" Troop, 2nd U.S. Cavalry between 1912 and 1915. Dad served in the U.S. Army in World War 2.
My two brothers and I all three enlisted in the Air Force on the same day in 1964. At the end of my tour in Vietnam, I reenlisted in 1968 and eventually retired after 27 years of continuous active duty.
I came on active duty the day before the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was signed by LBJ and retired following the successful conclusion of Desert Storm. During my military career I was stationed overseas for more than 12 years. I spent 2½ years of my first enlistment on the Pacific rim. I was overseas for 9½ more years (between 1978 and 1990) of my last 12½ years in uniform:

• Clark AB, The Republic of the Philippines (Dec 1964 - Jun 1966),
• Cam Ranh Bay AB, The Republic of South Vietnam (Jul 1967 - Aug 1968),
• Osan AB, The Republic of South Korea (May 1978 - May 1979),
• Hq Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT), Brunssum City, The Kingdom of the Netherlands (with NATO) (Jun 1979 - Jun 1983), and
• Spangdahlem AB, The Federal Republic of Germany (Jan 1986 - Aug 1990).

I graduated with an A.A.S. (in Communications and Operations Technology) from the Community College of the Air Force in 1990.
I earned a B.A. (in Liberal Arts) from Oklahoma City University in 1994.
I went on and received an M.Div. from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1997.
Donna and I were married in May 1967; we have two marvelous children, three wonderful grandchildren, and a very precious, energetic, and super-smart great- grandson. I have one surviving brother who finally moved out of California.
My real my passion in ministry is worship; I love preaching and teaching. I previously served as Senior Pastor at

• Wanette and St Mark's (at Maud) UMCs in Pottawatomie County, in the former Ardmore District of the Oklahoma UMC
• Edgewood (in Hartshorne) and Dow UMCs in Pittsburg County, in the former McAlester District of the Oklahoma UMC
• Cordell UMC in Washita County, in the former Clinton District of the Oklahoma UMC
• Henryetta UMC in Okmulgee County, in the former McAlester District of the Oklahoma UMC and finally retired at
• Dewey United Methodist Church, Dewey (Washington County), OK in the former Bartlesville (and current) Green County Districts of the Oklahoma UMC.
• In retirement, I was sent to Harrah UMC (Oklahoma County), OK in the Crossroads District where I have been serving as a part-time intentional interim pastor.

My hobbies and pastimes include

• Genealogy (I got hooked on chasing my ancestors back in Junior High School);
• The shooting sports (I enjoy shooting pistols and revolvers -- I do some Cowboy Action Shooting with the Single Action Shooting Society).
• I enjoy photography and fondly remember shooting 35mm as well as large format 120 and even 4x5 sheet film. I have a digital SLR and I'm having to learn all over again. And lately,
• I received my Technician Class Amateur Radio License (KF8DLD) and am studying to pass the examination for my General Class License. Also,
• I'm also a bit of an amateur astronomer.