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I was born to parents who were born and raised in the small farm towns of Northwestern Illinois. Mom was raised in Pearl City and dad in Orangeville, both small farming communities. Much of my family still lives there today.
We moved often when I was young living in, Wisconsin, Illinois, California, Ohio and finally Colorado. I grew up in Aurora, Colorado just outside of Denver. I loved it! I learned to love the mountains, the skiiking and the Denver Broncos! The Broncos are still my favorite thing about Colorado.
I finished high school in Aurora and then of to Umpire School. Yes, I wanted to become a professional baseball umpire and to do so you need to attend one of the accredited umpire schools. I did well, finished as number one student and secured a job. I worked ten years in the minor leagues. I worked in the Pioneer League, California League, Texas League, Pacific Coast League and had the proverbial “cup of coffee” in the American League.
After ten years of professional baseball I retired at the ripe old age of 29 and became a dedicated husband, father and student. I finished my 110 hours I needed in two years. Worked full-time, owned a business and managed to finish school at UTPB. My plan was to teach, but I was redirected for a few years.
I served as Education Director, Youth Pastor and Associate Pastor in two different churches. We moved to Elkhorn, Nebraska where I became the Youth Director at a large church. We didn’t care for Nebraska and moved back to Phoenix, where I had lived while I was umpiring. I took a job as a stock broker with Edward Jones. I loved learning about the financial market, but was not as crazy about cold calling. After a year I left to do something really wild.
I took a job as a youth detention officer. I learned more in that year and a half than at any other time in my life. But, this was a step, not a destination. We moved back to Midland and I took a position as an Associate Pastor. I loved it! After two years I decided it was time to do what I had wanted to do since I was in high school: teach!
I took a job at San Jacinto Junior High teaching social studies and coaching. After a year I was able to concentrate on teaching and this year became a Department Chair at my school. I have enjoyed that part very much.
I have the good fortune of being married to a beautiful Texan, Melissa. She has blessed me with four wonderful kids. Two are in college, one going into high school and one, hold on, is going into kindergarten. Her name is Tori and she keeps my quite busy, but she is a blessing. Todd Jr. and Taylor Jean are attending our local Junior College. Trenton is entering his freshman year at Midland High.
I have a couple of part-time gigs as well. I serve as a youth pastor at St. Paul Methodist (check out our youth web page) and umpire college baseball at the division I level.
For fun I love to camp, read, run when I am healthy and try to play as much golf as I can. I am still chasing that hole-in-one and under 70 score. I also am a computer enthusiast and love all things in technology. I love the use of instant communication. And I am thinking about buying a motorcycly, wife says I am nuts, but will ride with me. What more could a man ask for?
