July 4, 1972, Eugene, Oregon Independence Day Celebration. Before the fireworks, the local R/C club flew a demo under the stadium lights with 3-4 planes at the same time. My 13-year-old self was bitten by the bug right then. Started saving my money and bugging my Dad. A year later, he figured I was going to keep bugging him, so we went to Bob's Village Hobby in Fresno, bought a CG Falcon 56 MkII kit, a Testor's 35 R/C (pos!) and a used Futaba 4 channel a serviceman had brought over from Japan.

I've gotten out of the hobby a few times, but have been actively involved for the last 23 years. I enjoy building, designing, modifying, tinkering, helping, learning, buying, selling, collecting, recycling, teaching, racing, and just plain fooling around with model airplanes. Two of my three sons really enjoyed the hobby, and now I've got a couple of grandsons....

I also enjoy welding and fabricating, firearms, motorcycling with the wife, and building and tinkering in many forms. I am blessed with an understanding wife who recognizes the value of a man who can fix stuff.