My wife, Carol, and I met while in college. We were in a Bible Study together with about 8-10 other students. The leader of the study assigned people who didn’t know each other to share a meal together at the campus dining hall each week. After a few weeks, Carol and I were paired together. We shared a three-hour meal together – not because we ate so much, but because we were so comfortable talking with each other. A couple of months after that, I asked her out on a date, and that was the start of things. We were married in July 1979 in Cleveland, Ohio. Carol is a registered nurse, but does not currently work outside the home.

We have two daughters – Stephanie and Susan, who were born in 1984 and 1987. They have each graduated from college, completed graduate school, and have their own families. Stephanie is a licensed counselor whose specialty is working with women who have suffered from abuse. Susan is a nurse practitioner, working in the field of mental health. They both live in the Dallas area. Susan seems to have inherited a love of running from her father. She has done very well in some marathons and half-marathons.

Stephanie has an adopted daughter who was born in 2011 and she gave birth to a baby girl in May 2016. Susan and her husband Aaron had their first child (also a girl) in March 2018. That makes me the grandfather of three WONDERFUL girls.

I have two brothers whom I grew up with, each of whom have their own families. One lives in Florida and the other in Tennessee. I also have two half-brothers who are a bit younger than me. One is married and lives in Utah. The other lives in California. Both of my parents are deceased.

For the past 20 years, we have held the tradition of taking a family vacation each summer. This has been a great opportunity to spend time together and visit some places we wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to see. We have done some cruises, been to Yellowstone Park, Hawaii, New York City, San Diego, Pensacola Beach in Florida, and Lake Travis in Austin. Whenever and wherever we get together, we all enjoy playing cards and board games.