I have just past the 3 score and 10 year mark.  I have been happy married to the same great lady for almost 50 years.  We have one son and one daughter with 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.    We recently sold our home and move into the farm house on our daughter’s land. 
I love to hunt, fish and spend time in the outdoors.  I recently purchased a new camera and spend time taking wildlife and outdoor scenic photographs. 
I am truly a jack of all trades and a master of none.  I spent my earlier years working at a saw mill and running a veneer mill.  I later worked in the road construction trade as a heavy equipment operator, mechanic and welder.  I spent 10 years as a master field mechanic for a local Cat dealer.  My wife and I sold all of our possessions in 1978 and moved to Burleson, TX to attend SWBTS in Ft. Worth. We moved to Cullman, AL in 1980 to accept the pastorate at Sardis Baptist Church.  I resigned in 1982 and started college.  After graduation I got a job in the IT department and work there until I retired in January of 2008.
I have work with wood all of my life.  My father was a millwright at a saw mill.  I spent Saturdays and summers following him.  I my first job was at the mill.  I did a lot of carpenter work but became interested in tables, chests and furniture in later years.
In 2003, I built my grandson a chess table.  I choose one that had a pedestal leg.  I purchased my first lathe from HF and a set of Buck’s turning tools from Home Depot.   I turned the leg for the chess table.  The only thing I knew about turning was what I had done on a metal lathe.  I had no idea what tools to use or how to use them.  The tool I ended up using was the skew laid flat like a scraper.  I was hook at that point.
My turning was interrupted for a couple of years while I remodel our kitchen.  The cabinets are built with cherry rails, styles and face frames.  Quarter-sawn sycamore was use for the panels and left about ¼ inch proud. 
I returned to turning in 2005.  I begin to teach myself.  Later, I joined the Alabama Woodturners Association in Birmingham.  I learned a lot from the monthly demos.  I studied the shapes and works of the other members during the show and tell session each month.  In 2006 I took me first class at John C. Campbell.  The next spring I went to PA and spent the weekend with David Ellsworth.
It wasn’t long before the 12 inch swing on the HF lathe was enough, so I added a 2 inch riser block.  Now it was under powered.  I ordered a 2400 Vega in 2006.
My main focus is on hollow forms.  I found that I have been influence a lot by the Navaho and Pueblo Indians of America.  I also turn a lot of bowls and platters with natural edges.  While I think that the wood from the lathe can speak for itself, I am beginning to explore the use of airbrushing, pyrography and piercing.  I would like to try piercing and airbrushing on some Christmas ornaments.