# 28 -- One Page Autobiographical Statement

I was born in Agana, Guam, on August 23, 1952. My father was in the US Navy, and my
mother was with him there. I grew up in a small town, Tipton, Ks, until age twelve, when my
father, a civilian at this time, moved our now four children family back to Guam (1964).
Our family was made up by then of myself, a sister two years younger, and two brothers,
one four years and the other six years younger than me. My mother had given birth to another
girl, two years younger yet, who died three days after birth.
During my time in Kansas I was involved in the Catholic Church. I had my First Holy
Communion, and went through Confirmation classes and was confirmed. Also, I served as an
altar boy.
A memorable instance of my youth, while still living in Tipton, Ks, that I am proud of:
my father put me in charge of a thoroughbred race-horse, around age ten. I was responsible for
all of the daily care of the horse, and for exercising it daily, The care and training took place over
a winter, and in the spring my father took the horse to a race track, where she won in her very
first race.
I entered junior high school when we moved to Guam, followed by high school.
I went to school with a multi-culture make-up of students: students from China, Japan, the
Philippines, the Micronesian Islands, Hawaii, and students from the Northern Mariana Islands.
White kids from the mainland were in the minority. I have experienced what it’s like to not be
part of a dominant culture.
I served in the USAF for four and one-half years. After training for the weather service, I
served in Oregon, where I met and married Claire, who had a one year son. Then we moved to
Guam. I finished my tour on Guam, and was discharged there. The primary reason I asked to be
sent to Guam was because of the multi-faceted culture. Another was to enjoy the Island itself;
the reefs, the sailing, the weather.
I built a 35’ sailboat while on Guam, and sailed it to the Northern Marianas Islands, as
part of a plan to sail longer distances. I wrecked the boat on a reef of Pagan Island. A part of that
loss that was somewhat unexpected: my wife and I divorced after moving back to the US.
Subsequently, I worked with my father in Kansas for several years, painting in the oil
fields. I bought a 25’ sailboat, trailered it to Louisiana and sailed it from there to Florida. There I
met my present wife, Joeanne. We will celebrate our 27th anniversary July 17th.
After sailing to Florida, and marrying Jo, I secured a job in the US Virgin Islands
managing a fleet of sailboats in a sailing teaching school. After several years of teaching and
managing, I went into the sailboat delivery business. A highlight of this time: I sailed trans-
Atlantic three times, twice as captain of the boat. Following this time, I moved into being a
delivery captain for marijuana smuggling. I was arrested on the high seas in 1986. I pled guilty
to charges leveled against me, and served time in Federal prison, followed by probation.
I used this entire experience to stop, and yes, turn my life around into an entirely new
direction. I have stuck to the new direction. I re-entered an active faith life (I had become
disengaged earlier while on Guam). In 1989 I began higher education. I worked hard. I
completed undergraduate studies, followed by earning my master’s degree. I continued; earned
my Doctorate.
While in my undergraduate studies, I began working in church. First as an assistant to
the pastor, then as an Associate Pastor, and then as Sole Paster of a church for over ten years. I
have also utilized these years to dramatically increase my self-awareness. Presently, I am seeking
a new call as Pastor; using this time of my life as an opportunity to begin broadening and
deepening my movement into my new direction established twenty years ago. I intend to
increase my positive influence for good in an expanded sphere of influence.