I have been blessed with great parents who were college educated and were both public school teachers. We may not have been blessed with an abundance of money, but we never wanted for anything. My Mom & Dad were a part of the “Greatest Generation” that survived the Depression, the Dust Bowl, and WW II. Christian and American values of hard work, fair play, respect for others, enjoyment of sports, music and literature, and turning a deaf ear to racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice were internalized early on. When I suffered some setbacks (usually due to my own peccadillos), I have been able to lean on God, my wife and sons, and my upbringing to bounce back and persevere. I owe a lot to my faith in God, my parents, family, and this country for the blessings I have received. I have also decided over the years to learn from my mistakes and grow from them and to chuckle at some of the twists and turns like throws at you – knowing in the end that God is in control.