Born during the Great Depression in rural Alabama, his family moved to the Southwest when he was six months old. He describes his life journey over the next 70 years, which was strongly influenced by the great societal and technological changes of that period. Most of his life choices were driven by a need to succeed. His strong independence and leadership qualities were identified early. From high-school dropout and military service to Ph.D. in physics validated his drive.

Being a young paratrooper, living in Africa in the 1960s, and long motorcycle trips added a bit of excitement. Long hours working and leading high-technology programs in California afforded many opportunities for scientific and technical contributions and led to extensive travel, much of it foreign, which he describes in some detail.

Here is a man who is tough, fair, out-spoken, and a whole lot of fun. I saw him as a handsome, charming man, who found love and family. Children and grandchildren enriched his life. He had many trials and tribulations, and he faced them all squarely. You might say, like Zorba, he experienced the full catastrophe.

Roberta Claire, a friend