Born 1948 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the oldest of six children, son of a Registered Nurse and a Carpenter/Machinist.

Attended Bellarmine Prep, Tacoma, Washington. Worked own way through. Valedictorian 1966. Active in football, wrestling, karate, band, chess club, sodality, Boy’s Club, YMCA, Eagle Scout, worked summers of '61, ’63, ’64 for Bellarmine Library, worked weekends for John P. McMonagle, Tacoma Postmaster.

Attended Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington, BA 1970. Worked own way through. Summa Cum Laude, 4.0 average in major. Wrestled, played intramural sports. Active in societies, politics.

1966-69 Worked summers on railroad (BN), docks.

1966 Summer worked two 8-hour jobs, railroad and docks.

1966-1970 Volunteer and worked at St. Joseph’s Children’s Home (Academic years).

1970-71 Taught at Morton High School. Prepared and taught six different classes, coached.

1971-72 Worked with handicapped at Goodwill Industries, Spokane.

1972-77 Taught at Gonzaga Prep, History Department Chairman. Built up a successful apartment business.

1977-79 Took two years off, lived in mountains. Backpacked, read, learned to know daughter, thought, studied.

1979- Went to work for Estate Planners & Associates.

Earned Certified Financial Planner (September 1980) designation.

Sold real estate – residential, farms, and apartments. Conceived, organized Western Empire Foundation for Charitable Trusts.