I was born in Phoenix, AZ on June 24, 1938, attended elementary schools in Phoenix and graduated from Peoria High School in 1956. I was always active in sports, mainly football and basketball.
I became interested in horses when my first cousin, Gene Johnson, took me to the north Phoenix Western Saddle Club when I was 12 or 13 and my equine enthusiasm took off from there.
After high school, I attended ASU where I was active in Rodeo Club and competed in NIRA as a team roper. I graduated with a BS in Agronomy in 1963.
I continued my rodeo interest with the ARA for several years then joined the NSPRA in Las Vegas in 1979 and competed in the team roping throughout the Southwest.