Born in Oklahoma, raised in East Texas, USMC Vietnam veteran, B.A., M.A. UT Tyler; published writer of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and articles; certified Texas educator for life UT Tyler-1992; certified ABA-approved advanced litigation paralegal-2004; one year of successful law school-Thomas Jefferson School of law-San Diego, CA-1981-82; retired from U.S. Department of Veterans Attairs-2020;