CITIZEN SOLDIER — CITIZEN LEGISLATOR

I was raised on a farm in rural Putnam County; the youngest of eight children. I attended elementary and high school in Baxter, Tennessee where I lettered in sports andas a member of the Debate team. I was President of my Freshman and Junior Classes; Beta Club, French Club, Speech Club and member of the National Honor Society. I was voted two superlatives— Mr. Highlander and Mr. Upperman High.

In 1968, just two days after graduating from high school, I enlisted in the Marine Corps as a Private. I served two years Active Duty and another two in the Marine Corps Reserve before being discharged as a Sergeant. In 1972 I transferred to the Tennessee Army National Guard and subsequently wascommissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1974. I served in leadership positions in a variety of units and situations to include the 1978 Police and Firefighters Strike in Memphis. I transferred to the Army Reserve in 1979.

During these years, I got married and began my family. My wife and I were blessed with two sons, Stacey and Todd (now deceased). I also began my college education enrolling at Tennessee Tech University while working part-time as a Distribution Clerk at the Cookeville Post Office. In 1972 I transferred with the Postal Service and became a City Letter Carrier in Nashville. I soon rose through the ranks to Supervisor, Station and Branch Operations; Customer Service Representative and, in 1978, Postmaster at Centerville, TN. I continued to pursue my college education graduating with a B. S. Degree in Business Administration in 1978 from the University of Tennessee – Nashville campus.

While serving as Postmaster in Centerville I attended night courses at Middle Tennessee State University graduating with a Masters Degree in Public Administration in 1980. In 1981, I transferred to the Cookeville Post Office where I served as Supervisor, Mails and Delivery. I was very active with youth programs during this time helping to organize the Tee Ball Program in Baxter, serving as Coach followed by Chairman of the Association. Over the years, I have helped reorganize and served as Chairman of the Junior Pro Basketball Association in Baxter; coached girls Junior Pro basketball with one of our teams winning the State Championship; coached boys Junior Pro basketball and Little League Baseball.

In 1990 I was mobilized to serve in Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm where I served as Operations Officer / Camp S-3 for an Enemy Prisoner of War Camp in Southwest Asia; next attached to the 2nd Armored Division (Fwd) as Officer in Charge of the Task Force Rafha Refugee Processing Team and, later, Officer in Charge of the Enemy Prisoner of War Liaison Team as part of Central Command (Fwd) coordinating with the Saudi Ministry of Defense, Saudi Medical Command and the American Embassy on issues related to treatment of U. S. captured prisoners transferred to Saudi control, camp conditions, and claims against the United States Government. My team also coordinated with the International Committee of Red Cross to account for Iraqi prisoners captured by U. S. forces subsequently transferred to Saudi control.

For my service in the Persian Gulf War, I was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Some of my other awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (6 awards), Army Commendation Medal (3 awards), Army Achievement Medal (2 awards), NATO Medal, and Kuwait Liberation Medal. After Desert Storm I returned to civilian life where I was employed by the United States Postal Service as Postmaster in Livingston, TN and later in Monterey, TN. I also served as Adjunct Faculty with Volunteer State Community College teaching Introduction to Business, Introduction to Management and Operative Supervision. But in 1996 our nation again called upon me and I mobilized for a tour of duty serving in Bosnia and Croatia as an Operations Officer and later, Camp Commander, with the 1st Armored Division as a member of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) during Operation Joint Endeavor.