|
My Job.
July 15, 2001 to present
I am an IT Support Technician III, and Potable Water System Operator, employed at Texas Tech University Center at Junction and the Llano River Field Station. My responsibility at the Center is to maintain all computer and networking equipment. Assist Faculty, Staff and Students with operating programs, software and electronic hardware. Duties include working with OLLI, ArcGIS Mapping, purchasing, desktop support, wireless support, research and much more.
As of October 2018, and after obtaining my Class C Ground Water License from TCEQ, I became the Potable Water System Operator for the Junction Campus, to go along with my normal Job as Computer Technician. In December of 2020, I passed my Class "C" Surface water exam, becoming a double C Water Operator. On Nov. 14, 2024 I took and passed my TCEQ Exam to become a Class B Ground Water Operater.
My Diagnosis: CANCER
UPDATE: As of February 2024, I am in Clinical Remission. However, I will need to continue taking capecitabine, a chemotherapy drug, for the remainder of my life, to keep the Cancer in Check.
In October of 2018, as I near the 50 Year mark, I followed medical advice and had my first Colonoscopy. The exam revealed that I had a unique type of Polyp that was not removable by traditional means, as well as a diagnosis that I had diverticulosis. A biopsy was done on the polyp, and it came back as "negative" for cancer. I was referred to a specialist and we discussed options for treatment. It was recommended that I have surgery to remove my sigmoid colon, but there was no rush for the procedure to be done. Due to my busy schedule, I delayed surgery for about 11 months.
I had my surgery on Sept. 16, 2019. The surgery went very well. Then things went from good to dire. A thorough biopsy was done on the remove colon, and test result reveal that It WAS "Cancer" all along. Not only that but it has spread to my lymph nodes, 14 of them to be exact. My new Diagnosis is now Advanced Sage IIIc Colon Cancer. The good news is all cancer tumors have been removed, and CT scan show no other organs currently affected. I am currently on 6 months of Adjuvant Chemotherapy, using FOLFOX and FOLFURI with Avastan. My treatment will run from Mid-October of 2019 to March of 2020, with the desired outcome to be no further spread of the cancer. The odds of a cure, given MY diagnosis, is about 50/50, current treatment options are optimistic, in preventing recurrence for the near future. Apon completion of the IV Chemotherapy, I began a lifelong regime of Chemo using pill form, Capecitabine (Xeloda).
My current and ONLY Goal at this juncture in Life is to take it one cycle at a time. To enjoy my Family, my Friends, and the Fact that I am still Alive. Everything else is just superficial.
B.A.S.S. Nation
2024 - Stop #1, Possum Kingdom Lake. I will no get into details, but I waited 37 years to fish this lake. It did not disappoint. Managed 11 keepers on the day, with a 5.5lb kicker, to top off a 15.5 lb limit and a 4th Place Finish. My 2nd Best Tournament Finish to date. Up Next, Team Event with my daughter at O.H. Ivie. Weather was terrible and managed two shorts at that Trip. Stop #3 Brownwood. Had a decent practice, but only ended with three keepers for 22nd place. Stop #4, State Championship at Cedar creek April 10-14. Practice showed great promise, tournament days sucked. Had one keeper each day and finished middle of the pack at 42 out of 100 boats. Stop #5, my favorite lake (or used to be until this tournament). Fishing was tough for most of us. Had a limit on day one, my smallest limit to date on this lake, for 12.44 lbs. Only 1.6 lbs out of 10th and less than 3 lbs out of 5th (one fish). Day two sucked, my only 0 for the year. Nuf said about that day!!! Stop # 6 O.H. Ivie, my Achillies heal. Day one I only managed 3 keepers, which was good enough for 15th place out of 32 anglers. Day 2, and I managed to catch my first 5 fish limit on this body of water in a tournament. Had a limit of 13.67 lbs on a tough day, where only 5 limits were caught out of 32. Placed 7th, which help me secure a top 12 spot for the Angler of the Year race and spot in the championship.
2024 Championship would be held at Lake Stamford (the little muddy) this year. Had several good bites in practice and boated two 3.5lb fish. Day one of the tournament was terrible. My boater and I only had one keeper each, however he ended up in 3rd and I in 5th for day one. Day two was much better for me, as I ended up with Big Bass overall on the non-boater side, at 5.63 lbs, had a limit of 9.83, for a total 2-day weight of 12 lbs. Good enough to land me 2nd place in the championship. My 2nd best finish in my 4-year career. This qualified me for the 2024 State Team, and a trip to the 2025 B.A.S.S. Nation Central Super Regional Championship. Can’t wait until then.
Overall, was my best year on the Nation Circuit. I have improved each year and am starting to win a little money back. I also had my first official sponsors this year, one of which paid my entry fees for the year and has committed to doing the same next year. Until then stay tooned.
2023 - First tournament of the Year was a good one. Came in 9th out of 26 and missed a paycheck by less than one pound. It was a tight tournament between the 9th and 2nd. Only 2.6lbs separated those nine anglers. 1st place apparently had a honey hole, as he brought in over 24lbs to take the win. Finished the Season with 4 top 10s, and 14th overall in the AOY Standings. My Best year so far as points go. Learned quite a lot this year, so looking forward to 2024.
2022 - 1st Nation event of 2022 was Granbury, My first trip there. Finished 14th, Then to the 2022 State Championship at Lake Belton, 47th at that one, a poor showing at OH Ivie, where I almost lost a finger (stopped using braid), then a great time at my biggest career event, the 2022 Bass Nation Central Regional at Grand Lake, OK. Caught plenty of fish during practice, a limit on day one, then not so good on day two. Finished 63rd out of 78.
My Next event after that was a Lifetime Best on the water. Texas BASS Nation NW Region, Final Event at E.V. Spence. Had a terrible practice but found a good spot late in the Day. Got to my spot in the morning of Tournament and put a 20lb limit in the boat withing 30 minutes, anchored with, at that time, my biggest bass in over 25 years, a 7.24 brute. By 2pm, I increased that weight to 27.93, anchored by another brute at 7.58 lbs, and Tournament Big Bass. I would win my very first Bass Tournament by over 4lbs over 2nd place, and the two biggest Bass of the event. I videoed the entire day. I landed 22 fish over 2lbs that day and broke a couple of big ones off. That qualified me for the Championship, where I finished 3rd in the non-boater division on Lake Brownwood
In July, I partnered up with a friend and entered a Texas Bassmaster Team Trail. We finished 5th at Stillhouse Lake and qualified for the State Team Championship in Sept 2022 at Lake Sam Rayburn. We Placed 11th overall at that event.
2021 - After dealing with Cancer, I made the decision to pursue my lifelong Dream of fishing in the Bassmaster Circuit. In 2021 I began fishing in the Texas Northwest Region of B.A.S.S. Nation. In my first tournament of the 2021 Year, I earned my first check by catching the Big Bass of the Tournament. Adjusting to the rigors of Tournament Fishing, I struggled after that tournament but ended the Season strong, earning an 8th place finish with my career best 5 bass limit of 17.84 lbs.
During the 2021 Year I also had the opportunity to fish the B.A.S.S. Nation Texas State Championship as a Non-Boater. During the two-day tournament I weighed in a 6 bass limit (3 bass per day), 5.37 lbs on day one, 8.95 lbs on day two, for a total of 14.32 lbs and a Third-Place finish and my second check. The third-place finish also qualified me for the 2021 Texas State Team. With that qualification, I will be fishing in the B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional Championship, May 4-6, Grand Lake, Grove, Oklahoma, representing the State of Texas.
My affiliations and community involvement.
Lieutenant, Junction Volunteer Fire Department (Retired): Update. In September of 2022 and after 20yrs 6 months, I officially retired from Active Duty from the Junction Fire Dept.
In March 2002, I became an active member of the Junction VFD and the Kimble County Ranch Fire Association. In March of 2008 I was selected as the 2007 Junction VFD & KCRFA "Firefighter of the Year". I served as the President of the Department for the 2010 year. Working with the Junction Volunteer Fire Department allowed me to become certified as an Advanced Scuba Diver in November 2004. In February of 2010, I was State Certified as a Basic Fire Firefighter, Wildland Firefighter and Level II Instructor. In the fall of 2011, I took and passed my test to become an Accredited Basic Fire Fighter. In March of 2021 I was promoted to Lieutenant and became the department’s Certification Coordinator.
Kimble County 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor/Coach: In the fall of 2008 I was certified as the 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor and Coach. I restarted the 4-H Shooting sports program in the spring of 2009 with 15 students from age 10-18. Since 2008 I have written grants to the NRA Foundation on behalf of Kimble 4H Shooting Sports and to date have received over $44,000 in grant funding for the program. I also assisted students in receiving over $25,000 in scholarships from the NRA Foundation. In the fall of 2011, I was honored by our local 4-H by being named the "4-H Volunteer of the Year" and was awarded the Golden Clover Award by the District, an honor which I consider one of the highest I have ever received. 2020 will begin our 12th year of the program
Chairman, Kimble County Friends of NRA- Established March 2010. In May of 2010 we held our 1st Annual FNRA Banquet and netted over $5,000 for the NRA Foundation. Our last banquet was held in March. of 2017, we raised over $23,000 for the Foundation. Since 2010 we have raised more than $100,000. Monies raised at these events are used to help support and promote Shooting Sports throughout the Country. With half of it going to 4-H, Boy Scouts, ROTC and other youth related shooting sports organizations.
Chairman, Texas Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) - In 2015 I was selected to serve as Chairman of the NRA's Texas State Youth Education Summit. A program that introduces High School sophomores and juniors to their State Government and the role that future generations of voters will play. In 2018 we selected 12 students from the three NRA Regions in the state (West Texas, South Texas and North Texas) to represent their prospective regions in Austin. From those students, we will select three (one from each region) to represent Texas at the 2018National Y.E.S. Conference held in Washington D.C. For the upcoming 2019 campaign, we will have 4 regions to choose from, selecting 5 students from each of the 4 Regions. (South, North, East and West)
Co-Chairman, West Texas State Fund Committee (Friends of NRA), I have served on this Committee since 2010 and was elected as its Co-Chairman in 2011 and served in that capacity until January of 2018. The State Fund Committee is responsible for receiving, reviewing and recommending for approval all grants submitted to the NRA Foundation in the West Texas Area. In 2018, we granted out over $300,000.00, to area 4-H, Boy Scouts, ROTC, FFA, Law Enforcement and museums. With the addition of a 4th region, my area was re-assigned to the South Texas Region. I look forward to working with my new committee for the 2019 campaign
Texas Parks and Wildlife Certified Hunting and Boating Instructor. In the fall of 2015, I was certified by TPWD to teach both the Hunter Safety Course and Boater Safety Course as required by State Law to hunt and boat in Texas.
Past President, Junction Rotary Club: I was a member of the Junction Rotary Club from 2001 to 2009. I served as President for the 2007-2008 year. I served as the club Treasurer for three years from 2002 to 2005 and served as Vice-President for the 2005-2006 year and President-Elect 2006-2007. I was in charge of the Annual Exotic Hunt Raffle, which was our biggest fund raiser of the year, raising over $8,7000 in 4 years as its director, which was used to award scholarships, support local charities, and give to the Polio Plus Foundation. I was named the 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2006-07 and 2007-08 Fundraiser of the Year. I was selected as the 2007-08 "Rotarian of the Year". In the summer of 2009, I resigned from Rotary to fulfil my obligations as the 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor and Coach.
Past President, Kimble Hospital Foundation: I was one of the Founding members of the Kimble Hospital Foundation, an organization created to raise money to support and expand our hospital here in Junction Texas. I was elected and served as its first Treasurer, serving in that capacity from 2002 to 2007. In January 2007 I was elected to serve as the President of the Kimble Hospital Foundation. In 2009, as President of the Foundation, I assisted in the efforts to pass a $16 Million Dollar Bond to build a New Kimble County Hospital. My Term as President expired in Sept 2009, serving a total of 7 years on the board.
Junction Independent School District, Board of Trustees Place 1: In 2004 I got involved with the school system, and politics. I ran un-apposed for place 1 on the School Board and was sworn in on May 12, 2004. In 2009 I was re-elected to my second term, running un-apposed for the second time. I served as the Board Vice-President during the latter half of my first year and served as Board Secretary from 2006 until 2010. I was the first board member in our district’s history to be certified by TASB and receive a Boardmanship Basic Certification and accepted into the Leadership TASB program, a program that hand selects only 35 School Board Trustees from across the state to attend the yearlong intensive leadership development program. I graduated from the program in 2007 as a Master Trustee. In 2010, I ran a third time but was defeated in my re-election bid.
Certifications and Achievements.
Associates of Applied Science (Computer Maintenance/Networking)
TCEQ Class C Ground Water Operator (Class B pending)
TCEQ Class C Surface Water Operator
TEEX Certified Water Operator
Lieutenant/Certification Coordinator, Junction Fire Department (retired)
Accredited Basic Firefighter
Certified Wildland Firefighter
Certified Level II Fire Instructor - Junction Fire Department
Certified Open Water Advanced Scuba Diver
FEMA Certificate of Completion: Emergency Manager -
Emergency Management Institute's Professional Development Series
(Over 30 hours of CE Courses in Emergency Management)
Certificate of Completion for Department of Homeland Security WMD (Weapons of Mass
Destructions) Hands-on-Training (HOT) Course in Anniston AL
TPWD Certified Hunter Safety Instructor
TPWD Certified Boater Safety Instructor
Certified 4-H Rifle Instructor/Coach
NRA Certified Instructor - Rifle
NRA Certified Range Safety Officer
Winchester/NRA Distinguished Expert – Rimfire Prone
Winchester/NRA Expert – Smallbore Prone
Awards
4-H "Volunteer of the Year" - Kimble County - 2011
4-H Golden Clover Recipient - 2011
"Firefighter of the Year", Junction VFD & KCRFA - 2007
LTASB Master Trustee, Class of 2007
"Rotarian of the Year", Junction Rotary Club - 2007-08
"Fundraiser of the Year", Junction Rotary Club - 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008
2001 ALL-STATE Academic Team - Howard College
2001 ALL-USA Academic Team Nominee - Howard College
Howard College Presidential Award, Student of the Year- 2000-2001
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
.
My Hobbies:
I am passionate about outdoor activities. Aside from my family, Fishing, Hunting and Shooting are the things I love to do most. I am a strong believer it promoting and protecting our precious resources. I also believe strongly in teaching our children the value of our heritage and natural resources and that it is only through our children, can we protect its future. It is our responsibility as adults and leaders to pass our knowledge on to our younger generation, least we have no future.
For most of you that know me, I am also a diehard Hockey Fan, and my one and only favorite team is the Dallas Stars. When I'm not working, volunteering for something, fighting fires, hunting, Fishing, or out at the range, you can find me in front of the TV watching the Stars.
“Education, I fear, is learning to see one thing by going blind to another.”
“We face the question whether a still higher "standard of living" is worth its cost in things natural, wild, and free.”
“The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?”
“There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.”
“At first blush I am tempted to conclude that a satisfactory hobby must be in large degree useless, inefficient, laborious, or irrelevant.”
“...the most fun lies in seeing and studying the unknown.”
― Aldo Leopold
|
