The Author
I grew up on a working farm in Southern Illinois, where life was simple, demanding, and deeply rooted in tradition. Our four-room farmhouse had hand-split wood shake shingles, an outhouse out back, and a hand pump for drawing water. Baths were taken in a galvanized tub in the kitchen, with water heated on a stove by my mother. We farmed more than 600 acres, raised Hereford cattle, and tended a family orchard. One of my responsibilities was raising registered Angus cattle—an endeavor that ultimately funded my undergraduate education.

My life has always been a balance of discipline, service, and creativity. With over five decades in the healthcare industry, I’m proud to be a 50+ year Master Mason and a lifelong Shriner. Outside of healthcare, I’ve pursued my passion for music, performing in numerous concert bands and over 40 community theatre productions of Broadway shows—many of them multiple times. My instrument of choice? The trombone.

I am blessed with three exceptional daughters, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren (so far). My oldest daughter is a distinguished surgeon, my middle daughter a gifted business leader, and my youngest serves as a Colonel in the United States Air Force.
I earned my undergraduate degree in Business Education from Arizona State University and went on to receive a Master’s in Hospital Administration from the Washington University School of Medicine.

My love of the arts and exploration has taken me across the globe. I’ve expressed my creative vision through photography, owned an art gallery, and brought my entrepreneurial spirit to life through ventures including a gourmet food shop, a catering service, one of the region’s first full-service internet providers, a photography studio, and, of course, the family farm.

Over the years, I’ve called many places home—Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey—but my heart belongs to St. Louis, Missouri.