I left Mississippi in 1973 for Texas and stayed there in the newspaper business until 1991. I've worked as sports editor in Harlingen and Plainview, Texas; as regional editor in San Angelo, Texas and as editor and publisher in Big Spring, Texas. I've also served as editor in Fayetteville, Ark. and Scottsbluff, Neb. (a minus-74 wind chill is tooooo cold for Southern blood!)

I left Texas in 2001 for a publisher's job in Thomasville, NC and came to Bogalusa exactly one week before Katrina hit in 2005 and have been here since. I've published three photo history books -- Howard County, Texas, Fayetteville, Ark. and Thomasville, N.C. I was also recognized by the Texas State Senate in 2001 for my community service and my newspaper was just named "Newspaper of the Year" by the American Corrections Association for coverage of penal issues.

Along the way I've worked to perfect the institution of marriage (3) and divorce (2), but am very happily married (8 1/2 years, 2008) to Stephanie (RN/nursing instructor at local college). Have two step-children, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild. I'm no longer skinny and no longer have a flat top. I'm a cancer survivor of four years.