Born May 24, 1942 in Carroll County, Georgia. I attended public schools in Spalding and Douglas Counties.

I enlisted in Marine Corps on June 15,1961 and I was assigned to 1st Battalion, B Company, Platoon 130 MCRD, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduation on September 12, 1961, I was sent to Camp Geiger, North Carolina for advanced infantry training. After completing A.I.T., I was assigned to 1st Platoon, L Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While with the 6th Marines I made several trips to Vieques, Puerto Rica and on my last trip L Company was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in June, July, August and part of September 1962. Upon returning to the States, and while on leave, was recalled to Camp Lejeune in October of 1962 to participate in the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was promoted in September 1963 to Cpl. (E4) and assigned to Marine Barracks, Yellow Water, U.S. Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Florida where my duties were Cpl. Of the Guard and later Sgt. Of the Guard. I was honorably discharged on June 15, 1965.

I married Sandra Elder of Griffin and we have two sons, Darrin and Jason, a daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and one GRANDSON, JESSE, born August 17, 2005.