My Story
From the earliest portion of life, I soon realized and learned my life was centered upon fear. At five years of age my parents divorced while we lived in St. Louis Missouri. After my parents (parents) divorce, mother moved to Chicago Illinois. Dad stayed living in the St. Louis area. There was constant and consistent instability during the first sixteen years of my life which was almost unfathomable. By the end my senior year of high school I had attended eighteen different schools, three of them twice for a total of twenty (21) one schools, all within a span of twelve (12) years. Five different high schools.
Between the ages of five and fourteen years of age I moved between St. Louis and Chicago six times. That
uncertainty and adversity molded my character as it created a resilience within and a type of self reliance that turned into confidence.
This is the period of time when baseball became the central focus and a type of escape that ultimately became purpose for my life. As years passed It became abundantly clear that God's Hand of blessing was upon me in supernatural ways as Major League baseball was monumental instrument.
The fall in September of 1963 was the first time I experienced a major league baseball game. At time I was living in St. Louis, I had the privilege of watching the legendary Stan Musial play in one of his last games after an extraordinary (22) twenty two year career all with the St. Louis Cardinals. That was very day baseball captivated my heart.
Between 1964 and 1968 I lived in both St. Louis Missouri and Chicago Illinois, which was approximately four hundred miles apart. During those years I bounced back and forth between my mother in Chicago and my father in St. Louis. This period of time I was between the ages of ten and fourteen years of age.
After the brutal winter of 1967 ~1968 in Chicago, my mother had made her decision for us to move from Chicago to Hollywood California. That move to the west coast in itself completely revolutionized my life while outlining my future in every aspect.
After arriving in California, the first friend I made was Harry (Tawny) Van Vorst. Harry became instrumental and had a major impact on me. Because Harry (Tawny) went to Hollywood High School, I decided to attend the same school as I lived on the border of two schools. In 1970 Harry "Tawny" invited me to attend church with him at Hollywood Presbyterian. Never in my wildest imaginations could I have imagined the magnitude or the impact that life changing gesture would have for the rest of my life.
At Hollywood Presbyterian we had two fabulous Bible school teachers in Jim Ferguson and Louis Zamperini
who became mentors then friends. In the fall of 1970 Fergie (Youth Pastor) and I visited La Brea Tar Pits, the famous location were dinosaurs were entrenched in tar for all of eternity.
That was the day I repented of my sins, and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It has always been interesting to me as I thought it was ironic that the same location that the largest creatures in all of history, the dinosaurs, lost their lives, I found mine, The dinosaurs got stuck in the muck of tar for all of eternity, coincidently happens to be the exact location I was delivered from my personal muck and then became unstuck for all of eternity. Irony for certain!
Side note, my high school Bible teacher, Louis Zamperini who was very instrumental throughout my adult life with laying the groundwork for my spiritual future. Louis Zamperini had one of the most spectacular testimonies and was one of the truly great men of God in the twentieth century. Years later Angela Jolie made a popular and very successful movie in 2013 of Zamps life called "Unbroken." His story is both remarkable and amazing. God chose Louis influence my life. God is Amazing!
One of the most incredible opportunities happened in the fall of 1970 while my dear Chicago Cubs friend Ernie Banks was visiting southern California while his Chicago Cubs were to play the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ernie (Banks) and I became friends in 1966 while I still lived in Chicago. During Ernie's Los Angeles visit, he picked me up at my apartment in Hollywood. He was driving us to Dodger Stadium for the game that night. Soon our conversation evolved towards my aspirations and future ambitions. As he drove I mentioned to Ernie (Banks) that I wanted to become a batboy for the Los Angeles Dodgers to enhance my opportunities to become a Major League baseball player. When we first arrived at the stadium we surprisingly walked side by side into the Dodger clubhouse which was unusual, in fact was the the first time. We (Ernie) always walked to the opposite side towards the Chicago Cubs dressing room. The Dodger clubhouse manager was Nobe Kawano, Ernie's clubhouse manager with Yosh Kawano's brother. Nobe was a friend of Ernie's (Banks) and a friend. After the introductions, Ernie told Nobe (Dodgers Clubhouse Manager) that his good friend Gary Hall wanted to be a batboy for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bam! That is all it took, and my life was instantly elevated to speres I could never have dreamed possible. In the spring of 1971 I was a proud batboy of the L.A. Dodgers walking onto my first major league field and wearing my first major league baseball uniform. Ernie Banks was a super natural human being as well as being one of Major Leagues all time greats! In fact, Ernie Banks was inducted into Major League baseballs Hall of Fame in 1977 in Cooperstown, New York. More to come about Ernie Banks!
Some of the most amazing aspects that happened in 1971 as a Dodger batboy occurred with my numerous major league baseball relationships. My job with the Dodgers was as the right field ball boys position. The right fielders that I played with on the field were Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, and the incomparable Bobby Bonds. Bobby (Bonds) and I became best of friends that year, in fact he arranged for me to become the San Francisco Giants batboy in 1972, the following year.
That next year, my senior year of high school, I moved to the San Francisco bay area and that provided a path for me as I became a San Francisco Giants batboy for the 1972 season. Again, I was amazed! But, it was part of God's ultimate plan for me. Amazingly I was in the same locker room and on the field with baseball iconic legends like Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays, Tito 23 Fuentes, Juan Marichal and Willie McCovey. No question God was guiding my footsteps while creating my incredible future and journey.
After the desires of my heart to become a major league baseball player came to a heartbreaking and abrupt end, I joined the United States Army. After my discharge from the Army in 1975 I moved to Phoenix Arizona. Here again, I was in a quandary, as I had very little education beyond high school with little or no direction after loosing my aspirations of becoming a major league baseball player, I had to refocus and commit other alternatives . God had a plan that I soon discovered and would embrace later.
Immediately after arriving in Phoenix I enrolled in culinary school. After graduating from the culinary institute later in 1976, that was the year my new adventures would become evident. Soon I became a waiter at the famous French Restaurant, La Massionette Pierre's, which was a seven course five star type gourmet restaurant. Within one year, I became the Maitre' D. My future was being recalibrated and restructured for my future. These are some experiences that would present a clear purpose that provided immense joy and complete gratification.
While living in Phoenix between 1975 and 1979 NBA basketball became a passion also as I attended numerous Phoenix Suns games. There was an acquaintance with one player in particular with the Sun's basketball team named Paul (Hofer) Westphal. It was during my high school years in Hollywood that I first met Paul (Westphal). His brother Bill also a outstanding basketball player was one of my mentors in 1970 at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. During my years in Phoenix, some of my fondest my memories include the Phoenix Suns. Sun's coach John McCleod allowed me to scrimmage after their (Sun's) practices. God always placed great people in my path and presented phenomenal opportunities that enriched my journey.
After Phoenix, I moved to Palm Springs California for five years as my culinary career continued to progress forward as did my spiritual walk. It was in Palm Springs I met my future wife Phyllis. With her (Phyllis's) encouragement I sought employment in Las Vegas Nevada and eventually was hired by the Flamingo Hilton Hotel.
In 1984 I was retained first as the beverage manager of thirty five bartenders and two hundred eighty cocktail waitress's. After Phyllis and I were married, I no longer felt comfortable with my position as the the beverage manager at Flamingo Hilton. I went to Horst DiZura the CEO to resign my position. After his persuasion, Mr. DiZura (CEO) offered me the Maitre'D's position in the gourmet room, the Beef Barron. As a Maitre' D I was more in alignment with my faith. That is where I served and became acquainted with iconic legends like both Barron Hilton, owner of the Hilton Hotels and Benny Binion the maverick owner of Las Vegas's Binion"s Horseshoe.
Two years later I was hired as a service captain for the famed Bacchanal Restaurant at Caesars Palace. In the Bacchanal we served seven course gourmet meals tableside. After fifteen years I retired from the Bacchanal gourmet room. In the Bacchanal Restaurant my spiritual opportunities and life flourished.
One Godly man in particular who invested in my spiritual growth in Las Vegas who greatly influenced my Bible studies was Pastor Al Lewis at Evangelical Free Church. I had the immense pleasure of sitting under Pastor Al's fabulous in depth teaching and leadership for several years. God absolutely demonstrated again to me as He (God) placed a great man devoted to God directly in my path.
During 1985 while living in Las Vegas and working at Caesars Palace I committed to attending the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings Montana. I graduated at the top of my class and became an accomplished bidcaller and auctioneer, much thanks to Jerry Ellis, the owner of the college, Jerry Ellis and I had common bond, in addition he and his wife are committed Christians (believers) in Jesus. Forty years later Jerry Ellis and I are friends.
God placed a business consultant and gentleman by the name of Gene Blount, Gene was a Godly man who was placed in my path to enhance and elevate my endeavors. Gene (Blount) was my mentor and tutor tutored for two years. After two years of shadowing Gene Blount I became a successful business consultant in which I benefit from this very day. Genes' leadership skills and spiritual depth led me towards consulting with major companies, corporations, as I now have personally contracted with seventeen restaurants and a few casinos. Gene had a tremendous impact as well on my spiritual walk. God has always been faithful to place the right men in my life for my greater good, and His (God) glory!
We (wife) moved from Las Vegas after spending twenty five years and we purchased a few acres, a small ranch outside of Sonora California. For our time in Sonora, I prospered as both a food and beverage business consultant and as a professional auctioneer. Sonora California was fabulous as I have now conducted hundreds of auctions. After retiring from Caesars Palace I've developed and had two careers, one as a food and beverage consultant and the second one as a professional auctioneer.
God had placed a business consultant and gentleman by the name of Gene Blount, a Godly man who was placed in my path to enhance my endeavors. Gene (Blount) tutored me for two years as I became a successful business consultant in which I benefit from this very day. Genes' leadership skills and spiritual depth led me towards consulting with major companies, corporations, as I now have personally contracted with seventeen restaurants and a few casinos. Gene had a tremendous impact on my spiritual walk.
In 2001 I began attending Calvary Chapel outside of Sonora. After attending for twelve years under Pastor Miles McMahon leadership as my senior pastor, my faith grew grew exponentially. Without any question, I spiritually prospered more under Pastor Miles McMahon leadership more than anyone single person who has ever influenced my life.
In my section titled baseball and ministry you can read the awesome journey and path Bobby Bond and I shared. In 2003 my great friend, Bobby (Bonds) went home to be with the Lord Jesus. To honor him (Bobby Bonds), in 2010 I wrote and published "Baseball Legends & Legacies" as a special tribute to my dear friend, Bobby (Bonds). The book was a huge success, thousands were sold across the United States and in several countries. Bobby Bonds was more than a friend, he was my brother!
Today as my journey continues, I purposely walk forward and upward with my passions for sharing the gospel, and my spiritual growth, still and always baseball, and life in general while serving my savior, Jesus Christ!