My Story
The earliest portion of my life as I learned later in life was centered upon fear. At the age of five years old my parents divorced while we lived in St. Louis Missouri. After their (parents) divorce, my mother moved to Chicago Illinois. The consistent and constant instability in the first sixteen years of my life was almost unfathomable. By my senior year of high school I had attended eighteen different schools, three of them twice for a total of twenty (21) one schools in twelve (12) years. Between the ages of five and fourteen years of age I moved between St. Louis and Chicago six times. That early adversity shaped and molded me as it created a resilience and a self reliance with confidence.
This is the period in time when baseball became the central focus and purpose in my life. In September of 1963 I experienced my first major league game in St. Louis while 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.
After the brutal winter of 1967 ~ 1968 in Chicago, along with the devastating racial insurrection and race riots in the summer, my mother made the decision for us to move from Chicago to Hollywood California. That move to the west coast in itself completely changed my life and outlined my future in every aspect.
Upon my arrival in California, my first friend was Harry (Tawny) Van Vorst. Because he went to Hollywood High School, I also decided to attend the same school as I lived on the border of two schools. Two years later Tawny invited me to attend church with him at Hollywood Presbyterian. Little could I have realized the magnitude impact and life changing gesture of that simple invite.
At Hollywood Presbyterian we had two fabulous Bible school teachers in Jim Ferguson and Louis Zamperini. In the fall of 1970 I visited La Brea Tar Pits and it was that day I was presented the idea to repent of my sins, and accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I always thought it was intriguing, that the same location of the largest creatures, the dinosaurs, lost their lives, I found mine, The dinosaurs got stuck in the muck for all time, is the exact location that I got out of my muck and unstuck for all of eternity. Irony for certain!
Side note, my high school Bible teacher, Louis Zamperini who was instrumental in my early spiritual walk was one of the truly great men of God in the twentieth century. In fact, Angela Jolie made a very successful movie of Zamps life called "Unbroken." His story is both remarkable and amazing God chose Louis for my life's purpose and benefits. God is Amazing!
One of the most incredible opportunities happened in the fall of 1970 while my friend Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs was visiting to play the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ernie (Banks) and I became well acquainted and friends in 1967 while I still lived in Chicago. With Ernie's Los Angeles visit, he picked me up at my apartment, and he was driving us to Dodger Stadium for a night game. Our conversation soon evolved into my future ambitions and desires. I mentioned I wanted to try and become a Los Angeles Dodger batboy to further my desires to become a Major League baseball player. When first arrived at the stadium we surprisingly walked together into the Dodger clubhouse. We always walked to the opposite Chicago Cubs dressing room. The Dodger clubhouse manager was Nobe Kawano, Ernie's (Banks) good 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 on my first major league field and wearing my first major league baseball uniform. Ernie Banks was inducted into Major League baseballs Hall of Fame in 1977 in Cooperstown, New York. More to come!
Some of the most amazing aspects that happened to me as a Dodger batboy occurred with my 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, he arranged for me to become the San Francisco Giants batboy.
The very next year, my senior year of high school, I moved to the San Francisco bay area and was 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 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 with my incredible journey.
After my desires to become a major league baseball player came to an heartbreaking and abrupt end, I joined the United States Army. After my discharge from the Army, 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 sights and aspirations for baseball only. God had a plan that I would embrace later.
Immediately upon arriving in Phoenix I enrolled for culinary school. After graduating from the culinary institute in 1975, That was the year my new adventures would be launched. Soon I became a waiter at the famous French Restaurant, Pierre La Massionette, a seven course five star type gourmet restaurant. Within one year, I became the Maitre' D. My future was being recalibrated and restructured for an outstanding 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 I attended numerous Phoenix Suns games. There was an acquaintance with one player in particular with the Sun's basketball team named Paul 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 at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. During my years in Phoenix, my memories are with establishing my culinary future and the Phoenix Suns. Coach John McCleod even 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 as did my spiritual walk. It was in Palm Springs I met my wife Phyllis. With her (Phyllis's) encouragement I sought employment in Las Vegas Nevada with the Flamingo Hilton Hotel.
One Godly man in particular who invested in my spiritual growth and greatly influenced my Bible studies was Pastor Al Lewis at Evangelical Free Church in Las Vegas. I had the immense pleasure of sitting under Pastor Al's teaching and leadership for several years. God absolutely demonstrated. God again placed a great man of God directly in my path.
In 1984 I was retained first as the beverage manager of thirty five bartenders and two hundred eight cocktail waitress's. After Phyllis and I were married, I no longer felt comfortable with my position at the Flamingo Hilton, I went to Horst DiZura the CEO to resign. After much persuasion, Mr. DiZura (CEO) offered 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 both Barron Hilton, owner of the Hilton Hotels and Benny Binion, iconic owner of Las Vegas 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.
We purchased a few acres, a small ranch in Sonora California and had sixteen fabulous years living life as a business consultant. Life in Sonora Ca., was fabulous. God had placed a prominent gentleman by the name of Gene Blount, a Godly man who was placed in my path for my future endeavors. Gene Blount tutored me for two years to become a successful business consultant in which I benefit from this very day. Genes' leadership skills led me towards consulting with major companies, corporations and personally built seventeen restaurants. Spiritually Gene had a tremendous impact on my spiritual walk.
In 2001 I began attending Calvary Chapel, after attending for twelve years under Pastor Miles McMahon leadership as senior pastor, I prospered and my faith grew. Without any question, I personally prospered more under Pastor Miles McMahon leadership more than anyone single person who has influenced my spiritual growth.
In 2003 my great friend, Bobby Bonds went home to be with the Lord Jesus. To honor him (Bobby Bonds), it was in 2010 I wrote and published "Baseball Legends & Legacies" as a tribute to my dear friend, Bobby (Bonds). The book was a huge success and sold thousands, mostly from our friends who knew him and loved him. 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, my spiritual growth, still baseball, and life in general while serving my savior, Jesus Christ!