Hometown: Tyler
Present City: Plano
Education: BS Electrical Engineering and MSEE from UT-Austin
Profession: Engineer
Tell us about your family.
Laura and I were married for 49 years in June. Our daughter, Amanda, is married to Mike Dorn, and they live in Dallas. They have two sons, John, 11, and Charlie, 9. Our son, Kyle, is a software developer and just moved back to Plano from LA. My father was a church starter and real estate developer. My mother played the piano and my grandmother managed the “nursery” in those churches. My Uncle Harley married Alice Bagby, and they were missionaries in Brazil. I have a brother 13 years older and a sister 10 years older.
How about your work?
I am president of a small company that builds rapidly deployable wireless video surveillance equipment for law enforcement and emergency management. Four of us founded the company in 2005.
Any favorite hobbies?
I enjoy traveling, having dinner with friends, fishing and playing ping-pong.
What are your favorite places to travel?
I have visited all 50 states and really enjoy the mountains. I enjoyed Norway, the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and walking the streets in Ephesus.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
We joined in 2001 when we moved back from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Where are you engaged at Wilshire?
Laura and I direct the Foundations of Faith Sunday School Class. Over the years I have served on the New Member Committee, Committee on Committees and Finance Committee. I worked on two strategic planning teams plus the Grow Team and Belong Team as part of Vision 2020. I served on mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. I am currently vice chair of deacons. I enjoy greeting guests and love to hear their stories. I started Wilshire’s video streaming in 2009 and enlisted David Hammons and Dave Donaldson. We started streaming the 11 a.m. service with one camera and a tripod. We were one click above home movies.
Tell us about your faith journey.
I became a Christian at age 7, but I am still learning what it means to be a Christ follower.
What’s something interesting most people would not know about you?
1. My photo was in Money magazine.
2. When I was deacon chair at Broadway Baptist, Tim and Karen Gilbert moved to Wilshire. When I was deacon chair at Wilshire, the Gilberts moved back to Broadway!
3. I have eight patents.
What adjectives best describe you?
Organized, hardworking, friendly, inclusive, sentimental.