I was born in 1955. After graduating with a computer science degree, I moved to Globe, AZ, to start my career working in the IT department of the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company. When I was offered a job making more money, I went to work at L.W. Hardy Turquoise Inc. and was there for about 6 years.

I began working with Hardy at the Pinto Valley mine and ended working at the Sleeping Beauty mine. I started as a “picker” and ended up as a cat skinner running a D8 cat. As you can imagine, I was around a lot of gorgeous turquoise and other interesting minerals.

My main hobbies are collecting mineral specimens; the copper-based being my first love, collecting fine writing Instruments, ephemera, handwritten journals, and diaries. Firearms, benchloading, hunting, and target shooting. Antiques, numismatics, international travel, and a myriad of lesser distractions.

I have been retired for 6 years, as is my beautiful wife. We have 4 children, all grown, lots of grand babies, and two chihuahuas!

And I am really glad to have found this forum.