I was in the Navy and saw, first-hand, the effects of front-line combat.

Once we identified Curtiss-Wright and saw some of the things it had accomplished for the U.S. Navy, we knew we had a good fit. There are other great industrial motor manufacturers out there, but Curtiss-Wright had the best combination of high tech motor and engineering expertise for this project.

My parents were strict and taught me the proper fundamentals that I would use in my life. They taught me commitment to work hard.

It's hard to believe a kid hitting golf balls in the cow pastures of New Mexico could have accomplished what I have accomplished.

When I was in first grade, the kids called me 'fatso.' It hurt, but the way I overcame it was to outrun every kid in the class. So I developed a thick skin, and athletics became my way of performing and being accepted.

I had all kinds of allergy problems with certain meats, and with fruits and vegetables with pesticides. So I turned to bear, caribou, venison, hippopotamus, buffalo, elk and moose. Taste-wise, buffalo and elk are tied for first. Not gamy, and loaded with protein. And very expensive, I might add.