I was born March 30, 1932, on my mother’s family farm, west of Midway Airport, Chicago, which is now inside the Chicago limits. My mother passed away in October 1938, and my father took off, so my sister, Neva, and I were raised by Dad’s parents. My father remarried in 1943, and we remained in Chicago.

I was educated in the Chicago Public School system and went for a year to college in 1950-51. I joined the Marine Corps on Aug. 5, 1951, and served in the Korean War assigned to the 1st Marine Air Wing. I spent 13 months in Korea and 3 months in southern Japan from August 1952 to November 1953. I was discharged in August 1954.

I went to work for Northern Illinois Gas Co. in August 1954. It was a good-paying job, and I went to college at night. I met my wife, Carole, in college and got married in June 1960.