I started growing Cattleyas under lights at 9 years of age. I now have been growing orchids/Cattleyas for 60 years.

I had a nice career in Quality Assurance and Regulatory, most famously my time as Director of Quality Assurance for Jim Beam Brands Worldwide. (People somehow think drinking for a living must be fun?) I am now retired.

I am lucky enough to have my wife Jeanette, two children, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

So far only one of my grandchildren has expressed any interest in orchids, but she is still too enamored with     "men". However, she did display at our local show and got two AOS Trophy Ballet nominations.

I am an AOS Orchid Judge of 35+ years, and have accumulated more than 50 AOS awards over the years.