I was born July 16, 1931.

My earliest exposure to science fiction was the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon comic strips in the daily and Sunday papers. I started reading the Big Little Books of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon early in grade school. I also listened to the daily radio episodes of Buck Rogers. One of the earliest paperbacks I recall reading was Murray Leinster's THE MURDER OF THE USA, published in 1946, while I was in high school.

On August 6, 1945, I was visiting my Scoutmaster in the evening, on some Troop business. He had the radio on in the background. I heard a mention of an atomic bomb, but wasn't paying attention to the radio. From time to time there had been mention of atomic bombs on the Buck Rogers show, so I figured he was listening to that. Only after I got home did I learn that was the news, not Buck Rogers. Atomic bombs were no longer Buck Rogers stuff.

By the time I was in high school I had discovered the Roy Rockwood "Thrilling Wonder" series: books about interplanetary travel. I had a whole collection of them. I devoured them. Unfortunately, they were thrown out, along with a lot of my "growing-up" stuff, after I left home and my parents had to move to a smaller house. At a recent WorldCon I saw two of them in practically mint condition, with immaculate dust jackets, in the huckster room. I had to have them. However, when I got them home, I found them unreadable. What had thrilled me as a child was now clunky and juvenile. I'd changed, but they hadn't.

By the time I reached high school I had discovered the magazines like ASTOUNDING. However, my parents wouldn't let me bring "that trash" into the house. It was only when I got to college that I started reading them regularly. I'd haunt the drug store whenever a new issue was due out, to make sure I didn't miss one. When GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION came out, it doubled my enjoyment. Now there were two top-notch magazines.

While I was a Freshman, the Miami University Science Fiction Association (MUSFA) was formed by an older student, George "Jake" Early. We met monthly, to discuss stories we'd read. Jake and I attended several meetings of the Cincinnati SF club, that had shortly before held a WorldCon. I met people like Lou Tabakow, Bea Mahaffey, and Nancy Black. Jake and I also thumbed our way to Bellefontaine, not too far from where I now live, to attend the first MidWesCon, There I met Bob Tucker and other midwestern fans.

Jake arranged a showing of the movie "Things to Come" at Miami, as a fundraiser for MUSFA. That allowed us to fund some activities like donating books to the library.

After Jake graduated, I became MUSFA president, until I graduated. We continued to meet, to discuss stories, and to discuss our attempts at writing. I actually submitted a few stories to editors such as Fred Pohl, none of which sold. The club seems to have fallen apart after I graduated.

Upon graduation I was commissioned in the Air Force. My fannish activity, except for reading my ASTOUNDING subscription, pretty well ended. After a tour in Dayton, Ohio, the Air Force sent me to Ohio State to complete my PhD. By then I'd married, and had a daughter. Despite the time required for studying, I started writing again. I made my first sale to John Campbell at ASTOUNDING. By then my mother had changed her ideas about "that trash." She even had an article put in the local paper about my published story.

In 1960 I attended the WorldCon in Pittsburgh. I knew that Robert Heinlein's novel STARSHIP TROOPERS was nominated for the Hugo, so I took my copy along. To my pleasant surprise, John Campbell invited me to have dinner with him and several other people, including Heinlein, the night of the Hugo awards. When the announcement came that the book had won the Hugo I ran up to my room, grabbed my copy, and got Heinlein's autograph on it before the evening was over. That started a friendship with Heinlein that lasted until his death.

After leaving Ohio State I was assigned to Washington, DC. Jake was also settled in Connecticut. We decided to attend NYCON in 1967. That was to be my last 'con for many years. My next several assignments were to places where there was no fanac, and to duties that didn't permit me to travel to 'cons. Eventually I reached retirement and left the Air Force as a Colonel in 1975.

At the time I retired, I was stationed in Dayton, Ohio. Because my children were in high school, I settled there rather than disrupt their high school years. I got a job as a research scientist at the University of Dayton Research Institute. The Dayton area turned out to be located almost in the middle of a lot of fannish activity. I went to the first MILLENNICON, then held at the Dayton Airport hotel but now held in Cincinnati, and have been a regular attendee ever since. Both CONTEXT and MARCON are held in Columbus annually. I've attended these 'cons regularly for most of the past twenty years. I also try to attend ARCHON in St. Louis, and ConGlomeration, in Louiville, annually. I frequently appear on panels at 'cons, and sometimes do book signings.

At one ARCHON I was put in the same time slot for signing as George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu on the original STAR TREK series. We sat at adjacent tables. I signed a total of three books. George's fans lined up out the door and down the hall. He was busy the entire half hour we were given. Despite the number of people who wanted his signature, he treated each person as though they were the only one there. He signed whatever they presented, chatted with them, posed for pictures, and then greeted the next person in line. He was a very gracious gentleman.

I was never much of a Trekkie, but I did watch a few episodes of the original series. I watched a few episodes of STAR TREK: TNG, and decided it wasn't my cup of tea. I occasionally watch something on the SyFy channel, but don't have time for regular viewing. I still do a lot of reading. I have subscriptions to each of the major magazines, and get books frequently from the Science Fiction Book Club. Other than attending 'cons, though, I'm not involved in organized fandom except for First Fandom.

I can't recall how I learned about First Fandom. However, I encountered Bob Tucker at an ARCHON and asked if he'd sponsor me. I reminded him of something he'd said at that first MidWesCon, just to prove I'd been there. He agreed to sponsor me, and I've enjoyed being a member all these years.

Has Science Fiction affected my life in any way? If I hadn't started off as a fan, I probably wouldn't have tried my hand at writing. It wasn't the sole influence on my choice of a career as a scientist, but it was a major influence. In any case, it's given me a lot of enjoyment and given me the chance to meet some very interesting people.