Before 1973

I was born early in the morning of Saturday, February 14, 1959 in York, PA. Most people who know me would look at how close I came to being born on Friday the 13th and see a connection. I was the second of three children born to my parents, and my mother being a devout Roman Catholic, dedicated me to God as her first-born son. I was reminded frequently how much my mother desired for me to be a Catholic priest when I grew up. An interesting note is that there were only 49 states when I was born – no Hawaii.
48 Star Flag - (1912-1959) (U.S.)
US Flag When I Was Born
I went to several schools as a child. I went to pre-school during the period between my mother’s death and my father’s subsequent remarriage. Kindergarten was skipped but I went to St. Joseph’s Catholic school in Dallastown, PA for first and second grade. Sister (I forget her first name) Terese and Sister John Claire were my first and second grade teachers respectively. First Holy Communion and Confirmation were performed at St. Joseph’s when I reached the appropriate ages. 
St. Joseph's Elementary School where I spent 1st and 2nd grade
Starting in 3rd grade we were taken out of parochial school and enrolled in Windsor Manor Elementary where Miss Tyson was my teacher. For 4th grade I had Mrs. Fackler who had such a horrible time with my two friends and me that she saw to it that the three of us were sent to separate schools for 5th grade. So while my younger brother stayed at Windsor Manor, I was shipped off to Mazie Gable in Red Lion, PA where I spent 5th grade with Mr. Willson (yes he had 2 Ls in his name) and 6th grade with Mrs. Sprenkle.
Building
Mazie Gable Elementary where I went for 5th and 6th grades
Schoolwork was easy for me and I ended up being a real behavior problem. That continued until late in 7th grade at Red Lion Junior High where I finally got my act together . It was also at that point that I found sports – and loved it. I competed in intramural football and basketball during the fall and winter for 7th and 8th grades as there was no league available. But when the spring came, and I discovered track and field, I found my true love. They allowed 7th graders to compete in the freshman league so I started throwing the shot and discus with abandon. The older boys were better so I tried harder. I practiced my technique thousands of times until the throwing motions were natural and by the 8th grade I was large enough and good enough to compete with the freshman finishing the year by finishing 5th at the district meet in discus.
Junior High Track Results
8th grade track results. These were pretty typical as I only occasionally beat the older kids.
My freshman year I went undefeated in both events in all dual meets. I was awarded third place at the district meet for the shot put and I think I finished 6th in the discus. I was very disappointed at my failure to win at least one event as I had a shot at both of them. It was this failure that lead to me to choose to compete in track during my high school years - I couldn't end my track career choking (as I saw it).
Discus Relay Record
Scott Warner and I broke the record Steve Miller and I had set the previous year. I think I heard that Scott and someone I don't remember broke it the next year.
Baseball was my life in the summers. For years my summers were like the 1993 movie The Sandlot. I played all day long with the only interruptions being meals. After the first season, when I was too scared to even swing, I ended up being a pretty good hitter, making the all-star team every other year. I was awarded Best Hitter for my last year in the 10-12 league. I continued playing in the 13-15 league, intending to play high school baseball as soon as I was eligible. But school rules at the time forbade me participating in two sports so I was forced to choose between track and baseball my sophomore year. I chose track and although I played baseball the summer of my sophomore year, it was the last summer of baseball.

Best Hitter Award
Best Hitter announcement - my 1st real success in sports

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