Age: 78
Home: Porterville.Occupation: Retired history teacher; ex-Marine.Hobbies: Model aviation (free-flight), motorcycles, photography, collecting and restoring antique toys, guitar (I sing at local nursing homes), magic, art, president of the South Valley Peace Center, Visalia, contributor to progressivewriterbloc.com, poet (working on my 12th book), children's committee of the Visalia Friends Meeting, reading, watching World Championship Moto GP racing, organizer of the le Cercle Francais-Porterville, running our dogs, was a Tulare County Sheriff's volunteer for seven years, ran graffiti abatement program for the South County, and of course, watching the Opinion page in The Bee.Bee reader since: 1989.How many letters: 48 since 1996.Favorite topics: Politics, environmental issues.Why do you write? I am of the belief that the only way you can have a democracy is by being informed and sharing opinions based on fact and research. I enjoy a good rant.Education: Graduated from UCLA in sociology in 1959. Also attended Lewis and Clark in Oregon, L.A. City College, El Camino College, Valley College-LA, Porterville College, Alliance Francaise-Paris, Centre Universitaire de L'Unfersite de Nice-France and others.Family: Son and granddaughter in Ohio; four grandkids, two great-grandkids and a fantastic extended family of friends.Political philosophy: As Ghandi said: "God is truth, truth is God." I am a proud progressive. Society needs to be based on compassion and truth.-- Compiled by Pam Rowse