- Department: Kinesiology & Phys Ed
- University: James Madison University
- Location: Virginia
At age 26, I had the world by the tail. As a new Ph.D., I had my first academic appointment, a new house and a new marriage. Three years later, all of those things were gone. The job didn't work out like I wanted and I took a research position. My wife decided she didn't want to be married anymore and didn't come with me. So, by age 30 I had learned that I wasn't in control. A hard lesson for a control freak. I had grown up going to church, but it didn't have much meaning for me. I decided to start going again during this rough period. The pastor at the church I started attending was a really great guy and seemed to be genuinely interested in me, rather than recruiting another member of the congregation. After attending a weekly bible study at his house, I decided to give over control of my life to Jesus. It was actually an easy decision as I was pretty sure he'd do a better job of it than I would. Since then, I have felt a lot more fulfilled in the last 10 years than I did in my first 30 years. I've got a new wife and wonderful stepson, a career I love and a much better attitude.
Friends describe me
humorous
My hobbies
running, reading, watching my stepson play high school football.
Fantasy dinner guests
Jesus (Have to have that one, right?), Thomas Jefferson, Arthur Lydiard, Bill Cosby
Best advice I ever received
Hard to say, a lot of things my dad told me over the years have proved true...
My undergrad alma mater
James Madison University
My worst subject in school
Geology. I could have done better, but I took this freshman year and didn't concentrate on it much.
In college I drove
72 Plymouth Valiant. Ugly green color. It was beautiful.
If I weren't a professor, I would
be an engineer.
Favorite books
Once a Runner, Running with the Buffaloes, Screwtape Letters, Blue Like Jazz, The Junction Boys, The Great Divorce, The Bible
Favorite movies
Wedding Crashers, Old School, Good Will Hunting, Dogtown and Z-boys, Juno
Favorite city
Harrisonburg, VA
Favorite coffee
Whatever's coming out of my coffee maker, not picky...
Nobody knows I
have grown to like my wife's little yappy dog.
My latest accomplishment
qualified for the Boston Marathon.