After graduating from Fair Park I worked for Cowen Photographic Studio for the next six years while attending Centenary College at night.  I graduated from Centenary in 1967.  In 1962 I married Shirley Willman (Byrd graduate ’61), who graduated from Centenary in 1964 and became a school teacher.  In 1967 I joined the US Army Reserves and served 6 months active duty at FT Dix, New Jersey.  Upon returning to Shreveport, using the money from Shirley’s teaching, I opened my 1st photographic studio. Over the next 40 years I opened, operated and sold 14 studios in Shreveport, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, and Texas.

In 1973 my first son Douglas was born, 12 months and 12 days later my 2nd son Fred was born.  Douglas now lives in Memphis, Tn. and has two daughters and a son.  Fred lives in Waco, TX and is not married. 

In 1985 because of the numerous politicians and celebrities I had photographed I was selected to photograph Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Inauguration. I hired 100 photographers and 200 support personnel to cover all the photography.  Four years later, I was selected to be the official photographer for George Bush’s Inauguration and then was selected for the same honor for both of Bill Clinton's Inaugurations.  In 1995 I was selected to photograph the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.  I photographed 196 world leaders including Cuba’s Castro and South Africa's Mandela. 

In 1987 I moved from Shreveport to Dallas and bought Gittings portrait studios (the studio had a lease with Neiman Marcus).  In 1998 I sold the studios. Shirley and I became active in short-term mission trips with our church. We have been to Russia twice to work in orphanages and to Cuba 5 times to share “the good news”.

Today, I ride motorcycles cross-country, play golf, play with grandchildren.  In my spare time I do some consulting for the photographic industry.  Because of Fair Park and a few teachers like Dave Lawson, Jackie Barr, Miss Fox, Clem Henderson, and others who encouraged me to keep learning, I have been able to have a great career and family life, HOORAY FOR FAIR PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!