Bob started life like everyone you have ever known. He arrived into this world in plain view . . . Plainview, Texas that is. It would be fair to say there have been times over the years when saying he was born in Plainview caused a few chuckles. Now for those of you not familiar with Texas, Plainview is a fairly nice-sized town located in West Texas. For Bob, one of the most memorable things about Plainview is the downtown streets of cobblestone. It was also the home of singer and sausage king, Jimmy Dean, and the recording group, Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs. I guess that being born in Plainview wasn't funny enough because Bob's parents moved to Earth before he was a year old. Honest, I'm not making this up . . . they moved to Earth, Texas which is another small town in the West Texas Panhandle. It was surrounded by other small towns like Dimmit, Muleshoe and Littlefield. Believe me these towns have been the subject of more than a few yuks over the years. Now, let me see if I can paint a visual image of Earth. Have ever seen the movie, "The Last Picture Show?" Well that movie will give you a sense about the physical size and appearance of the town. In this small farming town — there were 3 churches, 7 gas stations, one pool hall (where girls weren't allowed), one drug store (with a soda fountain), three grocery stores, one movie theater, one drive-in theater , one Dairy Queen style drive-in and one rural school (that served several surrounding communities). The town itself was built around one main street with a flashing caution light where incoming highways crossed. When you put this all together you have Earth, Texas . . . population 1104. The town itself is located in the middle of the bible belt so things like dancing were no-no's. "Yes Virginia," the movie, "Footloose," was loosely based on many of the small towns in the heart of the bible belt. Bob's senior prom consisted of "dinner" at the school cafeteria and then home. You could honestly say if there was fun involved, it was probably considered either immoral or illegal. For the younger generation the activities in Earth consisted of cruising main street, sitting in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot (and drinking beer . . . another real no-no as the county was dry), going to the movies, attending church, making-out on skunk hill (or the cemetery) or staying home. Since the only acceptable of those was the cruising, possibly a movie, definitely church or staying home . . . you can certainly understand where the inspiration for the movies like "American Graffiti" came from. Growing up in Earth wasn't all bad. It had both positives and negatives. One of the positives was that everyone knew everyone. However, that positive could also be a negative . . . as it seemed your parents, and your neighbors, would always know what mischief you had been into before you got home. Bob grew up with loving parents and although their theatre business required them to work nights, there was always a wonderful sense of family. His mother was a very creative lady who loved making things with her hands. His dad was a hard worker who could do just about anything. I guess growing up in that environment must of had an effect because Bob is pretty much the same way. Growing up in the theatre business also had an effect on Bob. After years of watching the fantasy world portrayed on the screen this young man's imagination began working overtime. By the time he graduated from high school Bob was ready to see what the rest of the world had to offer, so after three years college he loaded up his car and headed for sunny California. After all these years of traveling and spreading his wings, and despite all the things that a small town like Earth lacked. . . when you talk about home with Bob . . . it is always Earth, Texas he remembers. - Albert E. Neuman