The author was born on July 16, 1928. He was legally blind at birth. As a ward of the State, he went from poverty to an orphanage and foster homes until he was fourteen. After a short time on his own he served in the Merchant Marines during World War II at age sixteen. After several jobs he taught mathematics for thirty years while earning his BS and MA degrees. He served three years in elected public office and then earned his law degree at age sixty-nine. At his retirement from teaching Senator Richard Van Wagner called him “The last of the Renaissance Men.”