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I am a graduate of Texas A&M University, Class of 1966, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Construction.  I was a member of Squadron 5 in the Air Force ROTC.  After graduation, I worked for the Texas Highway Department in the Bryan, Texas District Design Office and then for several construction and homebuilding firms before starting my own company, Schoolcraft Homes, in 1976.  I have been an entrepreneur since that time building custom homes and small to medium commercial projects.  I learned a lot about building a successful business and have acquired the skills necessary to help the City of Helotes operate effectively and efficiently.  

 

My wife, Marsha, and I built our home and moved our family to Helotes from Pipe Creek on February 29, 1980. We raised our three children, two daughters and one son, here and are now proud grandparents.

 

I joined the Helotes Area Volunteer Fire Departmen as a firefightert in March, 1980, and served as Fire Chief from May, 1980 to May, 1986.  I have been active as a volunteer for city projects and served on several committees to help the city throughout the years until I was asked by many friends and three former mayors to run for Mayor in 2007.

 

I am not afraid of hard work or getting my hands dirty.  As Mayor, I worked shoulder to shoulder with volunteers and our public works employees on many of our amenities in the city including the City Park playground,  the Helotes Fitness Park and Disc Golf Course, building fences, trimming trees and brush, and doing whatever it took to "get the job done".  

 

I never missed a council meeting or city sponsored event during my 14 years as Mayor.  I attended most ribbon cuttings in the City and supported our business community and the Helotes Area Chamber of Commerce.  I represented Helotes by serving on the Board of Directors of the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), the Bexar County Suburban Cities Coalition, and as Vice Chair of the Greater Bexar County Council of Cities (GBCCC).  I testified before numerous committees of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate to gain support for legislation we introduced to the Legislature. The most important project was working with our State Representatives and Senators to negotiate the release of almost 9 square miles of extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) from the City of San Antonio in 2013. We did this to make sure Helotes would not become "land locked" and would be able to expand for many decades to come.