Fatherless

Never getting to meet or personally know his father, Bob's tough beginning brought many difficult challenges in the early years of his life, which helped him develop a strong will to succeed. Since his mother was so young when he was born, he was raised by his grandparents. His grandfather became disabled at an early age (midforties), and his grandmother couldn't read or write as she was taken out of school at very young age to help work on her parents' family farm. He started early in life taking any job he could get to attempt to help his family. He learned from other family members that his father had married and move to Arizona, so Bob never got the opportunity to meet or talk with him or even learn about any siblings he had.

However, many years later, he got to finally meet a brother whose mother also named him after his dad. Bob believes the challenges and difficult times in his preteen years helped him develop a very strong work ethic and a will to achieve. He believes this was the primary key to successes he achieved in life. The greatest experience that brought him encouragement and strength was the day he gave his heart to Christ and chose to serve the Lord and raise his family in church. One of the motives he learned early was, "if it is to be, it is up to me," as he found there is never a free ride nor does success come knocking at your door.