So, when I accepted the job that brought me back to Louisiana, I never really mentioned the fact that I grew up here. Everything on my resume’ indicates an entire career spent in Texas, and even my undergraduate degree is from the University of Texas at Dallas. I didn’t try to hide anything, I just never thought it was worth mentioning.

When I went to LSU in 1980 I had one desire, to play baseball. I walked on and made the team, but due to a variety of injuries and other reasons I never got to take the field for the Tigers during a game. No success, but no hard feelings, either.

I went back to Texas, married Peggy, finished school and went to work in Dallas. I spent thirty years building a professional reputation in Texas.

Back to the hiring process. When it became apparent that they wanted me to take the job, Peggy and I had dinner with the couple we would be replacing in the company. At dinner, Bill told me that one of the problems with the job was that the company had club seats at the LSU football games and a box at the baseball games, and sometimes you just had to bite the bullet and attend the games for the good of the company. Peggy and I remained completely stoic and I gave Bill the reassuring nod that I understood and that it was a sacrifice we were willing to make to ensure the company’s success.

So, tonight was opening night for the LSU baseball team, and Peggy and I had to go to the game. It’s a sacrifice, but I think we will survive it…