Born in Lawton, Oklahoma. Ran track and cross country in high school. Married my high school sweetheart; got a BA at Oklahoma State; lived in LA for 3 years and worked in the film industry (Canon Films), came back to Oklahoma State and got a Masters in Film Studies and English; came to Univ. of Illinois for Ph.D. in film studies, under Robert Carringer (Citizen Kane/Orson Welles expert), 2 kids, both still in high school, fell in love with soccer at 30 and play and coach now; don't have enough time to read books and spend too much time on computers.