About LANCE
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I was born in Oneonta, New York. I lived in upstate New York until age six when my family moved to Detroit, Michigan. My dad was an engineer in the connector division of Bendix Corporation. In 1958 Bendix gave him the choice to move to "snowy" Chicago or "sunny" Florida. He choose Florida to sell connectors for the new space program at Cape Canaveral.
I grew up in Winter Park, Florida and played all sports in school. I loved the sports competition and discipline. My high school to college transition was a trying time because I went through four colleges to complete my undergraduate degree and worked thirty five jobs to get the money to pay for it. My parents divorced during this period and my father died at age 52, just six months before I graduated from the University of Tennessee. Before his death he was honored as the Bendix Corporation's Top Field Engineer in America. He was very smart and a good father except when he drank. I will always remember his cheering for me when I hit my first home run in Little League, when I was the pitcher with the most wins and home runs in Pony League, and at the Kumquat Bowl Championship when I was quarterback and we won in the ninth grade.
I loved my parents but did not understand what a professional drinker my dad had become. And, I did not understand how it affected his job, my parents marriage and his relationship with me, my brother and my sister. My brother, joined the Air Force when he left high school so I rarely saw him during his 20 year stint. My sister got married early and lives in Florida.
High school is when things became frustrating and I got hurt playing football and my dad's drinking started creating family problems. When I entered college he divorced my mom after 27 years of marriage and was fired from Bendix. He then started a business manufacturing his own design of connectors and hired a WWII Veteran to work for him. This man had lost both legs and walked with prosthetic legs. He had a cute four year old daughter that was born with an appendage growth on her left leg. I mention this because it really touched my heart that my dad was so willing to help someone with obvious challenges. I respected him very much for this and learned a lot from it.
My mother was always loving and the spiritual leader in my family. I remember always going to church with her. It is because of her teaching that I have always worked on strengthening my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. She taught me how praying for help and guidance would always get me through the challenges I face.
Upon graduating from U.T. in 1970 the Viet Nam War was being waged and I knew I would be drafted. Since I wanted to use my education I applied for and was accepted into the Naval Officer Candidate School and Flight Training programs. After receiving my commission and starting flight training I learned that I had fulfilled my military obligation and could request an early out. I was given an Honorable Discharge and moved to California to figure out my life. I had always worked out and kept up my punting skills in football and decided to enter my name for a tryout with the Los Angeles Rams.
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