I had an Uncle that didn’t help much in getting that Genie off my shoulder! He bought the first home recorder that recorded sound on a metal disc covered in some sort of soft material. We would visit and I couldn’t wait until the adults would settle down and he would act as an MC and get us all to talk on the record. I even was allowed to sing while my cousin played the piano and to hear my voice was magical! That Genie began to dance! He also had a radio show at the old KFYO radio station in Abilene, TX. The station was in the old Grace Hotel on first street.
The show was called the "West Texas Plowboy" and he never knew what he would sing from one song to the other. My aunt May would take requests over the telephone, write them down on free checks taken from the bank and would hand them to him. The banks used to leave them on the counter in those days free for the taking.
 
     World II and the Navy took me at the last part of the war. After boot camp, the Navy gave us tests to see where we would be better suited to serve. In one group we were asked to raise our hands if we could type. About five of us pushed our hands bashfully into the air. Not many guys took typing lessons in the 40's.I had seen my Uncle type away with two fingers on his old Oliver typewriter and that had intrigued me. My junior year in school I signed up for typing and was the only male in the class. Yeah! I was the talk of the school of course. Later we were given another series of tests that included Morse code. Of course I had taught myself the code with the old radio - so - the typing and the code sealed my fate for training to be a radioman in the U. S. Navy. I did well in the class and came out a grade higher than when I went in - another little feather in the cap.

     I wound up in Guam; about a year after the U.S. took it back from the Japanese. (Me n’ The Navy – covers that.) Just sat around for couple months – nothing to do – finally discovered we were sent there to help make up the force that would invade Japan. That was startling – however – the Atomic bomb drop saved me as well as thousands of others without a doubt.
LEFT: Radio Station NPN on Guam in 1945, could be heard around the world. RIGHT: Small studio I designed in the 70's.A Quonset hut turned radio room on Guam. Teletypes clicking twenty four hours a day. That’s me, second from left.

     Then home and college and a little growing up took me away from the sound bug for a time. Marriage, kids and a need for financial cash to help feed all kept me further away. However, that Genie on my shoulder kept nagging at me from time to time!