Born in Birmingham, Alabama. Served 20 years in the United States Air Force and still working as a government civilian contractor. After retirement from active duty, he became an avid Civil War reenactor and living historian. Active in genealogy and historical preservation. It was his participation in history and reenacting that he got the opportunity to appear in such films as "Andersonville" and "Gods and Generals" and work with directors John Frankenheimer and Ron Maxwell, as well as with actors Robert Duvall, Jeff Daniels, and C. Thomas Howell.