Today I turn 73 and as I sit on the front porch of our home just outside of Bertram, the morning sun warms my face, and I can’t help but feel grateful. The years have unfolded like the wide-open spaces of this state—steady, vast, and full of stories.

Born and raised in a modest middle class home in the small Texas community of Smithwick, where neighbors knew each other’s names and shared more than just fence lines. Life was simple, rooted in hard work and honest values, and it shaped me in ways I’d only understand later.

School took me through the 12th grade at Marble Falls, where I learned as much about grit as I did about books. The next year at 19 years of age I took a double leap that would define my life:

I married my high school sweetheart, the girl whose smile still lights up my world. This fall, we’ll celebrate 54 years together, a milestone that feels like both a lifetime and a blink.

That same year I started my own construction business. With little more than a pickup truck, and a stubborn streak, I laid the foundation for a career that built a life I could never have imagined.

We raised five sons and it wasn’t always easy, but it’s the work I’m proudest of. Each one grew into a man who loves his family fiercely, respects his roots, and carries himself with integrity. While they weren’t always perfect—Lord knows there were scuffles and late-night talks—but they were good boys, and they made their mother and me proud. Watching them finish school and then carve their own paths was a victory sweeter than any contract I ever signed.

I commented to someone recently that I don’t remember another time that I’ve felt as close to each of my sons as I do right now.

Now, with 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, our home is filled with laughter and the kind of chaos that feels like a blessing. To me, they’re perfect in every way, each one a reminder of the life we’ve built.

My wife and I resettled in the small central Texas town of Bertram, in the early 1990s, where the pace was slow, and the people are solid. We see our little town growing and changing but we feel like there’s no better place for us to be.

We’ve been fortunate to be able give back, whether it’s volunteering our time or supporting local causes. It’s our way of saying thank you to a place that’s given us so much.

Life hasn’t always been smooth—there were lean years, long hours, and worries that kept me up at night. But compared to the struggles some of my friends have faced, I’ve been lucky. Through it all, my wife has been my rock, my partner, my home. If it’s possible, I love her more now than I did when we said our vows back in November of 1971, the girl whose smile still lights up my world. This fall, we will celebrate 54 years together, a milestone that feels like both a lifetime and a blink.

Turning 73 feels like standing on a hill, looking back at the roads I’ve traveled and the ones still ahead. My life is a rich blend of small-town roots, hard-earned successes, and a family that grows bigger and louder every year. As I sip my coffee and watch the sunrise, I know the best part of this story is the love that’s carried me through—love for my wife, my boys and their mates, my grandkids, and this little corner of Texas we call home. Here’s to the years behind me and the ones still to come.