I am “by birth and raisin’s” a true native of Central Appalachia. I was born in the coal-camp hospital in Lynch, Kentucky. I was raised in Letcher County, Kentucky, the home county of my parents and most of my immediate forebears, where I graduated from the schools of Whitesburg, Kentucky.

I attended the University of Kentucky from 1979 to 1973, where I graduated with a B.A. in a self-directed interpartmental topical major in Appalachian Development. My mentor and academic advisor, Dr. John B. Stephenson, considered me to be UK’s first “official” Appalachian Studies major, due to my participation in the founding of the Appalachian Center.

During those same years I was an early participant and content producer for Appalshop, the Whitesburg-based multimedia nonprofit. Among other productions with which I was involved, I co-directed and edited “UMWA1970: A House Divided”. a documentary film on the corruption and hubris of the administration of Tony Boyle as UMWA president.

Following a “checkered career”, first as a federal government employee and then as a funds-development officer for colleges and a denominational foundation, I entered into early retirement in 2009. At that time I ratcheted up my historical and genealogical research to expand this website and database. For the last 15 years it has been my full-time job!