UNT Professor Emeritus of Microbiology. Family history; childhood and early education in Crystal City and San Antonio, Texas; service in World War II-era U.S. Navy; undergraduate education at San Antonio College and University of Texas-Austin; love of chemistry, genetics, and microbiology; graduate education at UT-Austin; fellowship at Harvard University; decision to join North Texas faculty in 1965; growing pains involved with transitioning North Texas into a research university; construction of research program; relationship with students; involvement in Faculty Senate with emphasis on increasing faculty governance; service on Denton City Council.