I am married with 4 children and currently reside in rural Millstadt. I was raised in a rural community in Southern Illinois.

When I returned from overseas, I enrolled at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and earned my bachelors degree with honors. Then I went to work for a year in state government in Springfield. While working I decided to go back to school and obtain my law degree and M.B.A. from the University of Illinois in Champaign. I will say that one of the greatest blessings of my life was the opportunity to serve our Country.