On April 27, 1977, some Navy buddies and myself decided to go to Sun State Roller Rink on Primrose Drive in Orlando, Florida, for an evening of fun. I had been skating maybe twice in my life, but was always fascinated with the sport. On this night I saw for the first time in my life, trained roller skaters performing artistic skate dancing. They floated across the floor performing intricate moves of grace and complexity that I never dreamed could be accomplished on roller skates.  I remember watching the more accomplished skaters performing such dances as the the Pasa Doble, the Killian, and the Iceland Tango. I was hooked. I had to learn this art! I became obsessed with skating. Despite the fact that I was 19 years old, which everyone said was too old to get started in Artistic Roller Skating as a competitor, I was determined. I was at the rink everyday. I had bruised and scabs and blister, but I was learning fast. By the next January I and my new skating partner, Gwen Hall, were ready to compete in our first "meet" in Jacksonville.
          Juanita, Gwen's mother, hand made our first outfits.  She just barely got them completed the night before competion! It was a thrill and I was so proud of myself. I don't remember what place we took at that meet, but we didn't make it to bronze medal level. Nevertheless, it was a thrill of a life time!
          The next time we skated was in Hollywood, Florida, for the Easter invitational.  Juanita once again put her sewing skill into high gear and created new costumes for us. This time our colors were in blue (the other costume was maroon).  Maybe out skills had improve, or maybe the competition was not a intense, but this time we won a bronze medal (3rd place).
          Our next competition was at Semoran Skateway in Casselberry, Florida. At the Mid-Winter Invitational, Gwen and I took our first Gold Medal!