Charles Brown:  

Life I was born in Alpine, Texas, in 1938 but when Dad was called to active duty during WWII, we moved to Roswell, New Mexico to live with Mother's mother. When the war was over and Dad returned we moved to Austin, Texas where he finished his law degree. We moved then to Harlingen, Texas where he eventually became established as an independent oil and gas landman and that led to more frequent moves of the family. My sophomore year in high school (1953-1954) was in Harlingen, my junior year (1954-1955) back in Roswell, and my senior year (1955-56) in Midland, Texas-- we were following the oil patch. Dad moved the family (there were five of us kids) on to Denver in 1956, but I decided to attend Texas Tech where I studied Electrical Engineering and lettered three years on the Varsity Swim Team. In 1960 I met my wife, Shirley, dropped out of school to go into the oil patch so I could buy a new car and get rich. Well, I bought used car and didn't get rich, just got pregnant. We decided it would be a good idea to finish my education, so in 1962 I borrowed enough money to enroll at Lamar Tech in Beaumont, Texas and in 1964, I graduated from Lamar, as an electrical engineer. I joined Texaco Research laboratory in Bellaire, Texas, and since have enjoyed a diversified experience in electronics, sales and management. Shirley was delighted at the prospect of living in various parts of the country because she was born and raised in Midland and had seen little of the world. In the oil business in those days one moved often, following the work. Well, after twenty-five whole-house moves in thirteen years of marriage, she started talking about me getting a "town job". We have only moved once since then. My original career was in oil and gas exploration as a geophysical exploration instrumentation engineer and geophysicist. I was also an International Sales Manager for Texas Instruments, and Vice President of three companies. I sold my interest in a geophysical exploration company in 1986. After a few years of "retirement" (which I flunked at doing), with a partner co-founded DataSolutions, an environmental information company based in Oklahoma City, which we successfully sold in 1998. I have been involved in four entrepreneurial startups; three were successful. Presently I am enjoying an interesting period as Marketing Consultant with Ranken Energy Corporation based in Edmond, Oklahoma. My wife Shirley and I recently celebrated our 57th year of marriage. We have one daughter who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Although born and educated in Texas, I have been a resident of Oklahoma since 1973 and presently reside in Edmond, Oklahoma. So far it has been an interesting and challenging life. There have been good times and bad. I am a prostate cancer and heart disease survivor but feel fortunate that I am without bad knees or other maladies that have impacted classmates and friends. My brothers are still alive and enjoy good health as well. Much of that has to be the genes, but some of it must be attributed to Mom who instilled in us an honor and respect for a healthy body and lifestyle. Shirley and I are active people. She is a pet portraiture artist. She also serves as an elder at the church and as a Stephen Minister. Besides my work with Ranken, I enjoy golf (yes, I walk), scuba diving (yes, I carry my own equipment), ballroom dancing and home improvements. Evenings are spent reading or sometimes watching the History Channel or the Discovery Channel on TV. We are both pilots and qualified in ...Expand for more