“There is always time for training (I am working full time, large family including grandchildren, in professional choir, and working on a Ph.D. in Psychology)”

Don has been married to Debra for over 25 years. They have 6 children of which 2 are married. From the oldest son, Chris, Debra and Don have 2 granddaughters. From their oldest daughter, Nicole, they have a grandson on the way. All of their children have been very supportive, encouraging, and have been in returned motivated to a healthy and productive lifestyle. All of the boys are weightlifters and 1 of them, Nathaniel, runs cross country. Don's youngest daughter, Emily, surprised everyone this last year placing many times in different events in cross country. This motivation to be the best they can be did not stop with physical exercise. All of the children can play the piano; Nathaniel also plays the drum and competes in speech and debate; Brian is the actor in school plays; Jeremy is an "A" student in college; and Emily performs each year in the Nutcracker Ballet.

“All in the Family (My sons are now training, my daughter and son are award winning runners, my youngest son is competing this year)”

Chris' comments are below:
When I was younger my father took me to a lot of his shows. Watching my father become a pro has inspired me to follow in his footsteps. Not only to start working out but to achieve my other goals as well. I'm very proud of my father and his accomplishments. Now that he is a pro it is an encouragement for me to try and reach my goals I want to be just like him.

Brian would like to tell everyone the following:
There are many benefits to having a dad that is a pro body builder. Besides the fact that whenever we have pizza or some other good food there is more for us because he can't eat it. But he inspires us to get stronger and to be more like him. He takes us to the gym, lets us sample some of his food like his eggs or some protein shake, and tells us what to do in the gym. We get to drive around with him and go see his competitions too. We even got to go in a limo once. But the best thing about all of this is when he wins a competition that is or isn't pro. That's also the most exciting part.

Jeremy says the following:
Dad being a bodybuilding is a big benefit. He has a lot of knowledge in staying fit and eating right. He encourages and influences us to be look better than him. He always takes time to teach us about staying healthy and he asks help with lifting. Going to contests are always fun it's like going on mini vacations. After he does the shows he likes to eat bad, so it's always fun. He takes us to the best pizza places.

Nathaniel would like to exclaim (his words) the following:
The benefits of having a dad who is a professional bodybuilder is not so much of what he inspired us to do, but what we inspired him to do. By coming to his competitions we inspired him to come to our events whether it is required we go, or if he wants to observe how his kids are improving themselves. I believe this is the best benefit to having a dad who is a professional bodybuilder.

Don is not just a bodybuilder. He also works as a global program manager in information systems for one of the world's largest companies. He is a certified as a project manager, has a master of science in computer information systems, a bachelor of arts in hermeneutics, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in organizational psychology with a focus on influence and motivation. He sings professional and has joined his company's choir. He also sings during his body building routines and has opened many of the bodybuilding evening shows singing the National Anthem tanned, oiled up, and wearing his posing trunks. This kind of goes back to the "Mild to Wild" thing.

“From Mild to Wild to Pro (Even now that I am a pro, my routines are still wild and now I sing as I pose)”