Early Years
I was born in Raleigh, November 12, 1947. My dad had just returned from serving in the South Pacific as a Navy lieutenant. He and my mother, along with we three little boys, moved to the town of Coats in Harnett County to carve out a new life. Eventually, my father was the county probation officer and my mother was the county attendance counselor. I couldn't get in any trouble.
I worked at the usual jobs available back then: picking cotton, handing and priming tobacco, working in a cotton mill, doing janitor work in the local doctor's office, and bussing tables in a resturant (managed to find my way to Wrightsville Beach for this one). Luckily, In high school I played baseball and basketball and was president of the student council, graduating in 1966. I also served as a page in the N. C. State Senate. I later graduated with a Social Science major from Campbell University (1972). I attended NCSU graduate school in public affairs.
Military Service
I served in the U. S. Army before I finished college. I graduated from River Boat Patrol School in California--sometimes referred to as "Swift Boats" in recent times. But upon arriving in Vietnam for a year tour of duty (1971-72), I served in the military police corp, earning U. S. Army Commendation Medal. Highest rank, Specialist IV.
Professional Career
I worked as manager and salesman with Pioneer Awning and Window Company in Raleigh for many years. I later decided to make a career change and went into journalism. At about 40 years of age I returned to a first love of writing and researching.
My journalism experience included serving as editor of the Harnett County News, Clayton News-Star and as a news writer for the Benson County Press. Later, I joined State Government as a classification analyst (1993) within the human resources ranks. I have been with the Department of Environment & Natural Resources for the past ten years, and now am the agency Equal Employment Opportunity Officer.
Political and Community Service
Never having had the opportunity to run for public office until now, volunteering has defined my record of public service, as follows:
- Member of N. C. Good Neighbour Council (early 1960s), a pioneering civil rights initiative begun by the famed N. C. educator John Rankin and Governor Terry Sanford.
- President of Campbell University Young Democrats, 1969
- Intern and staff member for three summers in office of U. S. Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr., 1968-70
- Member of campaign staff for U. S. Senator Robert B. Morgan, 1974
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- Former member of United Way, Babe Ruth League coach, Sunday school teacher.
- 2009 member of Wake Democratic Men (board member), North Carolinians for Mass Transit, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The N. C. Conservation Council and The Sierra Club of NC, vice-chair of Dem. Precinct 01-036, WakeUp, and on second term with the Raleigh Transit Authority.
Personal
Hobbies include jogging, playing Scrabble and chess, reading (mostly biographies, theology and mysteries), and golf (more watching than playing). I am married to Donna Hamilton Malone since 1974 and have one son, David, 25.
