Fun Facts - Notable(ish) Things I Have Done in My Life

Survived a commercial airplane crash (1992)

Wrote a book about the airplane crash - Surviving Flight 405 (available on Amazon)

Been to 49 of the 50 states in the US (missing Alaska) 

Went skydiving 5 times (while living in New Orleans)

Developed several eye care devices for NASA and one got put on the ISS 

Been scuba diving in Thailand and Micronesia 

Been interviewed on several network TV shows (after the airplane crash)

Barefoot skiing and did a deep water start by jumping off a bridge 

Been to 6 countries in Europe - plus Singapore, Thailand, China and Hong Kong 

Sat in the cockpit of a WW2 Japanese fighter while diving on a shipwreck in Micronesia 

Rode in an air balloon in Napa Valley on my honeymoon

Got married (second wife) on the side of a hill in a winery in Napa Valley 

Served as foreman on a jury in a court trial (in Utah) 

Lectured in 5 different countries (US, Canada, UK, Mexico, and Singapore)

Slept in the same bed as the Queen of England (not at the same time!) in Prince Edward Island (Canada) 

Rode an elephant in Thailand

Been a model in a fashion show (okay, I was about 12 years old so no big deal) 

Been to the Masters golf tournament twice (didn't play, just watched)

Got inducted into the Opticians Hall of Fame in 2023

Been a shoe shine boy when I was 12 (first real job)

Been to Jerusalem and walked the streets where Jesus walked 

Was a DJ on a radio station (WIBV Belleville, Illinois) 

Met and got a photo with Donald Trump in 1991 (not a fan)

Flown in a private corporate jet to a meeting (when at Lenscrafters)

Lectured about our NASA technology at the Washington Press Club 

Took flying lessons and flew a small plane 

Been to the top (inside) of the St Louis Arch 

Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in France 

Played trumpet in a dance band in HS and College and a symphony orchestra 

Played football in HS and got significantly injured - twice! 

CEO of several companies and SVP/Officer of a publicly traded company (1800Contacts)

Been to the Grand Ole Opry (original and new) 

Got to go inside the International Space Station mockup at NASA headquarters in Houston, TX

Survived a commercial airplane crash (1992) and wrote a book about the experience

Got hit by a car as a pedestrian and got severe injuries 

In a hotel fire - had to crawl out on my hands and knees to escape the fire

Motorcycle fell on me  - leaking gas and almost caught me on fire

Hit by a wave runner and knocked 15 feet

Driving a car that got hit by lightning