Born in 1960 in Chautauqua County, New York, he grew up in a farming community. In 1965, his family moved to Hardee County, Florida. He attended public school and graduated from Hardee County High School in 1978. He became a follower of Jesus in late 1980, learning that following Him has been much more rewarding than making decisions without consulting his Maker. He married Lori Davis Spinks in 1985, and three years later, they had their first child, Aaron. Hannah was their second child, and Stuart was their third. Over the years, he worked in a variety of jobs, including the Building Trades, Law Enforcement as a Corrections Officer, the Funeral Industry, the Phosphate Industry, and City Government, where he served as both a Councilman and Mayor. In 2020, he and Lori felt that God was leading them to move from their home in Bowling Green, Florida, to DeFuniak Springs, and they relocated on January 1, 2021. They have been members of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church since March 2021.