As a youth, I began drilling natural turquoise with a pump drill. I would roll and shape turquoise on sandstone. Back then, we would purchase turquoise by the buckets. I attended IAIA and became familiar with more modern lapidary. I was one of Charles Loloma's students. When I returned home, I volunteered to be drafted into the army. After my term, I returned home and continued making jewelry full-time.