Now I live in Mountain View, California.
I work at Google. I use to work at NASA's Ames Research Center, right next to the world's largest wind tunnel.
Personal History
editI was born and raised in Marion, Ohio. I'm just old enough to remember the Great Blizzard of 1978. I've even been in the Marion Popcorn Festival parade. Multiple times. First, as part of a youth football league, then as part of a breakdance crew.
I graduated from River Valley High School in 1988 as the Salutatorian. I attended the University of Cincinnati and received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering.
Family History
editThe Penix Family
editMay father Danny (Dan) was born in Salyersville, Kentucky. His family moved to Marion when his father got a job at the Scioto Ordnance Plant during World War II. The Penix family were long-time residents of Kentucky, going all the way back to Boonesborough, the town established by Daniel Boone.
The Earl and Welch Families
editMy mother's maiden name was Judith Ellen Earl. Her parents, Burton Eugene (Gene) Earl and Bernice Louise Welch Earl, had five children. Linden (Lindy), the only son, was followed by four daughters: Sue, Carolyn, Judith and Mary. The children attended school in the village of Claridon.
The Earl's ran a dairy farm a few miles east of Marion. The dairy was purchased from the Holverstot family in the late 1930's. The Earl Dairy was run by Daniel Earl and his sons Harry, Burton (Gene), George and Bill. A fifth son, (Stephen? not sure of name) died in his teens from pneumonia.
Prior to living in Marion, the Earl family lived near Ashley, Ohio in Delaware County, just south of Marion County. Gene met Brenice while attending Ashley High School. The Welch family had lived in Delaware County for several generations. Burnice Welch's father Dennis was a dentist. Burnice studied pharmacy before getting married. Burnice's grandmother was a doctor, one of the first female doctors west of the applications.