The true story of how George, the eleventh child born to Swiss immigrants in the mountains of Colorado grew up, experiencing the rugged life of hunting and fishing for food and the enjoying the care and nurturing of a large and loving family. He was tthe only one graduating from the eighth grade in Marble, Colorado and finished high school in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He gained great experience working in a variety of jobs before being drafted into the US Army. He spent two years in the field artillery, much of it in Korea during the Korean War, rising from Private to Sergeant First Class. Using the GI Bill, he graduated from the University of Colorado with a BS Degree in Civil Engineering. He spent 38 years in key engineering positions with the California Department of Water Resources, the US Section, International Boundary and Water Commission, the State Water Contractors and the World Bank. He is a rigistered Professional Civil Engineer in California and Texas. He is now retired in McKInney, Texas.