Despite his busy professional life, Don is one of our dedicated behind the scenes VIVs [Very Important Volunteers]. Long before the first attendees arrive at Alamo Heights High School for the monthly general meeting, Don and his crew have begun setting up all the technical stuff needed for a successful presentation. He rounds up the equipment - computers, microphones, screens and video displays, for example — that the presenters will need, and configures it accordingly. Once the stage is set, and the lighting and equipment checks have been completed, Don runs the show from the sound booth. Afterwards, it's teardown-and-put-away time until next month.

Don traces his interest in electronics to his childhood. A San Antonio native, he honed his academic skills at San Antonio College and Trinity University. He has since been involved in nearly every aspect of the PC revolution and can relate many an amusing story about the early days. He recalls, for example, that early Apple II users ran their computers on their color TVs and used cassette tape recorders as their data storage device. He also remembers the dramatic rise and fall of the Osborne I, a portable computer which, for a suggested retail price of $1795, would get the buyer 64K of dynamic programmable memory, a five-inch video monitor, two single-density, single sided floppy disk drives and other assorted high-tech amenities — all in a 24 pound box which was marketed as being “small enough to fit under your airline seat.” However, and Don chuckles over the recollection, the Osborne had a particularly annoying design flaw: it got hot enough for a floppy disk media meltdown!

Don has been a member of the Alamo PC Organization since 1982. He has been a part of the Internet Odyssey since its inception three years ago and is now on its steering committee. He is also a member of the two local Macintosh computer users groups and has clients in both worlds. Asked to look into his crystal ball for a prediction on the future of personal computers, Don waved me off with a smile and a “maybe later…right now I'm due at a meeting at my church.” Turns out he's part of the lights and sound technical team for Wayside Chapel's frequent theatrical productions. What a busy guy!