hiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm ˈælvə sˈiːnjɚ hˈaɪ skˈuːl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɛvən ænd bɪɡˈæn stˈʌdiɪŋ ᵻlˈɛktɹɪkəl ˌɛndʒɪnˈɪɹɪŋ æɾ ˌoʊklɐhˈoʊmə stˈeɪt jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi.
He graduated from Alva Senior High School in 1967 and began studying electrical engineering at Oklahoma State University.