Yes, the deck's been stacked against me at various times in my life, but I've overcome every cold deck I've faced. I'm enough of a dreamer to realize what got me through might have been that elusive something a gambler calls luck. But I'm also enough of a realist to know that, in general, we make our own luck-through knowledge, skill, and experience. And that goes for the game of poker as well as the game of life.

In the summer of 1933, I was born in the West Texas town of Longworth, a spot on the road consisting of a few houses and a general store. I don't suppose the population ever exceeded one hundred. We had only two industries in the area, farming and a US. Gypsum plant. My dad worked for Planters Gin Company, and while he didn't make much money, there was always food on the table and a little extra for the kids once in a while. We lived in a four-room frame house at the time, with an outhouse at the back. I remember thinking when I was little that, if I ever got any money, I'd bring the plumbing indoors. It used to get mighty cold on those prairies during the winter.

There were five of us living at home when I was small: Dad, Mom, my sister Lavada, my older brother Lloyd, and myself. It was crowded but we didn't mind. There was a lot of warmth and a lot of love.

My mother was a religious, God-fearing woman who did her best to raise us with a sense of moral values. I suppose a good deal of that has remained with me. She used to tell us that you'll find good in every man if you look hard enough. I've always tried to remember that and act accordingly, although sometimes it's been mighty difficult considering some of the unsavory characters I've come in contact with.