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Mike was born in Melrose Park IL (1955) and attended elementary school in Hoffman Estates IL. High School years were spent in Lake Zurich and Mt Prospect, IL. Graduation was from Forest View H.S. in 1973. Mike has an AA degree (Electronic Computer Technology) from American River College, Sacramento CA. Mike joined the United States Air Force in 1974. He served as an AF Security Police Officer (Law Enforcement) from 1974-1977. Mike is married and has five step children and 12 step grandchildren. Mike became a Federal Civil Servant in 1979 and continues with that career today. (27 years) During this time Mike received the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award. One of only a few civilian awards with medals given to AF Civil Service employees. Mike moved to Colorado Springs in 1993 and currently works at Peterson AFB. Since coming to Colorado Springs Mike has participated in many community events and probably possesses the most extensive number of stock photographs of the Colorado Springs area. These photographs provide a documented record of many local events. He has even provided photographs that were placed into the Tutt Library archives.
Mike was first publicly recognized for his community activities when numerous local media outlets ran news stories about his adventures while photographing the moose that made its way through Colorado Springs a number of years ago. The Gazette did numerous stories, as did KKTV 11 News and KOAA News First. And a local radio station obtained an interview with this "Moose Man". Over 900 photographs of the moose were taken by Mike, some of which can still be seen here, MonumentValleyPark.com Since that time Mike has been documenting much of his community participation in a weblog (blog), which he has maintained for over four years. Many of his community photographs can be seen there (NewsBlab.com) and also at AmericaTheBeautifulPark.com
VIDEO 1: KOAA News First interview of me about my Colorado Springs photography and more.
While standing in Monument Valley Park,
VIDEO 2: Chris Donovan from KOAA News First Ch 5/30 interviews me about the moose.
Mike's photographs are still used by local organizations on a regular basis, all given free of charge as a community service.
Mike produced a comic strip that was published monthly in Popular Communications Magazine, from 2000-2006.
Mike can be seen regularly walking in the downtown area (a favorite area for him) and in many of the local parks, especially Monument Valley Park where he goes to feed the animals almost daily.
Mike is an avid student of Colorado Springs history, always interested in hearing and reading stories of the "old days".
Bottom line, Mike loves this
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