I was born in Temple, Texas, in 1933. My parents, Edward and Rose Machalek Gavenda, were first-generation Americans. Great grandfather Martin Gavenda brought his family to Galveston, Texas, from the village of Hostalkova in North Moravia, Czechoslovakia. They settled on farms east of Caldwell, Texas. Great grandfather Joseph Machalek came a few years later from the neighboring village of Ratibor. They settled in Edgeworth near Temple.

In 1937 we moved to a small farm near Rio Hondo, Texas, where I attended public school along with the girl who later became my wife: Janie Yeoman.

We have two sons, Victor and Philip.

I was born in Temple, Texas, in 1933. My parents, Edward and Rose Machalek Gavenda, were first-generation Americans. Great grandfather Martin Gavenda brought his family to Galveston, Texas, from the village of Hostalkova in North Moravia, Czechoslovakia. They settled on farms east of Caldwell, Texas. Great grandfather Joseph Machalek came a few years later from the neighboring village of Ratibor. They settled in Edgeworth near Temple.

In 1937 we moved to a small farm near Rio Hondo, Texas, where I attended public school along with the girl who later became my wife: Janie Yeoman.

We have two sons, Victor and Philip.