Mixed Bag is a detailed and entertaining description of how, throughout his careers, the author dealt with fear, insecurity, and self-doubt instilled during his childhood by social, economic and cultural conditions during the 1930’s and 1940’s in Birmingham, Alabama. Strong, insightful parents and a solid public school education equipped him to transform these obstacles into challenges and motivation for extraordinary achievement in diverse and difficult careers. These included the U.S. Air Force (Colonel, ret.), Private Industry, and Academia. He earned Master’s Degrees and a Doctorate Degree from Big Ten and Ivy League Universities.