Dr. Toppell graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1963 with a degree in History and Political Science and from Emory University School of Medicine in 1968. He then enjoyed 48 years of practice in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in Houston, Tx. with some time out for lectures in American History.  He now lives in Plano, Tx. where he reads, writes and enjoys life with his wife of fifty-one years.