After 17 years as a social studies teacher at a small, rural Junior High School in central Texas, I retired at the end of the 2016 school year. I started that career at age 45. Prior to that, I was a professional painter and prior to that, a sheet-metal mechanic/tinsmith. I am married, and my wife Jackie and I have two children, Ann, 42, a financial advisor and Carson, 40, a Mechanical Engineer.

Our kids have now provided us with two grandsons, Ann and her husband Robert had a baby boy on August 11 2014, John Carlos ("Johnny") Huerta and Carson's wife Amanda delivered their baby boy, Sullivan ("Sul" or "Sully") on the following December 18. Needless to say, they are both beautiful babies and yes, the grandparents are somewhat STOKED, lol!

I am glad to add an update. My first grand-daughter, Nora Wade Brantley, was born Nov. 8, 2016. Of course, she is beautiful (looks a lot like her brother Sullivan). Just one more blessing in my life!

And yet another update- our second granddaughter, Chloe Marie Huerta, was born on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 20017 and now is 4 years old and counting...

My other hobbies include shooting and collecting firearms, music, reading and hot-rod cars and motorcycles. I also assist (read: doing the heavy lifting, lol) with my wife's antique business. We bought a brand new 47 HP 4WD Kubota L4701 tractor in Sept. '16 to use on our ranch in the country, "Brokenoak". I've been busy and having a lot of fun as a Country Squire out there. Yes, life can get rather hectic for ol' Squire Brantley! 🙂

When I was 13-14 years old, my family and I lived in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, where my Dad worked for ALCOA ( in Geelong 1966-67). My passion then was slot car racing! I had two commercial tracks within 100 meters/yards of our house. Oh man, did I have fun over there! Hey wait, that was over 50 years ago?!?! Wow, where did the time go? 😉