On June 15, 1931, in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, a birthday present was born. My mother, Corraine Smith, thoughtfully arranged my birth to fall on the 23rd birthday of my father, Frederick Salem Williams. I have enjoyed sharing them ever since.

My earliest recollection is sitting on a bed being fed prunes by my mother. The bed seems to be in the living room; perhaps a couch that opened up into a bed. My second recollection is that of being taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, in Phoenix, by my father. He held me by the hand and pointed out my mother, who waved to us from the hospital window. My sister Argina had just been born, November 5, 1934, and I was three and one/half years old.

I've been told that, when a toddler, my grandfather Smith took me shopping and bought me a nice coat that had two little dogs on it. I named them "Iggesninny" and Iggesnotty."