Born Aug. 17, 1956 in Corona, CA

Had first poems published in high school, graduated from Columbus North High School (Columbus,IN) in 1975

Graduated from Ball State University, Muncie, IN, with Bachelor’s Degree in photojournalism in 1979

First newspaper job in 1980

Graduated from Ball State University, Muncie, IN, with Master’s Degree in photojournalism in 1983

Started two-year Teachers License program at Ball State University, and finished 1991

Decided to use Elias Tobias as a pen name, Started Ball State Literary Foundation, a computerized on-line poetry and short story magazine on the university computer system

Met Patty Webb, a student in non-traditional student/foreign student dorm

Started as English teacher with Brownsville ISD in 1991

Married Patty July 17, 1993 in Richmond, IN

Finished as middle school teacher and started as copy editor/page designer for Brownsville Herald in fall of 2000

Started as business journal editor for Laredo Morning Time in spring of 2004