Mike was a 1964 graduate and valedictorian of his senior class at Deshler High School. He attended Howard College, now Samford University, on a basketball scholarship. He graduated in 1969 and completed his pharmacy residency in 1970. He went on to complete his Masters at the University of Florida. He would go on to teach at U. T. and received his PhD from Purdue. He is now a Professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Senior Dean of Professional Activities. As a high school athlete he was a star baseball and basketball player for Coach Bill Smith. His high school record in baseball as a pitcher was 15-5. He pitched in the East-West All Star baseball game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham. In basketball he started for three years and as a senior averaged 21.4 points per game. That year he scored 36, 34, 30, 34 and 40 points, scoring double figures in 27 of 28 games. He was selected All County, Al District, All TVC and first team All-State as a senior. He played in the North-South All-Star Basketball game where he was voted team captain and led all scorers with 20 points. At Howard he played in 37 games, but repeated knee injuries cut his basketball career short.