The Kings aboard

Gene King and I go back a long time. In 1995 a friend of mine thought that we had a lot in common and that we should meet. I made many calls to his office to try and arrange a meeting, but never got a call back. One day I was in the area, walked into his office only to learn that he was in a meeting. I said that I would wait. When we met, our friend was right. We both share many passions for life and Gene invited Gwen, my girlfriend of 8 years, to dinner with his family. We took them for a sail on afternoon, and then one evening at dinner with Gene and his wife, Doris, the conversation turned to what the activities that coming weekend was going to be. I said that I was sailing to Bermuda for a few days to attend a meeting, and Gene asked in his big way if he could come. I said sure and his wife just about died. Gene embarked on a great adventure with me and the stories of that trip has grown each time he tells it. It began with the food. Gene does not like to miss a meal and is a great cook. So he took me shopping and he bought more groceries for that 700 mile trip than I took on the first leg of the round the world race. We did eat well. We encountered a pretty bad storm and Gene though he was going to die. If you ever meet Gene, ask him to tell the Bermuda Island sailing story. You will be in stitches with laughter.

I went on to work with Gene as Director of Public Relations for a company he was one of the early partners in. Then I went on to complete my round the world race and we spent weekends together when ever we got a chance. I got involved in private placement investing and was involved in a deal and asked Gene to help look at it. Gene was interested in starting a venture capitol fund and asked me to look at it. We were coming home from a meeting with the SEC one day when I thought it a good idea to meet one of my other investment partners who lived a round the corner from him. Gene and Kevin hit it off and soon we were working on a joint project that eventually became our investment bank, Sequence.

Gene loves to surf or is it yoga?

The years have ebbed and flowed in our lives together. Gene and I always talked about doing other adventures together so when we boat El Gecco, we invited Gene and Doris down to Culebra for New Years Eve. Gene arrived in his Christmas red hat and lots of bags. It was hilarious as he looked like Santa who lost his reindeers and instead got me with a dingy to take him on his deliveries. We ate well, had lots of laughter, serious conversations, business briefings, looked at new ideas and had a marvelous New Year’s Eve and celebrated Darlene and my 7th wedding anniversary dancing the night away to 2 live bands. Everyday we either sailed to Flamingo Beach or Calibrita Island, or went somewhere snorkeling. Each day was filled with activities as a vacation with friends should be. New Year’s Day the restaurants and grocery store was closed. Gene made a plan to get food evening if it meant eating Chinese takeout. We had met two South African girls living in Chicago who were vacationing on the island and invited them sailing and for a snorkel on Calibrita.