On February 13, 1969, I signed adoption papers that immediately became a historical document.

I am the first single man in America, and I believe, the world, to adopt a child through an authorized government agency-in this case, the San Francisco City and County Social Services Adoption Agency.

My story was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, Family Health magazine, and became international news. Since that event, all 50 states have been changing their laws, for or against single parent adoption. My son, Aaron, and I were flown to New York to be on To Tell the Truth and to Philadelphia for The Mike Douglas Christmas Show, then to New York again in 1984 for The Phil Donahue Show.