Sam, as he was well known , was born on October 28, 1918. In 1932 at the age of 13 Sam was awarded the title of National Boy Speller, First Runner-u up the U.S. National Spelling Bee. He had his picture made with then President Herbert Hoover. After graduation  from St. Joe Prep in 1937, he was called to serve for his country in World War II in 1942, Returning to civilian life, Sam was employed by Heaven Hill, J. .W. Dant Distillery and in 1954 joined Star Hill Distillery. During the Star Hill years, Sam was involved with the National Guard and was instrumental in getting the National Guard Armory located on Louisville Road and having it named after General G. Lee McCain. Sam retired from the National Guard as a Lt. Colonel in 1978. He retired from Star Hill in 1980 as V-P and Plant Manager of Maker's Mark.

Sam served as President of St. Joe Prep PTA and also President of the Old Kentucky Home  Middle School PTA. He served as the President of the Power of Engineers. He was an active life-long member of St. Joseph Church and was on the Parish Council and an Eucharist Minister.

Sam, was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved the great outdoors. His home included many recycled and interesting materials. He was a registered Tree Farmer and planted over fifty thousand trees on his home on Springfield Road. In 1999, he published his first book, "The Evolution of the Bourbon Whisky Industry in Kentucky". Sam collected distillery data from all over the world for twenty plus years. He is the loving father of six children.