Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton was born with two bare feet in 1955. He went barefoot as much as practical (in Northern Michigan – so mostly Spring, Summer, Autumn & indoors). Ken Bob is the youngest of 5 children. His brothers and sisters wanted to name him “Bobby”, but there was another “Bob Saxton” in the same rural mail route, so he was named “Kenneth Robert” and for several years was still known as “Bobby” and grandma’s birthday cards would be forwarded by the other Bob. When people from high school (where Ken Bob was known as, “Ken”) got together with family and old neighbors, they put the two names together, “Ken Bob”.
Ken Bob has always been curious and enjoyed figuring out how things work in nature and man-made machines, electronic and mechanical (like how runners move). Ken Bob enjoys Science Fiction & fantasy (but realizes fiction and fantasy are from imagination, not necessarily reality). Ken Bob loves dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, and many other animals – part of the reason he is Vegan (avoids using or eating animal products, mostly). Ken bob hasn’t figured out how human minds work – nevertheless, he has compassion for Humans and their minds, so does not eat them either.
Ken Bob has a variety of work experiences that all helped make him who he is becoming (after all, part of being alive is change & growth). For 3 years, Ken Bob had a paper route in his rural home town in northwestern lower Michigan (which no doubt contributed to being able to walk, run, and bicycle for song distances). He worked in several restaurants as cook, dishwasher & waiter (one day). Ken Bob also worked in a fiberglass factory, Salvation Army bailing rags, fruit canning factory and tower, and a tire store.
In addition to work experiences, Ken Bob has a lot of recreational experiences, horse riding, roller & ice skating, skate boarding, bicycling, motorcycling, bike racing, water & snow skiing, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, and obviously running and walking (mostly barefoot).
His curiosity led Ken Bob to study electronics technology in junior college. After gaining a variety of work experience as a Broadcast Television Engineer, Electronics Technician, Quality Assurance (Calibration & Test Lab) Technician, Ken Bob worked for another 32 years at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), in the College of Engineering, mostly in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Computer Engineering. But also worked with other engineering departments, such as Chemical, Civil, Aerospace, Biomedical, & Mechanical Engineering. He was also barefoot at work most of the time.
During his employment at CSULB, Ken Bob also earned a degree in Radio, TV, & Film.
Ken Bob also, occasionally, filled in as webmaster for the College of Engineering website(s).
Ken Bob eventually retired from working for money, but continues playing with electronics, computers, audio/video recording, etc..
Most recently, Ken Bob provided and set up most of the AV equipment for his Uncle’s Celebration of Life (2025 February 08), as well as putting together and narrating the video Eulogy.
Ken Bob is still barefoot most of the time (living in Southern California helps). He still runs barefoot (shorter distances, and less frequently) with Cathy, his wife of 34 years, and their Mexican American Siberian Husky, Katin, whom we just call, “Kay”, but most people tell him, “That’s a Beautiful Dog”, so he also answers to, “That’s a Beautiful Dog” or just “Beautiful”.
