The In 1948

In 1948, Richard Wade Farley, like many children and military families, was born into a family of constant change.

He was the oldest of six children and found himself trudging from home to home as he and his siblings

followed their parents from city to city

and state to state. Eventually, after years of nearly constant traveling, the Farleys settled in

California, where Richard finished his high school and went to get his college education.

At school, Richard found it difficult to get along with others and didn't have very many close friends.

He was often bullied and ostracized, and that seemed to go for his home life as well.

Despite being one of six siblings, the children later claimed that no one in the family was particularly close,

and one of his brothers had even gone ten years without speaking to Richard

at all. Despite that, Richard did, like so many children born into military families do, and

signed up for the service himself. Richard joined the Navy and served for a total of 10 years

before moving back to California, maybe the first place that Richard could think

of as his home. It was there in California that Richard began his new career as a software

technician at Electromatic Systems Labs, Inc., a company that develops reconnaissance software

and technology. But it was far from the place where Richard began to flourish.

It was during his 10 years at ESL that Richard Farley met Laura Black, a young and talented

22-year-old electrical engineer. In his own words, the then 35-year-old Richard fell in love with Laura at first sight,

and he was determined to do everything he could to win her over.

He began by leaving Laura handwritten letters and homemade gifts on her desk.

He kept telling Laura how he felt about her and asked her out on several occasions,

but every time he did, Laura politely refused. The feelings that Richard was feeling weren't mutual, and Laura

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