Steve Bales is a native of Dayton, Texas. The son of an oilfield worker, he traveled frequently, spending time in a number of states and countries during the course of his childhood. After high school and a year at Brigham Young University, Steve took a break from school in 1967 to serve a two-year mission for his church. After serving his mission, he returned to BYU, married his sweetheart Marilee in 1971, and completed a B.A. in history in 1972.
Upon graduation, Steve was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. It was during his military service that he resumed his travels, living in several U.S. states and Germany during the next nine years, and having five children along the way. While stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. he became a paratrooper, joining the storied 82nd Airborne Division. One night one of his children cut a deal with Steve, bargaining for a story in exchange for going to sleep. Since this period in Steve’s life was all about airplanes – particularly jumping out of them – he fell back on what he knew: duty, courage, loyalty, and aircraft. And so the story of Johnny Airplane was born.
In the years since that very first night, Steve told the story of Johnny Airplane to all of his children. Now adults, they have gone on to share the tale with their children. After repeated urging by his sweetheart, Steve’s decades-old bedtime story is finally in print.
After Steve’s military service, he and Marilee returned to Texas. They currently live in Humble.
