Had to briefly look him up, says he was raised a baptist, but at 14 gave up on religion. His dad was a cop in LA. Gene held a major in police sciences. Flew planes in the USA Air Corp and for Pan Am. Was involved in several plane crashes before deciding to take up writing for television. During that time worked for LAPD in traffic control giving him opportunities in such shows as Dragnet. Then on into westerns and law type shows. Strange trajectory this boy had.