byron raymond white was born in ft. collins, colorado, but he grew up 11 miles away in wilmington, population 500 at the time. his father managed a lumberyard. wellington's economy was dominated by sugar beets, a crop demanding attention constantly and back breaking work. both white and his older brother clayton worked beet fields after school and during the summer from the time they could wield a hoe. winters were harsh. spring brought strong winds off the front range. summers were hot and dry. character was shaped in the relentless competition between the land and the elements. self-reliance was not an abstraction. by graduating first in his class from the tiny local high school, like his brother before him, byron white earned a full tuition scholarship to the university of colorado. there, he was a star in three sports. football, basketball, and baseball. president of the student body ify bait -- phi beta kappa and a rhodes scholar. his performance during his senior year is still statistically one of the most impress