Les Reading

Co-Founder and Author

A Descendant of the “Father of Redding”

My name is Les Reading and I am a Bible teacher, businessman, and missions activist. I graduated from the United States Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval Nuclear Power School after which I served on several nuclear-powered submarines, the last of which as the Engineer Officer. I live half time in San Diego and the other half with my family in Redding. I have traveled and worked in Asia, the Pacific Islands, Europe, the Middle East, Central America, and Cuba … for a total of 27 countries. In addition to my normal English, I have, on occasion, had to learn Hebrew, French, Spanish, with some exposure to Japanese.

Redding is unique for me as I have family ties here that go back to Pierson B. Reading, the first European to settle in Northern California in 1843. He was a member of the Bear Flag Revolt and served as a major in the Mexican American War. He is known as the Father of Shasta County and was one of the most influential residents of that time. Moreover, he was the Whig Party candidate for governor of California in 1851 and for the U.S. Senate in 1852.

Major Reading discovered Gold in Shasta County in July of 1848 which stimulated what is known by the state of California as the Trinity Alps Gold Rush, the second great gold rush in California.

I am an admirer of the great cultural diversity I’ve found in my many travels, particularly in music, art, cuisine, and language. Moreover, I have the great privilege of having close friends throughout the world who have taught me many things about their diverse lives and cultures.

When I has fourteen I went to summer school because my English grades were unacceptable. Since then, I’ve been on a lifetime remedial program of love for good literature and great writing. When I’m not lost in my rather large library, I default to my innate passion for nuclear physics and microwave product design.