I was born at Hopedale, Illinois in 1947, and took up photography in 1978. I spent 32 years as a Metallographer for Caterpillar, Inc. This involves the study of metals under microscope. I also ran a Scanning Electron Microscope. I retired from Caterpillar to full time tractor pulling coverage and eBay Sellin on December 1, 1997!!

I started taking photos of tractor and truck pulling in 1979. I probably have 500,000 photos, one of the largest collections of pulling photos in the world, I'm sure... I'm known to the pulling world as PHOTO JOE, not many pullers know my last name.

I have been married 37 years to the love of my life, Carol Egli (Zimmer). We have two children, AJ and Gina.

AJ is married and is the Director of Technology at Colorado Printing in Grand Junction, Colorado, where they print my magazine. He does the layout and design for my magazine, the FULL PULL. If you like the work he does, check their website at www.coloradoprinting.com. AJ also built that website. He is married to Jennifer Egli (Totten) and she is Creative Director at EF&D Advertising. They have a son, Zachary Alexander born in July of 2003. Their website is at  http://www.theeglifamily.com/

Gina is married to Ed Gaddis, and is a at home Mom & a waitress at Chili's. They live in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ed works for A&E as a repairman ( I call him the Sears Repairman!) They have a little girl, Gabrielle Michelle born in March of 2004. 

Carol does my video work and takes care of the large mail order business we have going with the Full Pull Magazine & eBay. We have a 29 foot Class C Coachman motorhome and travel the country covering all kinds of tractor and truck pulls for the magazine. Retirement is GREAT!!

We are members of the Trinity Mennonite Church in Morton, Illinois. If you meet me and forget, you have lost nothing - If you meet Jesus and forget you have lost EVERYTHING! No Jesus, No peace; KNOW JESUS, KNOW PEACE.

FISHING, eBay Sales and computers are some of our other hobbies. Come talk to me at the pulls!