Debbie and Douglas West are lifelong Midwesterners; growing up in the northern Chicago suburbs and pursuing their undergraduate degrees at the University of Illinois and Michigan State respectively.  They moved to Iowa in 1970, following the completion of graduate training.  Douglas started his career in the field of communication disorders but eventually would embark on a new career path in the securities industry. In an effort to give back to the central Iowa community which they say has been so good to their family (sons Kevin and Eric, daughter-in-law Lisa, and grandchildren Jackson and Maria), they have been enthusiastic supporters of cultural opportunities in the community including, AViD, WOI (the local National Public Radio outlet), the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, and the DSM Symphony.