Born and raised in inner city Los Angeles of Greek immigrant parents, Elias is the second of three children. He spent many summer vacations and school holidays as a child working in his father's produce business. During his freshman year in college Elias was drafted into the Army. His military service included a tour of duty in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division. Upon his return from the military he finished his college education and earned a bachelor of science degree in ...