Israel was born in 1948 to George, an engineer at Robins Air Force Base, and Margaret Israel, a teacher who helped veterans returning from World War II, in rural Bibb County, Georgia.
Israel was born to George and Margaret Israel in rural Bibb County, Georgia. His father worked as an engineer at Robins Air Force Base and his mother was a teacher who helped veterans returning from World War II to earn their GEDs. 
