How do you celebrate ninety years of living? My precious Daddy turned ninety last Tuesday, October 6. We celebrated him as he has lived…simply!
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”
Proverbs 17:6
I planned a small birthday celebration to be held outdoors at our home this past Saturday, but remember it is 2020! Plans had to be changed because the remnants of Hurricane Delta brought rain beginning on Friday and finally ending around noon on Sunday. We were able to celebrate on Sunday afternoon, outdoors as planned. Unfortunately because of rescheduling, my nephew (Daddy’s grandson) and family were not able to attend. My niece (Daddy’s granddaughter) and family live out West and could not be with us. All of them, including five great-grandsons, were certainly missed!
Rather than share the pretty table decorations and delicious food, I want to share the story of this simple man who has impacted hundreds of lives!
Without a doubt, EK got her Pawpaw’s red hair!
During the depths of the Great Depression, in the Foothills of the Appalachians in NE AL, my Daddy was born to your typical Southern, rural, working-class family. His early childhood was similar to all children growing up during this impoverished era. He simply attended school and played with his older brother and younger sister. That was usually followed by an afternoon of fishing at the nearest creek bank. At an early age, he discovered baseball which he loved to play with his friends.
Minor league baseball (pictured left)
When Daddy entered high school, he began playing and lettering in all sports. He was a halfback on the football team, forward in basketball, and a first baseman on the baseball team. Upon graduation in 1948, he was given an opportunity to try out for the Auburn basketball team for a scholarship, but since baseball was his passion and dream, he declined.
During the spring of his senior year, he was scouted by the Cleveland Indians and was offered a contract to play professional baseball. He signed later that year and was sent to spring training in Marietta, Florida. After two successful years in Class A, he was transferred to Class AA. The major league was now in sight!
But that was when the draft board notified him.READ MORE
