Fathers' Day Memories

Here's to my Daddy!! In a number of ways he is connected to the life we are all living today. In 1918 when he was 13, he contracted the Spanish Flu. He was the baby, the youngest of seven children and the family fought for his life. According to his sister, they fried onions and put on his chest to pull out the infection. Like a mustard plaster, I guess. The onions turned green. Anyway, he survived and grew up to become a prominent lawyer in Dallas.

In 1943 he became a member of the Board of Trustees at Texas Christian University. In the early 60's as the Civil Rights movement was underway, the Board was debating whether or not to integrate the school. His words of calm wisdom along with his established and respected character carried the day and TCU became open to all races.

Later he did the same for the Petroleum Club in Dallas. I remember this with a smile because I said to him, "Daddy, when will the club be open to women." "Give me time, Susan," he said. "I just got our black lawyers and geologists in. I'll work on the women next."

This is a proud heritage for a man whose first case as a new lawyer was to defend a black man accused of some crime against a white person in Tyler, Texas. He won that case. 

To me he was "Daddy". And I heard the stories and even walked with him on part of his walk. I love him still, miss him still, and will always be very proud of him.