​Blog 500 – 12.20.2016
My Boyhood Heroes

Willie Nelson sings, “My heroes have always been cowboys…” As a boy, Roy, and Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, and a host of other western movie and TV stars were my heroes. But as a boy I had many other heroes: Superman, Tarzan, Davy Crockett, my dad, my Paw Paw, my uncles. Although we said grace in His name and I knelt at my bed every night and prayed the, “Now I lay me down to sleep…” prayer to Him I did not know Jesus all that well to think of Him as a hero. He is of course, in the highest and best since of the word. I mean – laying down your life for others – it does not get any more heroic than that.

I write a lot about Jesus and quote his words often. I believe his message was taken over and corrupted by ego driven men for power and worldly wealth. And it still is today. Do I believe everyone who preaches the name of Jesus is crook? No, I do not, many are dupes. I was – taken in like many are by many popular charities that pretend to care about the poor, the sick, the down and out but are scams to feather someone else’s nest. That is not a popular sentiment at Christmas time but con-men and con-men do not qualify as heroes in my book.

I would like to write a paragraph about three largely unsung heroes from my boyhood. Dubb Ball, Lyndel Davidson, and Walter White. These three men far as I know never had a parade in their honor, nor won any high honors but they were and will always be heroes to me for they made a shy, timid, backward boy feel important. I was listening to favorite Glen Campbell CD that I bought myself for my last birthday. I always pick out the best gifts for me. They are always exactly what I wanted, just the right size, and color. The songs on the Galveston album brought back a lot of memories and open my mind to some new thoughts too. One song had these hauntingly true words, “Some people treat me mean. Some treat me kind. Most folks just go their way, they don’t pay me any mind.” Often a child’s world has way too many of that third group of people in it.

Dubb Ball was my dad’s sister Ruby’s first husband. He was funny and fun and full of life. He sang in a Gospel Quartet and played boogie woodies on the piano. He and Ruby were father and mother to two of my favorite cousins, Darlene and Randy. We spent a lot of time at their house and they at ours especially in the winter times when my dad was laid off work because of the weather. One of the last time I remember seeing Dubb, he and Ruby came to our house  to leave a box of food for my family. They were not rich, it was a real sacrifice for them to share what little they had with us but that is what family does. Dubb and Ruby divorced not long after that and I never saw him again. I have heard he disappointed others but he never disappointed me. He took us swimming with his kids at the lake. He let me stand on his shoulders and dive into the water. He always had a thousand watt smile for me and a moment to listen to whatever childhood concern I had to share. Dubb will always be high on my list of heroes.

Lyndel Davidson was my mother’s cousin. He loved my daddy and loved teasing him and my Uncle Bud on hunting trips. He loved to hunt and was so full of life and of fun. He wore his disguise easily as most angels do. He was light hearted and taught me young that the real issues of life are kindness and enjoying the journey. I did not spend a lot of time in his company but I remember and cherish every moment. Many, not just me, saw something noble and fine in Lyndel Davidson and were sorry to hear of his passing but rejoiced in the light that he had shared on our paths. One of the faces I most long to see again is his.

Walter White was my dad’s oldest younger brother. He lied about his age to join the Army at fifteen years old and became a paratrooper in the  famed 101st Airborne Division in World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was one of the band of brothers. He almost lost his feet to the bitter cold. His toes were frost bitten. He was a great father to his sons and daughter. After he retired he occupied himself gathering food and taking it to people who needed it. He always had more than enough to share. I was almost born on his birthday. I missed it by a day. He always made me feel important. And that was more heroic to me that his miIitary record. I salute you, Uncle Walt.

As I said in the beginning, I had many boyhood hero mostly the members of my family and their friends and a few I made along the way. There is, I believe, a hero in all of us. Whose hero are you?

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White