We try to keep things updated on here with updates and as much coverage of Alabama athletics that we can manage plus some things about restaurants, drinks and even some things to make you laugh. I hope you will allow me to publish this one with not too much fuss. My dad has been gone since November of 2006. Still seems like yesterday. He was my buddy for hunting and fishing until his congestive heart failure slowed him way down. To this day, I don’t hardly go any more even though I know I should. He loved Alabama football and as the saying goes “Like Father, Like Son”.
Father’s Days, his birthdays and Christmas was the only time you could get him a gift when he wouldn’t get on to you. We never struggled or anything but he still wanted to make sure me, my mom and my grandma (his mom) was taken care of first. Dad started working when he was around 14 and never slowed down until about 2 weeks before he passed. He retired from the Post Office with 35 years and kept busy during retirement. He was an unbelievably strong man. For 3 years, he lived with congestive heart failure with his heart only pumping 19% of capacity according to his doctors and you would have never known. He could still outwork me up until those last 2 weeks when he couldn’t take 10 steps without having to stop to catch his breath. Even then, he was still worried about taking care of mom and grandma.
He spent about a week in the hospital and the doctors did everything they could but his kidneys were shutting down. My mother had just had knee replacement surgery a few weeks before and was in a rehab hospital. Dad had the strength to tell the doctors that if he was near the end, he wanted to be transported to be with my mom, his bride of 28 years. Doctors were expecting him to live 2 weeks. Lots of friends and family were there that day to see him and I am thankful he knew them all and got to talk to them. After an hour or so, most everyone had left except for my grandmother and I and of course mom and dad. My grandmother, who was in her 90s at the time, had been sitting around all day and was totally worn out. Dad was worried about her and called me over to his side. He told me to take her home, get her something to eat and make sure she was alright. Of course, I told him I would and told him that I loved him. Dad told me loved me, he was proud of me and thanked me for helping take care of things those past few months. I knew right then would be the last time I would see him alive. I kick myself daily for not staying but I had to do what he wanted. I had probably only been gone around 20 minutes and got the call that he passed on. Just him and mom in the room. And you know, I think that is what we wanted and the way it should have been.
The elected Secretary of the local union wrote a tribute that appeared in the union’s magazine. I posted it at the end of this post. A friend had it engraved on a plaque that hangs in my office so that I see it daily. Hope you guys will let this one post slide and won’t hold it against me. I haven’t wrote or posted anything for the site with tears in my eyes but today is the first. At the least, it was therapeutic. I even listened to his favorite song while I wrote this and will embed it below. It was the only song he wanted played at his funeral. Later on this afternoon, I plan on watching his favorite game: 1993 Sugar Bowl when Bama won the national championship. I sincerely do hope the fathers have a wonderful day today. This is just my silly way of spending a little time with mine. Roll Tide, dad. I love you and I miss you.
Tribute To Bill
On November 17, 2006 We lost one of our favorite retired letter carriers. Bill was a big man with a big heart. If you needed anything, he would always help you if he could. He was the type of man who would give you his last dollar or the shirt off his back and not worry about being repaid. Bill was a very down to earth person. If he had a been a millionaire, he would have still lived simply and enjoyed life. He started at the post office in 1959. When he was hired, Postmaster Collier asked him if he was willing to work and Billy said “Well, of course”. He was from the old school where you worked for 8 hours and received 8 hours pay. He believed everyone should be treated fairly and respectfully.
I first met Bill a few months after I started to work at the post office in October of 1965. I was walking to work on Pulaski Pike and he gave me a ride to the West Station Post Office. He could tell I was a little nervous and jittery. He told me to relax and don’t worry about the little things. In the late 60’s, I had settled on Route 83 at the Downtown Station and Bill soon took Route 30 up on Monte Sano Mountain where he stayed until he retired. Bill carried a lot of mail, did a very good job and was well liked by his patrons( Especially the guys at the fire station). He also followed the union rules. He didnt hesitate to file a grievance on his behalf and was more than willing to file one for someone else.
Back in the 70’s and 80’s things were a little different at the old post office downtown. We worked closer together and were usually talking, carrying on and teasing each other. Plus we could all hear better back then! Bill had kind of a dry sense of humor but loved to kid around and play pranks on people. He would hide people’s lunch boxes and cut the rubber bands off of Murphree’s business mail and mine. When we had tied out one time, he put a cinder brick in Murphree’s mail bag that he used to carry the mail in daily. Poor Murph carried it around all through the mall that day. The one thing I remember most about all that cutting up was how he could always get the last word with Felix and that was hard to do. Bill had a good relationship with the firemen on the mountain always eating lunch and pitching horseshoes with them.
Bill also loved to hunt with his friends Jack, Mickey, Willie, Roy, Roger, and Possum. A lot of times they would meet at his house and his mother would have a big breakfast ready or a sack full of bisquits for them to carry and eat while hunting. Jack said “I always had so much fun while hunting with him”
He didnt get married until late in life. He stayed home to help take care of his mother but I think his mother took care of him until his wife came along. She told me ” God sent her the best husband a woman could ever have.” We all know that it was true cause he was like a big brother to all of his friends.
At the funeral home for visitation, we were all gathered around saying our goodbyes and talking to his mother, wife, and Chris. Worley mentioned to them about how they grew up together sharing candy and cokes and playing together. It was so moving when Worley saluted Bill and said “Good bye my friend. We will miss you and we will see you soon”.
If there is a post office in heaven, I believe that among others, Bill is now working with Pudd and Possum and that would mean three great guys together once again.
Bill, we are thankful and blessed to have known you for a short time and to realize how you touched our lives in many different ways. We all miss you. Rest in peace my friend. You have earned it. God Bless You.