Well, I have to tell a story as well.

First of all though I would like to say we all miss Daddy, there isn't a day that goes by without thinking about him. Sometimes I forget he isn't here anymore and I will want to call him to tell him a joke or something. The stories that you all are writing are helpful in the healing process and my family appreciates them very much. It is fun to read and think back about the younger days gone by. Sometimes we take our relationships for granted -A little advice: make sure you tell someone that you love that you do love them while you can. If you think about them and they are still here then call them and go see them. I would and did but it doesn't seem like enough now.

I used to think I had it rough being "the cops kid". It did have its moments but looking back I wonder if my Dad didn't have it a little tougher. I know there were times he would have liked me to have had loud pipes and a cooler car but I needed to try and be an example for the other kids my age and I was already a handfull as it was and certainly didn't need any additional encouragement. Its hard to believe that I was driving at age 14 - its probably good I started out with a 1961 Rambler American with a flathead 6cyc. because I would have probably caused some serious damage to me and others around me, ha! I had fun though and I look back growing up in Roby as some of my best memories. (I did finally get a cool car after moving to Dallas in 1970 - I got a 1969 Firebird and after that a 1972 competition orange Chevelle with loud pipes! - but not too loud).

I remember as a Freshman on the basketball bus being called back to the back of the bus. I don't remember who but someone got a ticket that day and I was about to pay the price with a senior ring popped on top of my head. I didn't complain and I certainly didn't tell because I knew it would be tougher if I did. There was a guy that came to my rescue though. It was Andi Whitfield's big brother. I'm sorry I can't remember his first name as I am writing this but he said enough! and made them let me go. I will never forget that. It took some "cahunas" for him to stand up for me in front of his friends like that.

Another story that is indirectly a "Walter Wood" story - I was test driving Rex Beachuamp's (sp?,sorry) big brother's Falcon Futura one time and it was starting to get dark. I turned on the headlights and soon after I got pulled over, one of the headlights was out and I didn't know it. It wasn't Daddy but his partner, Albert Hathaway. Albert didn't know it was me until he walked up to the car. This was on the main drag near the Silver Spur Cafe. It was embarassing to say the least. He didn't give me a ticket (and I don't think he would have anyone else either) or even a written warning, he just told me to get the car back right away and to tell Rex's brother to replace the headlight. It wasn't that big of deal but everyone (but Albert) knew it was me driving the car at the time and everyone was driving by staring and laughing, wondering what I did. Daddy never said anything, I don't know if Albert even told him.

I got a million stories about my Dad as you can imagine but one more driving related story if you will allow me. Right after I got the Rambler, I had driven up to Cokers grocery store. When I went to back out (remember I was 14 at the time) I bumped somebody and broke their headlight out, it also knocked it out of gear and started rolling back. I jumped out ran back and opened the car door and put it back into gear (no one kept their cars locked in those days). I then quickly left the scene not knowing that the whole store was watching this event transpire. I didn't know what to do, I just knew if Daddy found out he would kill me. Well, my guilt got the best of me and I broke down and told him, not to mention how was I going to explain the small dent in my right rear fender. Obviously he already knew (remember the whole store was watching and news travels fast in Roby, especially if the "cops kid" had an accident and left the scene!) but he remained patient and let me be the one to come and tell him (probably alot more patient than I would have been). To make a long story short he had me go and apologize to the folks and pay (with my hard-earned cotton chopping money) for a new headlight and chrome piece. I never fixed the dent in my car however, it wasn't that bad and I didn't want to let go of anymore money.

Thanks again for your stories, they mean alot to me, Mama, Carolyn, Mark, and Randy.

Lee Wood