FOR THE LOVE OF FAMILY

Today (July 25, 2008) is cause to celebrate the birth of HERMAN EUGENE WALLER.

Seventy six years ago, Ola Mae and Granvil brought into this world a (grandmother said he was 11 or 12 pounds) male child they called Gene.

Gene did not get his first hair cut until he had a long curly black mane that any gal would have wanted. It was only when other kids started hoo-rah-ing him that it was bobbed for the first time.

As he matured, it became obvious that he had a keen interest in all things mechanical. His family said he would take apart anything he could get his hands on to see how it worked. He also had a special knack for "fixing" things that manifested itself throughout his life.

Grandaddy would tell you that Gene liked to fight. Man, boy, or buzz-saw, he would wade into any fray and always came out the winner. Dad and his older brother Curtis used to get into regular free-for-alls and pound on each other until Grandaddy pulled them apart. When Grandaddy "whupped" them with the razor strop, Gene always wanted his "whupping" first because he would go around the corner of the house and wait on Curtis. After Curtis got his turn, he would follow around the corner of the house and Gene would bust him in the mouth to get the fight going again.

Dad told it plain one day when he said that he had never been afraid of another man in his entire life. He simply had the complete confidence that he could best anyone in battle.

Early on Dad developed a life long passion for vehicles and speed. Anything that had a motor on it captured his interest. He never had the resources for fancy cars, but he drove anything he owned like a demon. In later years he never got over 45 MPH. People who didn't know him previously would have never guessed how he used to terrorize the highways and byways.

In spite of all, Gene's overriding passion was his family. All that he loved knew that he would give them anything he had control over and that he would kill anyone who hurt them.

Did Gene have faults? The Lord only knows if anyone ever had more.

Does his family continue to love him and the memories he provided? Damn straight!

I, as his only son, continue to think of him as the best friend I ever had and love him with all my heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD