The Story of Me

As a middle child I have always mostly kept to myself. Spending time with others at school, church, work, and other places has always been fun and enjoyable, but I’ve always always appreciated down time alone when I can reflect and recharge – many times in the pursuits you will see below.

As a boy I liked to draw, first airplanes and rocket ships. I still sometimes doodle the Saturn 5 or USS Enterprise. Later I drew football and baseball players. After school I would kick a football down the driveway. That led to kicking for my high school team. We won the state championship in 1975, in Georgia’s highest classification. My senior year my extra points were the difference in three of our wins.

I grew up going to church. Sang in children’s choirs. Later got involved in the youth group. I was baptized on Easter Sunday 1975, and consider that when I became a Christian - so this week I celebrate 50 years of being a child of God.

When I started at Georgia Tech, I didn’t know how to study, and I flunked out. Twice. But I worked my way back and was able to graduate.

My relationship with God grew in college, at the Georgia Tech Baptist Student Union and at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. At “SPdL” I was active in youth and college activities, and sang in the Chapel and Sanctuary choirs. Went on mission trips to Tennessee, Indiana, Elmira NY, Colorado Springs, and Rochester NY. Was a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and Camp SPdL counselor for many years. Had a key to the old church gym.

1987 was a memorable year. I bought my grandfather’s house in March. In April I got engaged to Ceil. In May I learned the company I was working for was closing down in June. Landed a new job in July and started in August, then got married in September, in Ceil’s hometown of Jefferson SC. I’ve kept the same job ever since, and only moved once.

I’ve worked for the same company for over 38 years, in several different capacities. I helped develop and train the entire southeast region on a complicated work order entry system, traveling to 20 different plants. For the last 18 years I have coordinated the production and shipment of over 200 million pounds of steel that made 1.5 million EZGO golf cars, working with over 20 different fabricators, coordinating over 20 thousand shipments. I’d like to think that I’ve had a good career. For the most part I’ve enjoyed my job, and working with my coworkers – but I’ve never thought of my job as who I really am.

While I’ve been away at work for 8+ hours a day for my entire adult life, it’s my family and faith in God that is most important part of my life. I try to give Ceil the tools she needs to first teach and home school our kids, and later to do the many things she has wanted to do. I was able to go on numerous school trips with Will, Anna, and Matthew, though not as many other trips and concerts and ballgames as I would’ve liked.

In school I hated to write essays and papers. In 2000 my company plopped a computer down in front of me. I soon discovered that pecking out words and numbers helped me not only figure out solutions to problems at work, but also how I felt about other things in life. Started writing recaps of my kid’s ballgames and ballet recitals for their grandparents. Started emailing my good friend Reid every day, and kept it up for 25 years - sharing thoughts and feelings about faith, family, food, sports, and just about any other topic that came up. Since 2005 I’ve been posting those recaps and emails every day into a blog. Doesn’t get many views but that’s really not my goal. More to create a family record, as well as some of the things we go through. Sports stuff, sermon notes, photos, lists. For better or worse, a reflection of me.

It's always been hard for me to quickly think of things to say in conversations. By developing my writing skills I’ve been better able to more clearly communicate the things I want to say. At work I’ve become famous for my speeches for people’s anniversaries and retirements. I enjoyed giving the father of the bride speech at Anna’s wedding (much to Ceil’s chagrin). Wish I’d been better prepared to give a speech at Will’s rehearsal dinner.

In 1996, I carried the Olympic torch during its relay across America. Twice. In Indiana outside of Chicago, and in Winston Salem. This was in the days before the internet. The applications were on grocery store displays of Coca-Cola. In 2002 I ran with the Salt Lake Olympic torch relay. Now 30 years later, I’m finally working to display the torches in my home office.

This year (2025) will be my 40th Peachtree Road Race. In the early years I’d finish in under 45 minutes, but I’ve slowed down as time has passed by. I got a long streak going, so I figure I’ll keep it going. Crazy that Will has already run 20 Peachtrees, and Ceil and Anna have run some as well.

I’ve read over 700 books. Most I’ve listened to, on my commute back and forth to work. First cassettes, then CDs, and finally downloads. For over 40 years I’ve created a yearly scrapbook calendar, taping in ticket stubs, stickers, photos, and recording what we’ve been up to every day: what and where we’ve eaten, dates, trips, etc. Like my blog, the calendars are a record of our life, one of several outlets to further develop my creativity. I’m able to go back to determine exactly when a particular event happened. The calendars take up an entire shelf in my office.

Since junior high I have always had a thing about shoes, mostly sneakers. Around 1999, I discovered thrift stores. I considered it looking for needles in haystacks, looking for the rare pair of shoes, Masters shirt, or Braves gear. I’d find a jersey for me or Will, and accumulated quite the collection. Eventually I started decluttering, selling shoes and jerseys and other items on eBay and Facebook. These days I visit thrift stores far less frequently.  Finally got to the point where I don’t deep anything.

When the Braves started giving away bobbleheads, I soon became an avid collector. I met others in the hobby and drove to games in Gwinnett, Rome, Augusta, and Chattanooga to get bobbles. Finally I had so many that I would just get them and sell them. Still have dozens and dozens, but hope to sell off more of my collection in retirement. Like thrift stores, nowadays bobbleheads are mostly a thing of the past.

A few years before covid I started driving down Candler Park to play golf at sunrise on Saturday mornings, sometimes with other dewsweepers but often by myself. It’s a great time to be alone with my thoughts, as well as to work on my game. Its so much more fun to play golf than hit balls on the range, though my play certainly reflects my lack of lessons and practice. I was never a gifted athlete in any sport, and any success came through practice and hard work. Ceil has a membership at the YMCA, so I started back working out in the mornings before work. Back when we lived in Morningside I’d meet guys to work out at the SPdL gym.

Most all these details are just things. The best part of my life has been spending time with Ceil and the kids, the day to day life as well as the trips to the beach and other vacations. The kid’s activities growing up. Watching them grow. Will and Mary-Clayton’s wedding, and later Anna and Caleb’s. Both were times that I will always treasure, along with Ceil and my wedding, our honeymoon in Bermuda, and the trips we’ve taken together. When each of our kids were born. Watching them grow. In retirement I hope to become a more available and present husband, dad, and grandfather. It’s been great to make and keep friendships with several guys I know.

Throughout the years the Lord has continued to place Godly men in my life, to help lead and grow me closer to Him – from youth directors in high school to upperclassmen at Tech, and on to older friends at SPdL and JFBC. I’ve been blessed to be engaged in small group Bible Studies from the late 70’s off and on up to present day. I’ve found that being present and held accountable in person is far better than going it alone – despite my tendency to be an introvert. God has blessed my life beyond measure. He’s held me and carried me through times of trouble. He’s given me the strength and wisdom I’ve needed time after time. I’m far from who I need to be in Christ, but through it I’m content to be exactly who God has created me to be - perhaps slightly different and unique from most others, but for sure securely in His arms.