To Sir, With Love

Got an e-mail this Thursday forwarded to me by Lisa, (who had received it from Mom, who sent it to one of my defunt e-mail addresses, who had received it from someone at Dad's work), requesting a list of some of Dad's favorite books, movies, music, songs, hobbies, etc., that could be put to indeterminate use at an honorary function to be held the next day in belated recognition of Dad's selection as the 2005 Mansfield Timberview High School Teacher of the Year. With nothing to go on but that, Lisa and I and later Brian collectively produced a roast-appropriate mini-chronology of the "highlights" of our father's life.

I have since learned, second-hand, that the presenters only used a couple of the notables from our chronology, and I thought this might be an appropriate venue for a display of the entire list in all its "This Is Your Life" glory. Sir got a tribute song with love from Lulu; Mr. Holland got a symphony concert performed by current and former students; Keating got a roomful of boys standing on chairs; and Dad, for all that you do, this compact, 81% accurate "Life" in 14 essential points is for you.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Dad grew up watching Howdy Doody! and it has been suggested that this played a huge role in making him the man he is today.

The highlight of his youth was meeting Jim Nabors at the swimming pool of an aunt's apartment complex in Dallas.

At R. L. Pascal High School, he dreamed of either becoming the fourth member of Peter, Paul & Mary or of replacing one of the other three.

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His favorite head topper during his freshman year at Baylor was a beanie.

Later in college, when he suffered head trauma as a result of a life-threatening car wreck, he was temporarily unable to speak. The first words he produced upon recovery were uttered after he had been served a bowl of vanilla ice cream. They were: "I prefer chocolate."

The highlight of his early professional career was working in the same office as Dallas Cowboy punter Duane Carrell.

After his return to graduate school in the late '70s, he began collecting hobo circus clown trinkets. This has become a lifelong hobby.

His Arkansas period is most remembered for an evening of 'possum and politics he shared with US Senator Dale Bumpers.


The most recent highlight in his life was standing in line behind Emmitt Smith at a steakhouse in Wichita Falls, Texas.

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His favorite movie is Animal House, which may have inspired his return to academia.


His favorite book is The Magic Journey, which all of his children have secretly read and enjoyed and discussed at length (but just for kicks we tell him we haven't).

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He enjoys Flaming Hot Cheetos dipped in mashed potatoes. (Cheetos, incidentally, were introduced to the world the same year Dad was.)

At any given moment, a tune originally released in 1962 with the refrain "Alice is fond of Algernon" may be playing inside his head.

And he hates-hates-to be called "Greenhorn."

(Out of respect for Dad's imagined wishes, we decided not to include any mention whatsoever of Ann Margaret.)