Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: midnight Target on March 10, 2005, 09:35:59 PM

Title: My Hero
Post by: midnight Target on March 10, 2005, 09:35:59 PM

His father was killed in an accident at the train yard when he was 2. He always worried that he was doing a good job as a father, since he never had a role model.

In high school in Chicago he was one of the tallest kids in school, but he wanted to join ROTC instead of the basketball team. He thought he looked funny in shorts. He ended up becoming the highest ranking cadet in the school, and was offered a commision in the infantry right out of high school in 1943.

After hearing that infantry L.T.'s life expectancy was measured in minutes he opted to join the Army Air Corps. He was just a lowly corporal, but he stayed alive. Flew in B-25's as a radioman, and served as the control tower operator at a little airfield in Southern California.

After the war he married his high school sweetheart and started saving his money. He moved the family from Chicago in 1953 to a place close to that little airfield, because he loved the mountains and the ocean and the great weather.

His sweetheart died in 1984. He was lost for a while, then he created something for a publishing company as a favor to the President. The thing he invented sold 1 million copies in the first year.

At the age of 59 he was offered his own company to manufacture these things. Within 2 years the publishing company made him the CEO of an even bigger company.

He married his bosses secretary, retired comfortably and bought himself his dream house on a lake. He always enjoyed fishing, and never stopped working with his hands. He was the neighbor everybody came to to ask how things are done.

I never hesitated calling him when I was building something or fixing something or just worried about something.  

He was almost 80. He was a great role model. He was a great Dad. I will miss him more than words can express.

Title: My Hero
Post by: NUKE on March 10, 2005, 09:49:36 PM

Damn MT, sounds like a great man, to your dad.

Sorry for your loss MT.

and a great post too.

Title: My Hero
Post by: SOB on March 10, 2005, 09:57:14 PM

My condolences, MT, it's hard to loose your dad. :(

Title: My Hero
Post by: Tarmac on March 10, 2005, 09:59:04 PM

Sorry for your loss.  I can only start to imagine what it must feel like.

Title: My Hero
Post by: DiabloTX on March 10, 2005, 10:04:24 PM

Amazing post, very eloquent.

to you and yours.

Title: My Hero
Post by: GRUNHERZ on March 10, 2005, 10:04:37 PM

My condolances MT and a big to him and all the great dads!

Title: My Hero
Post by: Dune on March 10, 2005, 10:06:58 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family MT.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Sandman on March 10, 2005, 10:07:09 PM

I am so sorry for your loss, MT.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Mini D on March 10, 2005, 10:14:45 PM

Cool memories MT.

Title: My Hero
Post by: slimm50 on March 10, 2005, 10:14:46 PM

A swell guy, your dad. We could use more men like him. Sorry to hear of your loss MT.

edit: oh, and thanks for sharing him with us.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Tumor on March 10, 2005, 10:25:43 PM

Sorry to hear about your Dad MT.  Good story.

Title: My Hero
Post by: JB88 on March 10, 2005, 10:27:44 PM

sorry for your loss MT.

that he was your hero...well, you will always have that.

to all things.



88

Title: My Hero
Post by: Masherbrum on March 10, 2005, 10:42:15 PM

MT, I am sorry for your loss.  <> to your family and friends.

Karaya

Title: My Hero
Post by: Maverick on March 10, 2005, 10:51:15 PM

MT,

I'm sorry for your loss. I'm envious that you had a dad for so much of your life. I understand about the worrying about being a good dad from a first person perspective. I lost mine when I was 7. I know you are sad now, but cherish the lifetime of memories you have.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Toad on March 10, 2005, 10:55:26 PM

That's a tough one MT. My condolences to you and your family.

Title: My Hero
Post by: storch on March 10, 2005, 11:02:17 PM

he will be alive in your mind and in your heart until the end of your days.  sorry for your loss.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Nash on March 10, 2005, 11:39:23 PM

From what I know of you from these boards... you're as good a testament to the man as anything else.

Condolances m8.

Title: My Hero
Post by: LePaul on March 10, 2005, 11:44:26 PM

What did he invent?

You have my condolences.  My Dad is my best friend too.

Title: My Hero
Post by: ramzey on March 11, 2005, 03:55:58 AM

I am so sorry for your loss, MT. My condolences

Title: My Hero
Post by: CyranoAH on March 11, 2005, 04:32:32 AM

Deeply sorry for your loss MT. After reading your post, I would have loved to meet him.

Daniel

Title: My Hero
Post by: Jackal1 on March 11, 2005, 06:08:33 AM

Sorry for your loss.
I can relate. I lost my Dad in `97.

Title: My Hero
Post by: AWMac on March 11, 2005, 07:13:37 AM

So sorry to hear of your loss MT.  Prayers go out to you and your family.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on March 11, 2005, 07:32:56 AM

I lost mine in January. I feel exactly the same way about him. My God be with and comfort you and yours in your time of loss and need.

<>

Title: My Hero
Post by: Stringer on March 11, 2005, 07:48:10 AM

Very sorry for your loss, MT.  

Title: My Hero
Post by: Saintaw on March 11, 2005, 08:24:43 AM

:(

Title: My Hero
Post by: Sikboy on March 11, 2005, 08:30:14 AM

You've got mail.

-Sik

Title: My Hero
Post by: lazs2 on March 11, 2005, 08:33:45 AM

sorry for your loss... he sounds like a great guy.   My dad is getting up there too and he has some big shoes to fill in my opinion.

lazs

Title: My Hero
Post by: Gunthr on March 11, 2005, 08:41:43 AM

Best wishes to you and yours, MT.

Title: My Hero
Post by: EN4CER on March 11, 2005, 08:43:55 AM

Very sorry for your loss.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Krusher on March 11, 2005, 08:46:34 AM

Sorry to hear about your Dad MT.  I lost mine in 86, he would have been 71 next week.

Title: My Hero
Post by: midnight Target on March 11, 2005, 09:10:12 AM

Thank you all.

I wrote that because I wanted to tell the world what a great guy he was, but I just ended up being consoled by you all. It feels good, thank you.



LePaul,

He invented a kit/board to go along with a math textbook sold in Texas. He ended up as the CEO of a company called Weber Costello. They made almost all of the white (dry erase) boards and chalkboards and stuff like that for years. They were bought out by Echo recently.

I'm off to Missouri.

Title: My Hero
Post by: TheDudeDVant on March 11, 2005, 10:00:40 AM

Best wishes MT!

Title: My Hero
Post by: FiLtH on March 11, 2005, 10:11:18 AM

Targut, my condolences.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Curval on March 11, 2005, 10:19:02 AM

I missed this earlier...really sorry for your loss MT.:(

Title: My Hero
Post by: gollum on March 11, 2005, 10:19:15 AM

Very sorry for your loss MT.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Halo on March 11, 2005, 10:23:12 AM

One of the best obits/testimonials I've ever seen.  Deepest sympathy, but what a great legacy.

Title: My Hero
Post by: JB73 on March 11, 2005, 10:25:00 AM

sorry to hear about your loss MT sir, and God Speed to your father!

Title: My Hero
Post by: GtoRA2 on March 11, 2005, 10:27:34 AM

Sorry for your loss MT, I know how you feel.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Shamus on March 11, 2005, 10:31:58 AM

My condolences MT

shamus

Title: My Hero
Post by: eskimo2 on March 11, 2005, 11:52:16 AM

Sorry to hear of your loss MT.  As said by others above, you are a testament to his greatness.

eskimo

Title: My Hero
Post by: Bodhi on March 11, 2005, 11:59:42 AM

My sympathies MT...

Title: My Hero
Post by: Stringer on March 11, 2005, 12:34:34 PM

MT,
You've got friends in KC if you come by that way.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Pongo on March 11, 2005, 01:05:23 PM

Goosebumps MT.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Sixpence on March 11, 2005, 01:11:05 PM

My condolences MT, sorry to hear.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Samiam on March 11, 2005, 01:23:49 PM

The father cycle, provided you are blessed with a good one:


Tot: My dad's better than your dad.

Teen: You think your old man sucks, sheesh you should getta load of mine.

Twentyish: Maybe I was wrong about Dad, he's not completely useless.

Much Later: I wish I had listened to my father a lot more when I thought I knew everything, and I hope I can live up to his memory.


Condolences, MT. Be greatfull you had such a hero.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Red Tail 444 on March 11, 2005, 03:14:14 PM

Words are inadequate when discussing loss of this magnitude, but it's all we have sometimes...


My Thoughts and Prayers are with you.

gainsie

Title: My Hero
Post by: Thrawn on March 11, 2005, 03:17:42 PM

My condolances as well MT, sounds like he was a wonderful guy and had an interesting life.

Title: My Hero
Post by: mietla on March 11, 2005, 03:23:11 PM

Sorry to hear that MT. My condolences.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Siaf__csf on March 11, 2005, 03:27:30 PM

Sounds like you had a special relationship with him. Very touching text, you made me feel sad even though I don't know him.

Title: My Hero
Post by: GreenCloud on March 11, 2005, 03:47:10 PM

god and life are such strange things to me


first...Im glad you had your dad around for such a time.


Im 31 now..and my dad died when i was14-15. Alphonse my dad..Al..he was just 40..He got a brain tumor ,and ittook him a year to decay all the way to finally die..It was horrible seeing such a strong man die liek that.

He was a uroligist with his own private practice...Very athletic..went on week long backpacking trips here in the sierra nevadas..dehydrated food..purfiying your own water..all that survial stuff

It was a strange tiem for me too..being a teenager..I hated my parents..well hate may be a strong word..but you knwo how tennagers act w/ parents..


Especailly with his viloent mood swings from all the drugs he was on.,,he was trying radiation treatment..

One funny thing from his mood swings was ..my sister who was 19-20..had a boyfriend..great guy..But one day my dad went off on him..from the drugs'...he told him to get his paws of his daughetr ect..it was funny..poor Robert...but he knew my dad didnt mean it..it was just funny...You know..some guy with your daughetr..



but..I never got to tell him what a great life he gave me and my mom ..and sister

I t changed my life..and it still does..i have been trying to balance living life..and a life to live..

You know...the balance of..how much fun to ..how much work you shoul do..

Life  can be so short..or so long..and we dont know

When i started doing these IRAs..401k s and stuff..Im like..wtf..I have to save money..so maybe I will be alive after 40?!!..


Im still in the mindset of short life..and its tuff way to think soemtimes..Im still not sure what to live for..now or later?

pretty much been livn for the now



Both my grandfathers are dead..1 died in 1951..heartattakc in Central Park NY..He walked up the beaches in normandy

my other grandfather was a test pilot..flew all the planes from the 40s to the 50s...He died in a F-100,,in france..Hydralic failure on takeoff..Instead of bailing out and launching a loaded jet with fuel into a neighborhood..he tried to belly it in

 
Both my grand,mas are still kikn..my one just had a 2nd heart bypass..shes doing well..Ilove them


SO!!!..all of you say hello to your folks


Ying yang-----ying yang...
and salute all

Title: My Hero
Post by: SaburoS on March 11, 2005, 03:53:49 PM

Just read your post MT. My condolences to you and the rest of his family and friends. It's quite clear what a great father he was to you.
Thanks for sharing.

Title: My Hero
Post by: medicboy on March 11, 2005, 05:01:41 PM

Sorry for your loss, can't imagine.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Bluefish on March 11, 2005, 05:56:18 PM

My sincerest condolences and sympathy.  My Dad died very suddenly just over a year ago, and there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss him.  The shock and the sorrow eventually dull, but the love and the memories will last forever.

Title: My Hero
Post by: hblair on March 11, 2005, 06:28:24 PM

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family MT. Sounds like your dad was a great guy.

Title: My Hero
Post by: Silat on March 11, 2005, 06:34:12 PM

My sympathies to your family ...