The Living Man That I Admire The Most

I have come to many realizations this summer. The latest one is the living man that I most admire. Before I tell you who it is, let me list some of the "runners up" in no particular order!

First there are my brothers: Simon, who has a God- given musical talent and was an outstanding VA Counselor, Jim, who has exceptional cooking ability and John who has perservered through a lot in his life.
Then there is my son- in- law, JoAnna's husband and father to David and Rachel, Russell Johnson. Russell is a great dad, husband and plant manager. I was so impressed with what he has done to improve the work flow and productivity of the Vicksburg operation of Batesville Casket Company. His plant recently won the "Industry Plant of the year Award" due in large part to his skill and hard work! I am also grateful to Bryan Morgan, the dad of my other two grandkids, Victoria and Kaitlyn.

Then there are people who came into my life while I have been an adult: Bill O'Brien, who is now 86 years old and has been a running companion, fellow basketball official, bowling teammate and golf partner for over 35 years. There is Ralph Bemis, who was my neighbor for about 15 years. Ralph is the hardest working, most giving person I have ever known. He is now over 90 years old and has only slowed down a little.
Pastors Lynn Howell and Chuck Engelhardt have been a source of great comfort, wisdom and guidance in my own search for the truths of life. Mr. Ed Tonore of Southern Heritage fame is the best entrepeneur I have ever known.

In the category of people that I admire from my 35 years of teaching, I could list many but a few really stand out: Mr. Mike Buckley, Ag teacher at Southeast High in Bradenton has been a source of encouragement and wisdom for me. Mike is overall the most professional and driven teacher that I have ever worked with. Mr. Dan West, Manatee County Fair Manager, has been a friend and mentor for over 15 years. My Braden River Middle School Principal, Mr. George Douglas, was a man of high principles and was a real role model for me. Colonel Bob Lewis, Lakewood Ranch ROTC instructor, was also a driven person who saw everything as black and white and I admire him for that. Roy Larson, Lakewood Ranch Principal, was a consumate professional who treated everyone fairly and was as organized as anyone that I have ever known. Finally, Mr. Charles Williams, longtime Ag Supervisor for Manatee County, was a constant source of inspiration for me, and I consider him a life- long friend.

Now to the person that I admire the most: it is my older bother William Thomas "Tom" Jackson! Tom was born on February 13, 1942 in Beerston, NY. He and I got along fine as brothers even though we weren't particularly close. I guess I was somewhat jealous of his close relationship with our Grandmother Jackson, but then I understood at a certain level that as the oldest child he should be in that role.

I was a better person in school due in part to the example that Tom set. My teachers expected me to behave like Tom and I "pretty much" did!

We were students at Cornell together for one year and again I did not see a lot of him. I was in the freshman dorms and Tom stayed  in a rooming house on Stewart Avenue. Again, there was no animosity between us but we did not hang out together much.

When Tom and Sandra got married in 1964, I was an usher at their wedding. Don Byington, one of Tom's Cornell roomates, was the best man. I was fine with that.

It was when I was going through some terrible personal problems in 1967- 1968, that I really started to appreciate Tom and see the kind of person that he really was. I was staying in a trailer at a small trailer park that he had on his farm. I was the ultimate lousy tenant; partied too much, hardly ever paid rent and was a general pain in the butt! Tom had every reason to kick me to the curb but he didn't. It's like he knew that I was in a bad place and needed some understanding. A kick in the butt would have been more appropriate but that wasn't in my brother's nature.

When Carol and I got together in 1983 I know that Tom and Sandra both had questions and reservations about our relationship. But again, he and they both showed an immense amount of patience and understanding with us. I hope that their patience has been rewarded.

I admire Tom for his devotion to his God. When he and Sandra were married Tom became a Catholic. He has embraced Catholicism over the years, has not just gone through the motions. I know that this was hard for him being raised as a Protestant. Tom lives his religion  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. How many of the rest of us can say that??

I admire Tom for how he has handled some major medical problems throughout his life. Tom has the Brac 2 gene mutation which makes him susceptible to certain kinds of cancers. Thankfully, I don't have that mutation. I could not have handled it as my brother has. God must have had that planned! In 2001 Tom had quintuple bypass surgery, in 2007 he had breast cancer (due to the gene mutation that he carries) and today, October 11, 2010, he had his prostate removed by choice. He could have opted for a less radical procedure, but his strong will to live and knowledge of his condition led to this choice. Could I have done it this way: probably not!

Tom said today while recovering from surgery that family was the reason that his surgery was so successful. You are partially correct brother, but the main reason that today's procedure was so successful is YOU!! Your physical preparation by losing over 30 pounds, your strong belief in a higher being, your will to stay healthy for your family, and your stubborn desire to be a role model and set an example for your brothers, wife, kids, grandkids and friends are the real reasons that you did so well today!

You have  conquered some medical challenges that would have caused a lesser person to give up. You have become my closest friend in life. I appreciate you more every day that I live and I have grown to love you as my brother, my role model and mentor in how to properly live my life. Our lives have taken different paths that have converged in the past few years and led us to the good place that we are in now. The fact that we disagree on politics and sports is of very little consequence. What matters is that we live the rest of our lives enjoying our friends, families and loved ones and remembering what has led us to this place.