My dad has been gone many years now, but I remember him so
very well. He was a big man, he stood about 6'4 " tall. I guess he was a
giant to a little kid like me.
Being the only girl in the family, dad was my hero. He would
pull me in a wagon to the market and I remember bouncing over the railroad
track, full of grins and giggles all the while. He just shook his head, not
understanding the joy I felt. I remember Christmas eve,him holding me in his lap,
sitting in old rocking chair,
while the small tree we had reflected the light from the balls in the dim light.
The stories he told, oh, I could listen for hours!
Before my dad met my mom, he was with the Texas Rangers in
and around Beaumont Texas. Before that he did some farming and working oilrigs.
My mom had lost her husband and was raising my brother Jack alone. She and Dad
hit it off and married soon after. The life of a Ranger was sort of hard back
then I guess, so after a few years he gave it up when his retirement came up,
and the family moved to Oklahoma.Back
to where dad had family near Yale. There was a few years farming and I guess
the "itch" of the Ranger must have still been in the blood.
The next move was to near the Tulsa area; there he joined the
police department. And was on the force a few years. Then someone said he might
make a good sheriff. SO.. The race was on at election time. Man it must have
been something back then to be a Sheriff!Well, he lost that election it appears. So when the time came he decided
to run for the Chief of police.
In that race he won.
[This was a bit before my time so I had to get a lot from family members
and the local archives]
I remember him telling the story of Pretty Boy Floyd. The
gangster and some of his buddies were on their way south and were going to pass
through the town. Well, my dad was a big guy, but he was not a big"
Fool" as he put it, so he camped out with another officer in some shrubs,
just in case![ I can't say I blame
him!]
Well as luck would have it, all went well and the mean guys
passed on through without incident.
After this, he decided to run for sheriff again and won that
time.
There was a bit of " moonshining' going on in the dog
creek hills, and night after night they would bust up the stills, to slow down
the "shine" runners. If you had a still Dad was goanna find it sooner
or later,.. So the county was rather a clean one.
There are a lot of stories I can tell, another time maybe?
During this time my brothers were born, and things of the
rather dangerous nature took a bit of a back seat, and he would oversee most
operations rather than get shot at.
He lead parades, riding some of the most beautiful horses
loaned to him, since we could not have horses in town. The town had big time
bands such as Jonnie Lee Wills, Patti Page, The sons of the Pioneers, all in
town for the" Big bang up cowboy days".
About this time I came along, at 2-3 I was on a horse with
him. I learned to love horses a great deal. I will not go into detail, but you
might say" I was the youngest horse thief in the county" I just
'borrowed the horse a few minutes, and rode down the road a ways.." my dad was
Not real pleased with me! But heck I was just 6..* smile*..
The most wonderful things I remember of my dad was his
kindness. He was always helping someone, weather it was clearing off a hay
field, doing a yard, or helping someone carry a load of laundry.
He was always saying if you can’t help someone who needs it,
" YOU aren’t worth much"
Then came his honesty.
I never knew of him taking a thing he did not buy, he would work for low
pay, and take in trade with the market people, but he would clean the sidewalk
first.On that he would say, " You
work for what you get"
Family was the most important to him, we had a small house,
but he would sit all of us down in front of a warm fire on a cold winter day
and read to us from the bible. Then he would explain the word a child could
understand.
He told us no matter good or bad, family comes first. You
stood beside them if they were right, fought for them and against them if they
were wrong. Then you made it right, and you never left them behind.
If a friend or neighbor was in need, or down on their luck,
he put out that hand to help. It would always come back to him.
I remember a child with a broken leg that was having a time
getting around; I think I said
something smart like a kid will do,
I don't remember what I said, but I remember the spanking I
got for saying it!
I guess you could say my dad was a " right or
wrong" person. " It was either RIGHT or it was Wrong" not much
leeway for a child of 6 who was "Dads little Girl"
Not that I did not get into trouble, I did that!
But that's another story as they say
By this time Dad was not doing really well, and had left the
force,He had been shot a
few years earlier and things health wise were not the best.
I told him one time I wanted to be like him when I grew up.
Looking back, those were some really big shoes I would have
had to fill.
I think there were so many things he said to me that has
always stuck in the blood.
Be the person who can look in the mirror, and go to
bed with a good feeling that you did ok today. And you will be ok
If you can't look yourself in the eye- you might have a
problem."
Then there were the times I would see him cry, because he
could not help a kid in trouble, no matter what he did,
That was the worse part.
There was to great times of fun -riding on his shoulders,
water games, and just plain do nothing!
Once he found a baby squirrel and brought it home to me, I
called it Rusty, it lived several years as a house pet. It was always dodging the cat if I recall
He taught me that life is what you make it, it might be
hard, but if you are doing your best, that what counts.
Then he shocked me. He said there are times you might not
like things you will have to do in life, and you will have to make hard
choices. They might not be the Right ones that you should make, but in all
cases you have to look at the whole picture,
Then do what you think is best. If others are involved, you
have to think of them. Who and what will the action you take do to
harm or cause pain?
The road you take will always be behind you, but you can't
go back. Take a stand and keep it. Give 100 % and give back 110%.
You never turn your back on a brother or a friend. You might
need them if you should fall.
Well as you can see, my dad was sort of a confusing feller
for a kid.When I lost him, he
took a big part of me with him. But he left a heck of a lot of him behind.
I started with the police department at the age of 21.
But stayed in Dispatch. I had a big voice!
I guess I have walked in his shoes, but I have not filled
them. But now I understand what he was speaking of.
All those years ago, as a child when he was no doubt
wondering if he was getting through to me.
" Yep Dad, You got through loud and clear "
And I have never turned my back on a brother or a friend.
I Hope you are proud of me Dad, I have done my best
And, one other thing, you always said you would always watch
over me ..And you have, I thank you for all you taught me and gave to
home and community, and the help you gave others.
"I Miss YOU Dad"
Always..
your Kricket
* All rights reserved copyright protected KC Sievert
the Prayer of a Lawman
When I start my tour of duty God,
Wherever crime may be,
as I walk the darkened streets alone,
Let me be close to thee.
Please give me understanding with both
the young and old.
Let me listen with attention until their story's told.
Let me never make a judgment in a rash or callous way,
but let me hold my patience let each man have his say.
Lord if some dark and dreary night,
I must give my life,
Lord, with your everlasting love
protect my children and my wife.
the Highway patrolman is done by Johnny Cash
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