My Father’s Birthday

(My dad’s high school graduation picture)

Today is my father’s birthday. He would have been 84 if he hadn’t passed away in 2023. I am occasionally capturing on my blog some of the stories I thought about for his eulogy. They might be nice some day for my kids/grandkids. Some of these stories I shared in the eulogy and some had to be cut due to time constraints. My dad was larger than life, had a huge personality, and never backed down from a challenge. This story didn’t make the eulogy but is one I will never forget...

Growing up, my siblings and I sensed early on that Dad wasn’t typical. As I mentioned above, Dad was larger than life. He was a force with which to be reckoned. I rarely worried about him.

It wasn’t very often, but I do remember one time being worried for Dad. This was when he was the dean of students at a Christian college. I believe I was nearing the end of high school. There was a basketball game with one of the local secular schools. A college student from the opposing school was drinking, causing problems, using foul language, and so forth. These kinds of behaviors were not allowed on campus at our school.

At half-time, this student got up to go outside for a bit. Dad came and got me. He said to stay with him, not to leave, stand beside him, and not say anything. The student was not small, had several inches on Dad, and had a friend with him. I knew what Dad was going to do and was definitely worried. He went right up to him, explained in bold language what kind of campus he was on, gave some “constructive criticism” to the young man, and so on. Dad was loud and forceful with plenty of his patented finger pointing.

Dad ended the confrontation with something like, “I want you off of this campus immediately and don’t let me ever see you here again!” By this point, the student’s friend had wandered off. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. The student just stared at Dad, then slowly turned around and left (with a nasty glance or two over his shoulder).

Afterward, I said to Dad, “I thought that guy was going to punch you! How did you know he wasn’t going to start a fight?”

Dad said, “I didn’t. That’s why I brought you with me.”