MY LIFE TODAY

AFTER THE WAR

After the war I returned to Mexia, Texas, the town I grew up in. I married and had two children, James and Carolyn. Life was difficult with my leg disability at first, but over the years I learned to overcome it with a combination of improved medical technology and sheer will. I began a career in police work with the Groesbeck Police Department. In 1975 my wife died, leaving me with the two children. Two years later I remarried and the following year we moved to Dallas, Texas, where I went to work for the Farmers Branch Police Department.

THE DALLAS YEARS

In Dallas I worked for the Farmers Branch Police Department while raising my family. I developed a strong passion for fishing over the years, and it became my favorite past-time.

LAKE FORK

With both my wife and me becoming more and more involved in fishing, we decided to get away from the city and bought a convenience store on Lake Fork in East Texas. In 1989, I retired from my job at the police department and we moved the family out there. We made many friends and I began to do some work as a fishing guide on the side.

THE BRAIN SURGERY

We had only been at Lake Fork a couple of years when I suddenly found myself in a life-threatening situation: a previously unknown congenital clot in my brain was causing me to have dangerous seizures. I was rushed to the hospital where emergency brain surgery was performed on me. It appeared to have gone successfully, but shortly after the surgery was over they had to rush me back in. I was not expected to live. I surprised the doctors by making it through a second brain surgery, though I was left partially paralyzed in the arms. Eventually, I regained most of the use of my arms, though I still have some paralysis in my hands. My recovery was long and painful, and without me able to work, we were forced to sell our store on the lake and move back to Mexia, where we would be close to family that could help me to recuperate.

MY LIFE TODAY

Today, we are living in Temple, Texas, where my wife Martha and I have just bought a new house. She works in the banking industry. Because of my paralysis, I am unable to work, so I just enjoy my life as a retiree. Thanks to my VA benefits, I can afford not to work. So there is plenty of time for fishing (my hands work well enough for me to handle a rod and reel). In addition, I have a two year-old grandson with whom I enjoy spending time with. As for my children, my daughter Carolyn recently graduated from college with a degree in psychology. My son James is a professional artist and author.