Father’s Day evokes memories

Father’s Day is a holiday that elicits all kinds of emotions.

There’s a natural tendency to think back to childhood memories, which I do from time to time between April 29 and Father’s Day.

My dad’s birthday was April 29. Sort of. Because he was born in a rural Kentucky county, my guess is that not all births were recorded on the day the child was born.

When my dad was in his 60s, we requested a birth certificate and it said he was born on April 30. But we continued to celebrate on April 29 anyway.

There are a couple of things about my dad you should know. He never graduated from high school. In fact, he didn’t finish middle school.

By the time he was in his early 20s, his father had died and he became the support system for his mother and two younger siblings.

More than anything else, my dad knew what he wanted.

He grew up working in a corner grocery in the Portland area of Louisville, Ky. He carried groceries to nearby homes, earning spare change. By age 12, he decided he wanted to own his business, a meat business.

And he eventually did it, but it wasn’t easy. When I was growing up, I didn’t always get that. It was fun to go to the office and play with the old-fashioned adding machine. He left home most days by 5 a.m. and didn’t return until after dark.

People now commend me on my work ethic and I guess that’s one of things I inherited from my dad.

What I think about now were the times when Dad was at home or when we’d go to a drag racing track on weekends to help cheer on my brother. He’d go out in the garage and help my brother with the car when time allowed.

We had routine, too. We’d go into the back yard at my grandparents’ home and toss a rubber ball approximately the size of a softball around.

First, there were a few slow tosses. Then, my dad would launch the ball high in the air. I made sure I didn’t miss it.

Was this his way of encouraging me to shoot for the stars? I do.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there.

It’s DSHS history

Former local football coach Barrett Murphy wants to interview anyone who played six-man football at Denham Springs High.

Murphy wants to include the interviews in a book he is doing about the history of six and eight-man football in Louisiana.

Murphy will be at DSHS at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to meet with the former players. Call Murphy at [phone] for details.

Open dates

Catholic High seeks a fall football scrimmage for its “B” squad. Contact coach Dale Weiner at [phone].

• Plaquemine High needs a baseball opponent on March 14-15 or March 16.

Call PHS coach Scott Allen [phone].

Coaches clinic

Catholic High is hosting its free-of-charge clinic for youth football coaches from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 8. Former LSU star and head coach Jerry Stovall is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.

Coaches can preregister by calling the school at [phone].