The Last Bowl

April 11 marks what would have been my father's 84th birthday. Here is a picture of him on his 80th birthday, turning one of his last bowls on his... more

by Gary Holmes

Title

The Last Bowl

Artist

Gary Holmes

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photography

Description

April 11 marks what would have been my father's 84th birthday. Here is a picture of him on his 80th birthday, turning one of his last bowls on his lathe a few weeks before he was diagnosed with widespread esophageal cancer and a few months before he left this earth. He was a fine, honorable and unassuming man who lived a life of quiet, humble service to others, a dedicated geography professor and later teacher of English as a Second Language. He loved his students, and was honored by the Tyler Literacy Council with a number of bookshelves in his name, placed in public places and loaded with donated books for people to borrow and return as they like.
He was a great father who helped me make some really cool school projects, taught me to play basketball, tried his best to teach me to play baseball, gave me my first car (1955 Chevy), and was an overall wonderful influence in my life. I will always remember his incessant bad puns (and some really good ones) and the sheer joy he took in telling them. I still miss getting to discuss the foibles and weaknesses of his beloved Cowboys and Rangers with him, along with high school football and college basketball. In Loving Memory, Dad.

Uploaded

April 11th, 2015