Ralph Cox
Don and I lived two houses apart on Avenue F in Garland, and grew up together, belonging to Cub Scouts and First Methodist Church and attending Central Elementary, sometimes in the same classes, Bussey Jr. High and Garland High School. We rode bicycles to Central and walked to Jr. High and GHS, often after I went by his house as his Mother served him a hot breakfast (I was jealous; mine was cold as my Mother left early for school). Our fathers worked for competing construction companies.
In Mrs. Taylor’s 4th grade class, we were the two designated film projector operators (such status!). And, surprisingly, we were both let out of class to “help” the janitor. We retrieved kick balls from the roof, went with him to the basement to check on the boiler and picked up trash from the playground. My memory is that this was nearly every day, but maybe it wasn’t really that often. I have no idea why Mrs. Taylor let the two of us out.
In Mrs. Dixon’s 6th grade class, we all brought our Christmas presents and I made the mistake of showing his to another boy, Billy Earl, I think. He was quite upset, but got over it, calling me “good buddy” as he often did with everyone over the years.
We double dated some, and, in the drama of my teenage years, he was always supportive and encouraging and never judgmental. At least one year, he was a “MGR” (manager) for one of the sports teams (“mighty good runner” in his interpretation.) But, later he was an end on the GHS football team which won the 4A State Championship our senior year.
After graduation in 1964, we went in different directions - he went into the service for the Vietnam War, I went to college and the world became more complicated. He was the Best Man when Sue Van Zant and I married in 1968. And, his girlfriend Kathy Archibald was at our wedding. So special!
We talked a few times over the years, most recently a few months ago, thankfully, and, as a man who was sick at the time, he was the same cheerful, optimistic person I had always known in every sense. The best friend I ever had and, more importantly, the best one could ever want, a great guy. RIP, good buddy! We’ll miss you …
