I was on the Custer HS Class of 1974 website and found your note asking for information about your dad.  Your note is 10 years old already, so I hope this comment finds you.  I am sorry for your loss and wish you could have know your dad better.  I had the privilege of knowing Terry at two points in my life.  He was a classmate in K5-2nd grade and then again in HS.  The gap between was cause by my parents sending me to a private school for grade 3-8.  So let me tell you what I remember.

 

Terry and I were inseparable during our K5-2nd grade years.  We had such fun doing what many boys do during those years.  We were experts at being impish, especially on the playground.  We spent a lot of time chasing some of the girl classmates around the playground as we just didn't know any better way of saying "I like you" at that age.  The end of each day was always a mixed bag of sadness and eager anticipation.  Sadness because we had to part, eager anticipation of what the next day's adventure would bring.  We loved pretending and Terry had a great imagination.  We both dreamed about being in the military and would even draw pictures of our adventures.  In the classroom, we did everything we could together.  The rambunctiousness of the playground usually settled down just enough to let us follow directions and stay on task, although Terry was much better at it than I was.  Looking back now I can see the early stages of a quick study and high academic performer in Terry.  By 2nd grade, I couldn't imagine school without him.  The best friend I child could ever hope for.  Then came the break.  I never had a chance to say goodbye since I had no idea at that age what my parents planned for my future education, and seeing that Terry and I lived in different neighborhoods, we didn't see each other during the summer breaks.  It wasn't until both of us entered HS that we connected once again.  He recognized me, but it took a few moments of conversation for me to recognize him.  His recall was amazing and I was so glad that he reached out.  We were never able to regain that closeness, but when we interacted we both knew our childhood "buddy" was still there, inside each of us.  Terry always cared, and that caring had an impact on my entire life.

 

I hope this short bit of sharing has brought you closer to who your dad was, at least in my life.