Author Description

Our father was not a writer. In fact the most he ever wrote to any of his children was a sentence or two at the end of a letter written by our mother. Not being a great writer, did not affect Father's ability to tell a story. He was a marvelous storyteller. Growing up we would plead with Dad to tell us stories of his childhood. We would cling to every word. We were never disappointed except when Dad finished and we had to go to bed. When we were grown, we would reflect with fondness to the special time spent listening to Father. As my brothers and I began to have families of our own we desired to share with our children Dad's stories so that they might experience some of those same feelings and memories we had as young boys. This book became a project of love born from the special memories and feelings of little boys listening to fantastic stories told by a loving father. We asked Dad to please write down his life's history for the benefit of his posterity. Alan, however, knew Father better than any of us. Rather than have Father sit and write, he asked Father to sit and tell stories. Initially the stories were clandestinely recorded, and later, as Father became familiar with the tape recorder, Father embraced the medium as the means by which he could openly share with his family his personal history.