1000 word excerpt

About my buddy John. In about the ninth year that I was the Camping Chairman I happened to be at one of our district roundtable meetings

When Jane Cahill told me she had someone she wanted me to meet. We were sitting in the fifth level of a basketball seats in the gymnasium, Jane said see that very large man dancing around in a circle with the other 20 or 30 scout leaders doing a cub scout dance, I said you mean that very large man that has no fear of looking silly as long as its for scouting. She said yes.

I found myself looking at John, all 360 pounds and about 6 foot 3 inches of him and all black.
Jane introduced me to the sweetest and gentlest man I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Naturally I asked him if he would be interested in joining our camping committee he jumped in with both feet, and there begins a tale of some great proportion.

John was a General in the New York subway system, (there are only 7 Generals Officers in the entire Subway system).

He had worked his way up the ranks from a track walkers job. (One of the roughest, toughest jobs anyone could be asked to do), because they were out in all kinds of weather making sure that the miles of track were in good working order. If they found any problems they had to take care of it, weather it was raining, snowing, or what ever the weather conditions were.

John had also been a Scout starting at the age of 8. He was living in the Bronx at the time. His mother saw to it that every summer he was in summer camp for the whole summer even if she had to scrub floors to do this, (and that is exactly what she actually did because she wanted to make sure he was off the city streets).

So he was the first Scout who spent his entire life ether in scouting or working for scouting. All without pay of course.

I will never forget the first time John came to the camping committee meeting at my home! I had told the committee that we had another man joining our group. I just neglected to tell them he was a black man.

Well!!! You should have seen the look on all those 16 white faces.

I also learned from John about six months latter the feeling he got when he came down those seven steps. He said I didnt know if I should turn around and run out of there with all those white faces staring up at me.

In very short order John became one of the most valuable members of our team. In other words it took no time at all until he was picked on like everyone else, and naturally he gave as much as he received, especially from the shortest member of our committee (Joe).

I find it hilarious that it always seams that the smallest man always likes to tackle the biggest man. And Boy! John was a big man. With all joking aside we had one fantastic committee.

I always seam to be blessed with the ability to gather men around me that always work hard for the good of the boys and like my old Senior Scouts they seam to stick around for quiet a while.

Naturally there were always a number of men who would stick around for a year or two then they would drop out, because of there jobs or family matters.

Because of the management position John had in the subway system he did tend to act! Well Like management. At one time he was bawling out one of the volunteers for some reason or other he said if you cant do the job ill get someone who can. I took him aside and told him in no uncertain terms you dont holler or blow your top with anyone, after all you are not there boss and you are not paying them, they are volunteers just like you.

I used to visit John and his wife Elane at there home almost every other week just to have coffee and talk about Scouting. There were many times I would start the conversation with John; I dont want to offend you on our camping trips but could you try to be more understanding with the men you come in contact with on our camping trips, I really dont want to hurt your feelings.

Now if you can picture this! Here I am all 5 foot 7 inches of me looking up at this giant of a man all 6 foot 3 inches, all black, and in weight alone he could probably make two of me. He gave me the sweetest smile and said in his thundering voice Francavillo you could never offend me.

In all those conversations we had until his death the greatest compliment he ever gave me was the time in his home when he said I never had a Father but if I could Ever pick one I would pick you.

The friendship and love that exists between Johns family and my family is as strong as ever to this day in fact when my son and his wife gave me a party for my 80th birthday who should I see is Elane, Her daughter Jill and Elanes Grandson all the way from North Carolina.
Her Grandson came running up to me and wrapping his arms around my legs and shouting Grand Pa Grand Pa.