Atypical & Awesome “Coconut Cake and Memory Lane”

My father’s favorite cake is coconut cake. He turned 81 years old today so Phillip, Alex, and I took him a cake on Sunday. My mother said he had eaten about three fourths of it when I talked to her today. If you do not know my father, I’m truly sorry. He is a man who worked and still works tirelessly for others.

His career was as an educator- first a coach and history teacher, and then he quickly moved into school administration. He literally established the Geneva City School system and served both as the Superintendent of the Geneva City Schools and Principal of Geneva High School simultaneously for twenty-five years. When he retired, it took seven people to replace him. He was also the special education coordinator, transportation coordinator, hr director, lunchroom manager, and more including driving busses to events. That school was his life.

He has been an active member of the Rotary Club and is now a “diamond” member (over 50 years of service). He served on Geneva’s city council and by a strange twist of fate even served as the mayor of Geneva for one term.

I could tell countless stories about his life. I often said he is like Forrest Gump with the situations he has been a part of- the history he has witnessed. He went to the University of Alabama during the Bear Bryant years and was on campus when Wallace stood in the schoolhouse door.

He’s been married to my mother for 56 years and somehow they survived raising four girls. I will never be a fraction of the man my father is but I work hard and I definitely walk like him. He instilled in me integrity. That’s his legacy. He is a good man, He is a good father and the world’s best grandfather. If you don’t know him- you are really missing out. Have some cake in his honor today- and make it coconut.