Save the Redneck-Events

Mr. Spradley,

I'm writing to tell you about my redneck hero, my dad. My dad has been my hero all my life and he is truly a redneck in every sense of the word. He grew up in north Georgia, in a very poor house hold. He was the second oldest of five kids. I've heard from a young age how hard times were back then. Every time he tells us that he also tells us how good things were.

Dad started working full time at the cotton mill when he was 14. He didn't work by choice but to help his family out. By 16 he was working two full time jobs and going to school. At 17 in the 11th grade he had to quit school. He started working another part time job. At 18 he joined the Army then married my mom shortly after. A few years later I came along. A little later my sister.

My dad has always been a mechanic. From a young age he taught me the only way to get ahead in life is to work hard. He usually worked 75 plus hours a week just to make sure we had what we needed. He also took me along to alot of his jobs because he wanted to spend time with me. There I learned at a young age to do basic things that every guy should know. Dad always used to find ways to teach me all sorts of things. How to hunt, fish, work hard, respect, and just to be a good person. He has always been very kind and generous but also firm and well spoken. He stands up for what he believes in and will do anything to protect his family and country, I know I am being long winded but it is hard to describe just what an amazing man my dad is. All I can say is he is my Hero and my Dad.

THANKS JOSHUA

James Lee,

I am writing today about my stepbrother and good friend, James Lee. James is not too tall, but is real strong with broad shoulders and tanned skin from working long days with me and Pappy on the dairy farm. He has a quiet demeanor but would sure give you his opinion if you asked for it. He's always real respectful to the ladies, but he could be meaner than a junebug in molasses if you cross him on a bad day. He's always a good worker - he put his back into everything because he believed that a hard day's work is a honest man's fruit.

Life on the farm is peaceful, but not without incidents. James always took care of his own, even the littlest of the critters on the farm. One day two of our dogs, Vinegar and Tom, were growling outside after it had gotten dark for a few hours. James went outside to see why they were hollerin. It turns out that our neighbor's cat was stuck up in a tree. Rather than leave the poor critter to fend for itself, James scooted on up that tree, chatting with it like a woman on Sunday, and took the cat into his arms. Normally this cat gets feisty when anyone it doesn't know tries to touch it, but when James starting talking to it, it just calmed right down. The neighbors sure were thankful to get their cat back.

The moment I realized that James was a redneck hero was the night someone broke into our dairy farm. One night Vinegar and Tom started barking and growling, only this time it wasn't the neighbor's cat. We heard a clamoring coming from the farmhouse. While Pappy was getting his Mossinburg 2 1/2 Clubhead, James ran out to the farmhouse with his Bible. I thought he was crazy, possibly getting himself killed like that. By the time me and Pappy got out to the farmhouse, the thief was on his knees with his cowboy hat over his heart, crying and begging for forgiveness. I'll never know what Bible verse James recited, but all I do know is that we made a friend. In fact, James and Jimmy "Twitchy-Eye" Wilson became the best of friends.

James is a great redneck hero because he exhibits kindness, compassion, and bravery. I hope I can be strong and brave just like my great stepbrother. He will always be a hero to me.

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Mr. Wright

I would like to share a story about a friend's father who is a real Redneck Hero. His name is Mr. Wright. In fact I cannot bear to bring myself to call him by his first name because he will always be Mr. Wright to me. He was from Southern Utah and he was a man's man---part cowboy, part farmer, part hunter, and of course part gentleman.

He was a big barreled chested man of six foot three inches. He was strong as heck and tough as nails. I would often say to him that if he and a bear got into a tussle that he would surley win. As a bigger than life character as he was, his was a quiet strength. He was relatively quiet except when he was having a go at you with his unique scowl and country sense of humor. He took care of his family and never complained about his chores. He simply took care of business.

His life spanned many good years and he was loved by his community because he was always there to help a neighbor. For his two sons he was a great role model and was always there for them. He expected them to be solid and tough but he never went upon on them if they stumbled. When one of his sons got very ill he dropped everything to be by his side. Although tough, he had the biggest heart.

Mr. Wright was also an accomplished hunter. His yearly ritual led him up to his cabin in the Kolobs near the reservoir for time with nature and his trusted dog. I remember the first time I had elk. It was downed by Mr. Wright just hours earlier. It was good eats and it tasted wild and free. He was a real hero to his family, community and to me.

Michael Springdale, Utah

Redneck Heros