Baseball with Dad

Rides to Ball Games Leads to Interest in Politics

March 5, 2007

In my childhood, I knew that my dad was a baseball fan. He often had season tickets to the local minor league team's games. He loved to sit on the third base side of the field and almost a straight shot from the second to third baseline. As a kid, I aspired to be a third baseman. I had watched those throw outs, blocked steals, run downs between third and home, great fielding,etc.

Dad never seemed to plan his trips to the ball park, some eight miles away in Graham. However, I would hang around in the yard to ask him were he was going. If he said, "the ball game". Which was followed by, "Do you wanna go?" I didn't have to be asked twice.

He really liked drives through the country to get to the game. I knew there might be a shorter drive, but he often would choose to drive along Cherry Lane. He always like to point out the home of Governor W. Kerr Scott. Governor Scott was always one politican Dad felt good about. I know that he pointed out the Governor's home to instill pride in a local politican who accomplished much. Another tid bit of history that Dad liked was that when Calvin Coolege assende to the Presidency, his father who was a Justice of the Peace gave the new president his oath of office. At the time, Dad was a justice of the peace.

As I grew up, I was oftern exposed to politics. Dad's office was next to a polling place. A neighbor often took me along as she drove people to vote. I loved the signs and buttons of an election. Other neighbors had the first television in our neighborhood. I was in front of their TV often. Pop loved the prize fights and I watched them with him every Wednesday evening. On Saturdays, Pop watched baseball or football. When the national conventions of the Democratic Party were held, we watched gavel to gavel conventions. Pop was an avid Democrat as was my Dad.

I grew to enjoy the election of John F. Kennedy who was the hero of my generation. Off to college and membership in the Campus Democratic Club. I was 20 years old during the primary of 1963. Even though the voting age was 21, I could vote in the primary since I would be 21 before the fall election. A federal judge has resigned his judgeship to run for governor, as an attendee of his kickoff anouncement I joined his bandwagon.

One Saturday, while visiting my roommate in Raleigh, I was riding down one of the main drags there. I came upon the Bob Scott for Lt. Governor headquarters. Bob is the son of Governor Kerr Scott. I new that I needed to be involved in this campaign because Bob was a home town boy. That stop made me a true campaigner. I gathered together some friends across campus and put together the East Carolina College Bob Scott for Lt. Governor campaign. Bob won the Democratic nomination after a second primary and he won handedly in the fall.

I encountered Bob Scott several time on campus. The first was at a half time during a homecoming football game. Bob had been chosen to crown the homecoming queen and the Men's Glee Club was to sing from the field. As I made my way to the Glee Club's assembly point, I stopped to speak to Bob. The Chancellor was with the Lt. Governor and was impressed with my forward nature in greeting Bob. Later Bob had been chosed to speak for the Senior Banquet. He showed up at the door of my dorm room. Everyone in the room was at immediate attention. Bob made then at ease when he showed them that he, too, remembered college life. He needed directions to the Chancellor's home to await the banquet. I hopped in the Highway Patrol Car and showed them the way to their desitnation. The chancellor was standing in the drive way waiting for the Lt. Governor. When we got out of the car, Bob introduced me to the Chancellor. I was taken back to the dorm in a SHP car.

Carol and I were not living at home when we went to work for Bob's campain for Governor. In that town were we knew few people we addressed envelopes to mail Bob's literature. Bob was elected Governor. I stayed current on the activities of the Governor. I had become a state employee and I knew first hand what an impact he was making. Pride was always in my voice when I mentioned that the Governor had grown up in my neck of the woods.

Over the past several years, Bob and I have become closer as friends. It is truly a supporting friendship. His health has deminished lately and it saddens me. However, Bob can still put a smile on his face and a joke in his voice to soothe any saddness. I listen intently as he tells stories of his experiences. He listens to me as I tell mind. We listen without being judgmental and show what is meant by friendship.

I will always care for Bob Scott, his wife Jesse Rae and their children. Carol taught several of the Scott kids and she deems it an honor to have been a part of their lives. I am also thankful that by his example I chose to seek elective office and to have been active in politics. For you see, Bob Scott is a good politician and his legacy will long live all of us.