Great Mentors In My Life - "Five Smooth Stones"

The Heart of a Mentor

As we celebrate the month of January as National Mentoring Month, I'd like to honor these great human beings and their influence in my life.? Without them, I would not be the man that I am today.? They all poured so much into me and drew so much out of me, that is still coming forth.? 74 revolutions around the sun have not diminished my memory of them nor their impact in my life.? All were supreme truth-tellers, more concerned with my character rather than my feelings.? No sugar-coating, never.? A true, powerful love that I needed and embraced!

Top L-R:? A Brief Glimpse!

Clem Jones - an older cousin in New Orleans who re-entered my life in a very strong and meaningful way when my dad left the house when I was 10 years old.? He seared my conscience with the Truth and never allowed me to slip or slide, always holding me accountable for everything.? He would call me on the phone every day after school.? Always checking on my school work and behavior.? He always knew when I wasn't 100% truthful, even just a little bit sideways.? One of my life's favorite stories is about Clem Jones and a piece of fried chicken.? A life-altering moment in my life.? A memory that is still fresh.? He was extremely instrumental in my early years in New Orleans.

Coach Patterson - my high school baseball coach at Jack Yates, 3rd Ward, Houston, TX.? So much of the success I've experienced in my life, professionally and personally, is a result of his impact,? influence, and example!? He was so much more than a coach.? A teacher of life, not just a sport.? Every day was a life lesson, not just a ball practice.? A builder of young men, not just athletes.? An outstanding family man as well.? In many respects, he launched me into my career as an educator/coach.? His presence was a blueprint that I internalized, emulated, and integrated as a pattern for my future success.? He was also an outstanding Negro Major League Baseball player having played with several top teams and played in multiple Negro League East-West All-Star games.

Bottom L-R:

Mr. Otis - a complete stranger I met when I moved to Houston in the summer of 1963.? In January 1964, on my way to work at Minit-Man car wash (making .70 cents/hr.) a voice called out to me:? "Hey young man, my name is Otis - what's yours?"? That's how we met, I promise.? A life-altering relationship began in that simple moment.? He was one of the most caring and generous souls I've ever met.? He paid for some of my college education out of the goodness of his heart.? His favorite saying was, "every day is Christmas with me" and that's how he lived his life. Always giving and sharing throughout the neighborhood.? He was an angel, a? "dark angel."? We must be careful with our beliefs, judgments, stereotypes, and assumptions about color.

Mrs. Edwards - A strong, faithful, Christian woman.? She was the mother of some of my closest friends in Houston.? Two of her children were classmates of mine at Jack Yates.? Every day in their sack lunches was a hand-written bible verse.? She also led bible studies at her home providing hand-written copies of hymns, no xerox copies, such as Blessed Assurance, Trust and Obey, Leaning on The Everlasting Arms, and Let The Lower Lights Be Burning to name a few.? Remember, hand-written.? To enter her home you would always receive a heavy dose of the Word and often a good meal.? She practiced what she preached!? Her life, and her memory, are a blessing for many!

Mel Sikes -? I met him in my early years of teaching/coaching at UT in the 1970s where he was a Professor of Educational Psychology. We lost touch and then reconnected around 2000. He was also an original Tuskegee Airman and so much more.? Right before he was scheduled to go overseas the war ended.? One of his favorite stories was about Eleanor Roosevelt visiting Tuskegee and going up in the air with the black pilots. He was also Dean of Wilberforce College and Bishop College, and a Clinical Psychologist at Veterans Hospital in Houston, TX before arriving at UT in 1969 as the second African American faculty member at UT.? He passed away in 2012.? I still miss him dearly.? “This day is mine, and no man can take it from me.”? A favorite saying of Dr. Melvin P. Sikes.

As you can see, my steps have been ordered.? I have lived a different reality, one that I am immensely proud of and eternally grateful for.? One that I can never deny.? My soul won't allow it!? Blessed and Favored in the midst of significant challenges and obstacles.? I've had great mentors, guides, lighthouses, anchors, actually guardian angels, every step of the way.? What I've shared is just a glimpse into who they were as human beings.? There is so much more to their lives and stories that live on, in and through me.? Who am I to have been so favored?

Teaching, Coaching, and Mentoring have been three of the great themes of my life!? Now you have insight as to why that is so!? I have absorbed and learned so much from each of these great souls.? The wisdom and stories they’ve shared with me are priceless, timeless, and beyond measure.? To know me is to capture a snapshot of them.

#nationalmentoringmonth #mentoring #lifecoaching