Jim Gerhardt

My dad has a great story, for those who don't know. He grew up in San Antonio, TX during the 1930's and 1940's. He witnessed a lot growing up. It was a tough time for so many.

He gravitated toward sports and realized he had some talent at a few things. He was a late bloomer and didn't grow in his athleticism till the end of high school. He played baskeball and ran track, both of which he loved.

He decided to enroll at Rice University in Houston, TX, where he earned a scholarship and played on the basketball team.

He was a solid player on a team that did quite well in the late 1940's early 50's.

He also was on the track team and competed in multiple events, but mainly the triple jump. And this is where he really excelled.

He almost made the Olympic team in 1948 as a 19 yr old.

He did make the Olympic team in 1952, where he competed against the world's best in Helsinki, Finland. He had his best jump during the preliminary rounds, and unfortunately couldn't replicate it during the finals. He ended up in 11th place.

And if that weren't enough, he took up Senior Olympics after he turned 55 or so and traveled around the country winning medals and friendships and competing in everything from the shot put, to the discus throw, to the hammer throw, and even the javelin! He had a blast for many years.

Aside from those amazing accomplishments, what has made my dad so unique is his ability to keep close connections with those he's come across in life.

He has endless stories about growing up during the depression, and his memories of WWII, of his time at Rice, and in the Olympics, and from his stint in the U.S. Navy! He has friends spread all over the U.S.

And I won't even get into the 30 years he spent working for Gulf Oil and living overseas and the experiences of playing in golf tournaments and braving sandstorms!

Needless to say, he has had an eventful life. What he is most proud about is his marriage of 55 years to my mom (she passed away in 2012) and of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren!

Nowadays, I see him about once each week (we obviously took precautions during this pandemic) and I treasure the stories, the feedback, and the perspective of someone I have always admired.

He was a father who made an effort to be there for me. He helped coach me, teach me, and guide me during my youth. I thought he was larger than life!

As I've gotten older and really gotten to know him better, he has become more real to me and not just the father I held up on the pedestal. He has flaws and he has shortcomings. And that is what has made him even more amazing to me.

He's told me stories of what it was like to witness racism and segregation first hand, and how it made him feel. He went on to share stories of sitting in kitchens of the restaurants that wouldn't serve his teammates in the main room or how he would sit in the back of the bus with his black friends when it wasn't the norm to do so.

I know I am a better person by having learned through a lens that was never bigoted, nor narrow minded, nor na?ve to the world around him.

I can't imagine how many grew up in situations different than mine.

It makes me grateful I was lucky enough to get one of the good ones. It's made a tremendous difference on my outlook on life, the future, and human kind in general.

My dad is 91 now and though he still is able to get around and still has a sharpness to him, he shies away from all the new technology. It's simply too much for him.

He would have gravitated toward social media, only in the sense it would have been a perfect outlet for him to share all his wonderful stories!

It's never not the right time to share a good story about one's dad. Mine is a keeper.