I am proud of the love and care that he provided his community all those years.
Rest in Peace, grandfather. I wish I'd known you better.

Perhaps these small stories passed on are what we have to remember those who we cared about and loved as the years pass.

But I am proud of my grandfather. I am proud of his courage in telling those "leaders" what they could do about their prejudice.

When he died in 1973, I remember the huge number of people from all walks of life who attended his funeral. I remember them approaching my grandmother and telling her how much he had changed their lives. He gave many loans to help people, and seldom worried about if he was paid back or not.

In this case, I'm referring to my cousin mentioning that they would sometimes go outside the courthouse and settle disagreements fist to fist.

Apparently, this tradition carried over to the SPJST, where he worked as their attorney for many years.

Maybe this is apocryphal. Maybe not.

My grandfather went on to be a highly respected attorney and I was told today that he was very good at working things out with other attorneys when they were deadlocked on a case.

My grandfather's reply was...not affirming of their views. I suspect it was more of the "Go "eff" yourself" variety, but my grandfather may have been more diplomatic than that...but I am sure that the words were to that effect.

The next day he reportedly received a letter from three civic leaders of Temple; to wit the newspaper editor, a leading pastor from a Baptist Church, and from a leading banker. They informed him that he would never get anywhere in Temple unless he chose better companions and joined the KKK.

They welcomed him and he borrowed a cup, drank from the common barrel, shared some conversation and he continued his walk.

He would apparently walk, stop at a favorite watering hole for a beer, and then walk the rest of the way home.
One day he stopped by and spoke with a group of road workers that and asked them if he could share some of their water.

One of the first Czech words that I learned was "pupík" or "belly button."

In any case, my grandfather used to walk around Temple. It was a form of exercise and a time for social interactions.

He suffered a stroke about 1970, and I recall my Mom receiving a late night phone call from her mother about it. I grew to hate late night phone calls. 3AM was a time for bad news.
Before that my main memory was of him tickling me while I was on his lap when I was probably about six or younger.

I was told today that he spent a number of nights on park benches when he first arrived. I remember a picture of him in his army uniform from his service in the First World War.

My memories of my grandfather are limited.

Thank you!

Very nice!