Wednesday, December 25, 2019

A Poem - Bob Dillard, a tribute by Kendall McCook

A tribute to an old friend of over 60-years ...




... in text:

28 July 2019
Bob’s Pass Over

More than a week since old friend Bob Dillard’s goodbye
Saying a sad “so long” to that Blue Mountain man
Who worked and strolled days and nights
Of his own free successful choosing
Meeting friend and foe as equal

In the days before he left us Bob drove
Sleepless over to El Paso to catch a plane
With his old and constant compadre Larry Guthrie
Bound for La Paz where they walked the tropical
Roads and drank cerveza with lifelong buddy Paul Tate
Who now enjoys dual citizenship and permanent residence
In Mexico where he still plays trumpet in a local jazz band

Bob remembered the trip fondly but said it was
A hard road
Then came the busy traditional July 4th Fort Davis
Celebrations and barbecue brisket smoking and sale
Bob’s last photo shows him in his barbecue apron
Black dusty cowboy hat pulled back happy smiling
Smoking those briskets, more than 50 sold
Then came the wedding party and forty
More briskets for the hungry folk crowd

And there was the sudden death of
His trusted and constant canine companion, Gabby
And the front page story and obituary of
Hundred year old civic leader Vera Bloys Grubb June 8th
And then the school board seminars in San Antonio
And the breakdown after these sorrows

And on the front gate of his friend John’s Olympia Hat Shop the banner
“ Trump 2020 – Keep America Great” in red, white, and blue

Too much to handle at seventy-four. His strong body said,
“Whoa!” And the unexpected end came soon
After a Careflight from Alpine to a hospital in Lubbock
And several days in a coma, he finally
Passed Over

He died at the top of his game
Still sittin’ tall in the saddle
Still ropin’ still writin’
Still befriendin’ the people
Still makin’ the next edition.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Robert Allan "Bob" Dillard II




Gus recalls:  Before leaving EHHS for the rest of his life, Bob left a short expression of his hopes and aspirations for the future.  






Wednesday, June 05, 2019

2019 - D-Day June 6, 1944 - 75th Anniversary

Everyone embarking in the morning will get a copy of this letter to carry with them.