Tad and I were the original “married men” at Decatur High School. In that era, our wives were not allowed to attend while we were there. So, we all became friends.
I don’t think I’ve ever met a friendlier, more outgoing, and smiling individual during my high school days than Tad. He was very helpful assisting me around the foibles of why one needs to stay in school, if one is a married teenager with child and trying to make sense of it all.
Finding a job wasn’t easy either, but once again Tad was there to open doors for interviews in the businesses that he knew so well. He worked two jobs, went to school and was raising a little one at the same time, just like me.
During those last years of school, our families went on regular outings consisting of driving around when gas was less than a half-dollar; stopping for a quick bite to eat at the Rainbow Drive-In, where Steve Bailey and his brother laid on the burgers and fries. Then we’d end up at the Bowline Drive-In outdoor theater; picnicking and enjoying our children, both of them boys. It couldn’t have been any better. (Robert and Tad now live with their own families in Florida and Louisiana.)
No, we didn’t pick the easy way to begin on life’s rugged path but with this great guy’s help, I’ve made it through with some magic moments along the way. I believe Tad was the first of our class to leave our world behind; if I’m wrong, will someone please correct me.
Because of this blog, Tad’s wife Pat, who lives near Decatur, found me by telephone. We reminisced for a long while about the past, spoke about the present, and of our hopes for the future. I have invited Pat to join us at some point during the reunion. I hope she can make it.
TAD BLACK WAS ONE OF THE BEST. HE WAS MY SIXTH GRADE CRUSH, ME AND SEVERAL OTHERS. BLESS HIS HEART, HE WOULD SIT BETWEEN US AT THE SATURDAY DOUBLE FEATURES. ONE CHRISTMAS, HE GAVE ALL OF HIS FOLLOWING SCARFS AS PRESENTS.THIS WAS BEFORE ELVIS, SO THE GIVING OF SCARFS WAS HIS OWN IDEA.WE ALL LOST OUT WHEN A NEW GIRL CAME TO TOWN.TAD WAS ONE OF THE WEST TOWN KIDS. WE WERE A CLOSE BUNCH AND HUNG OUT TOGETHER. THE GUYS PLAYED BASEBALL AND US GIRLS WERE THERE TO CHEER THEM ON. WE HAD A ROPE HANGING FROM A BIG TREE IN THE FIELD THAT STRETCHED SEVERAL BLOCKS THERE WERE OTHER HANG OUT SUCH AS.NAMIES GROCERY, THE DRUG STORE THAT LET US SIT AT THE BOOK RACK AND READ COMIC BOOKS AND DRINK COKES. WE NEVER BOUGHT THEM BECAUSE WE COULD SIT AND READ THEM FREE. BIKE RIDES, UNTIL TAD, JIMMY ALLEN AND SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS GOT MOTOR CYCLES,WERE RIDEN UP AND DOWN THE BIG HILL AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS.BACK THEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO ROAM THE STREETS IF YOU WEREN'T ON A BIKE, YOU SKATED ON SKATES, THE ONES THAT YOU HAD TO USE THE KEYS TO LOCK YOUR SHOES IN. TAD WAS BLESSED WITH A PRECIOUS GIFT, THE GIFT OF LOVING AND CARING ABOUT OTHERS. HE SHOWED THAT LOVE IN SO MANY WAYS. I REMEMBER HOW HE LOVED PAT AND HIS SON AND HOW HARD HE WORKED TO SUPPORT THEM. LITTLE TAD CAME TO OUR GRADUATION. PAT AND TAD LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM JOHNNY AND I AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM JIMMY DON JACKSON.I LEARNED A LOT FROM TAD AND THE WAY HE CHOSE TO LIVE HIS LIFE WHILE BEING A STUDENT,A HUSBAND AND A FATHER. DOUGLAS ANN LIVINGSTON
In the good old days at DHS, all of the motorcycle riders parked in front of the school across the street. I'm not sure, but I think Tad was one of them. I can almost see him in a black leather jacket.
Tad was fleet of foot and I never understood why he did not play football. I would have given anything to have been lean and quick like Tad. He was a natural, and I know he could have been a star. The motorcycle crowd usually hung out across the street with their machines before the homeroom bell rang, while us hall walkers walked the halls looking at each other walking the halls. One day, a great excitement rippled through the halls--Tad was going to race a motorcycle in a fifty yard dash in front of the school!
I remember watching from the second floor study hall room(homeroom that year), but for the life of me I can't remember for sure who won--my best impression is that Tad did, and I hope it is true. If anyone who reads this knows, confirm it for me if Tad did, but please stand silent if he did not. I like the memory better my way. RFA
Tad and I were the best of friends, both worked together at the Daily, both road together and raced our motorcycles together, were both married in high school and both had the same girlfriend Pat, and I guess we were a lot alike, but he was just better looking.
I remember both of us showed up one day at Pat's hoping we could get her as our riding buddy, while Pat was undesided which one of us she would ride with. Tad was such a gentleman, he offered she could go with me, but since he was my good buddy and best friend, I had a better solution, why not fight for her and the winner got her date, so Tad and I got into a knock down drag out fist fight, but I didn't know he was so good at fighting since we never had one cross word or reason until then to fight for something, and Pat was something to fight for.
We both went at it for about 30 minutes, really not wanting to hurt the other good friend until we forgot what we were fighting for, and just hung out together.
Tad always showed a lot of class and a lot of respect for everyone, and his accident was such a tragic loss. Dennis "the Menace" Billings
I thought Tad was a great guy. I think everybody who knew him loved him. I know I did, not only because he was cute but his personality was great. CArlyine
I grew up in West Decatur, and Tad Black's father was the coach of our Little League baseball team On the team was, Bobby Miller,Dillard Trussell,Guy and Buddy French, Bobby Riddle, Harvey Morris, Don Holt, Tad, myself, and others, I do remember, Jimmy Don and Bobby were our Home Run hitters, and Tad was our pitcher, and I was our catcher. We won most games, until we played Austinville, where we had to face the Moebes brothers, Mike and Jimmy, my cousins, and their gang. They always beat us! We had some great Ice Cream Parties at the end of the season, and Memories I will not forget about Tad,such a great guy, and a great gang!!
Bob Agee
Tad Black:Tad and I were the original “married men” at Decatur High School. In that era, our wives were not allowed to attend while we were there. So, we all became friends.
I don’t think I’ve ever met a friendlier, more outgoing, and smiling individual during my high school days than Tad. He was very helpful assisting me around the foibles of why one needs to stay in school, if one is a married teenager with child and trying to make sense of it all.
Finding a job wasn’t easy either, but once again Tad was there to open doors for interviews in the businesses that he knew so well. He worked two jobs, went to school and was raising a little one at the same time, just like me.
During those last years of school, our families went on regular outings consisting of driving around when gas was less than a half-dollar; stopping for a quick bite to eat at the Rainbow Drive-In, where Steve Bailey and his brother laid on the burgers and fries. Then we’d end up at the Bowline Drive-In outdoor theater; picnicking and enjoying our children, both of them boys. It couldn’t have been any better. (Robert and Tad now live with their own families in Florida and Louisiana.)
No, we didn’t pick the easy way to begin on life’s rugged path but with this great guy’s help, I’ve made it through with some magic moments along the way. I believe Tad was the first of our class to leave our world behind; if I’m wrong, will someone please correct me.
Because of this blog, Tad’s wife Pat, who lives near Decatur, found me by telephone. We reminisced for a long while about the past, spoke about the present, and of our hopes for the future. I have invited Pat to join us at some point during the reunion. I hope she can make it.
Bob Agee
Posted October 1, 2008
Douglas Ann Thrasher (Livingston . )
TAD BLACK WAS ONE OF THE BEST. HE WAS MY SIXTH GRADE CRUSH, ME AND SEVERAL OTHERS. BLESS HIS HEART, HE WOULD SIT BETWEEN US AT THE SATURDAY DOUBLE FEATURES. ONE CHRISTMAS, HE GAVE ALL OF HIS FOLLOWING SCARFS AS PRESENTS.THIS WAS BEFORE ELVIS, SO THE GIVING OF SCARFS WAS HIS OWN IDEA.WE ALL LOST OUT WHEN A NEW GIRL CAME TO TOWN.TAD WAS ONE OF THE WEST TOWN KIDS. WE WERE A CLOSE BUNCH AND HUNG OUT TOGETHER. THE GUYS PLAYED BASEBALL AND US GIRLS WERE THERE TO CHEER THEM ON. WE HAD A ROPE HANGING FROM A BIG TREE IN THE FIELD THAT STRETCHED SEVERAL BLOCKS THERE WERE OTHER HANG OUT SUCH AS.NAMIES GROCERY, THE DRUG STORE THAT LET US SIT AT THE BOOK RACK AND READ COMIC BOOKS AND DRINK COKES. WE NEVER BOUGHT THEM BECAUSE WE COULD SIT AND READ THEM FREE. BIKE RIDES, UNTIL TAD, JIMMY ALLEN AND SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS GOT MOTOR CYCLES,WERE RIDEN UP AND DOWN THE BIG HILL AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS.BACK THEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO ROAM THE STREETS IF YOU WEREN'T ON A BIKE, YOU SKATED ON SKATES, THE ONES THAT YOU HAD TO USE THE KEYS TO LOCK YOUR SHOES IN. TAD WAS BLESSED WITH A PRECIOUS GIFT, THE GIFT OF LOVING AND CARING ABOUT OTHERS. HE SHOWED THAT LOVE IN SO MANY WAYS. I REMEMBER HOW HE LOVED PAT AND HIS SON AND HOW HARD HE WORKED TO SUPPORT THEM. LITTLE TAD CAME TO OUR GRADUATION.PAT AND TAD LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM JOHNNY AND I AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM JIMMY DON JACKSON.I LEARNED A LOT FROM TAD AND THE WAY HE CHOSE TO LIVE HIS LIFE WHILE BEING A STUDENT,A HUSBAND AND A FATHER.
DOUGLAS ANN LIVINGSTON
Richard Allen
In the good old days at DHS, all of the motorcycle riders parked in front of the school across the street. I'm not sure, but I think Tad was one of them. I can almost see him in a black leather jacket.Tad was fleet of foot and I never understood why he did not play football. I would have given anything to have been lean and quick like Tad. He was a natural, and I know he could have been a star.
The motorcycle crowd usually hung out across the street with their machines before the homeroom bell rang, while us hall walkers walked the halls looking at each other walking the halls.
One day, a great excitement rippled through the halls--Tad was going to race a motorcycle in a fifty yard dash in front of the school!
I remember watching from the second floor study hall room(homeroom that year), but for the life of me I can't remember for sure who won--my best impression is that Tad did, and I hope it is true. If anyone who reads this knows, confirm it for me if Tad did, but please stand silent if he did not. I like the memory better my way. RFA
Dennis Billings
Tad and I were the best of friends, both worked together at the Daily, both road together and raced our motorcycles together, were both married in high school and both had the same girlfriend Pat, and I guess we were a lot alike, but he was just better looking.I remember both of us showed up one day at Pat's hoping we could get her as our riding buddy, while Pat was undesided which one of us she would ride with. Tad was such a gentleman, he offered she could go with me, but since he was my good buddy and best friend, I had a better solution, why not fight for her and the winner got her date, so Tad and I got into a knock down drag out fist fight, but I didn't know he was so good at fighting since we never had one cross word or reason until then to fight for something, and Pat was something to fight for.
We both went at it for about 30 minutes, really not wanting to hurt the other good friend until we forgot what we were fighting for, and just hung out together.
Tad always showed a lot of class and a lot of respect for everyone, and his accident was such a tragic loss.
Dennis "the Menace" Billings
Carlyine Gibson (Pierce)
I thought Tad was a great guy. I think everybody who knew him loved him. I know I did, not only because he was cute but his personality was great.CArlyine
Bob Thomas
Tad's date of death is March 21, 1972.
Don Church
I grew up in West Decatur, and Tad Black's father was the coach of our Little League baseball team On the team was, Bobby Miller,Dillard Trussell,Guy and Buddy French, Bobby Riddle, Harvey Morris, Don Holt, Tad, myself, and others, I do remember, Jimmy Don and Bobby were our Home Run hitters, and Tad was our pitcher, and I was our catcher. We won most games, until we played Austinville, where we had to face the Moebes brothers, Mike and Jimmy, my cousins, and their gang. They always beat us! We had some great Ice Cream Parties at the end of the season, and Memories I will not forget about Tad,such a great guy, and a great gang!!