David Jackson

For me, growing up in Quitman meant living a quiet life....time was spent times reading, studying, listening to Elvis, Ricky and Patsy.... The 1950's in Quitman, Texas was safe, full of love and peace......Unfortunately, during my adolescent years, outside influences (like Linda Horton and Roger Johnson) led me astray. Were it not for my teacher/mentor, Miss Reba, and grueling summers spent working on an oil rig, I would have been unable to turn my life around. After graduating from Quitman High School with straight A's, I worked my way through college as an employee at a slaughter house in Arlington. It was hard work, but was another life lesson that helped me become the man I am today. After graduating from college with highest honors, a new door opened. I decided it was time to give back all the support I had received and share my story with others Teaching school seemed to call me and I decided to teach school in theSouth Texas in a town called, Weslaco. Accompanied by my classmate and newly reformed friend, Linda Horton, we began a three year journey of teaching and spending our weekends working and cooking in homeless missions. Linda and I made occasional trips to Padre Island to pass out pamphlets on "How to be the Best you Can without a Pot to Piss In." Linda translated this important piece of work to Spanish. It has and continues to bring great pleasure to the lives of others. But nothing can continue forever. In 1973 my bubble burst. Unfortunately,the Border Patrol strongly encouraged Linda to leave the the Rio Grande Valley immediately. While I have never known the full truth, I trust Linda's tireless efforts to work with the young men in Mexico was misconstrued. What a loss for all those Latinos she served with a smile on her face.

Flash forward almost 45 years...marriages, children and deaths of those we love have made an impact on all of us. But long time friends remain a important part of my life today. There is nothing better than old friends!