Larry & Carole Beighey books are now available on Kindle

Kindle Books

My Wife, Carole's, 1st Book, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake: Law of the Woodland is now live on amazon.com in Kindle format ... It can be purchased in the Kindle Store for $5.00 ... I formatted it for the Kindle and it looks almost perfect ... I am proud of myself.

My book, A Drop in the Bucket with a forward by Newt Gingrich is also "live" in Kindle Format ... $9.99.

I intend to make all 5 of Carole's Books available in Kindle Format.

The Waddodles of Hollow Lake: Calamity on East Bay
The Waddodles of Hollow Lake: Journey to West Shore
The Waddodles of Hollow Lake: Mighty Oaks
The Waddodles of Hollow Lake: Ruffed Grouse Courtship Ceremony

She is now working on Book 6, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake: Big Casey, and I am working on my next book, More Drops in the Bucket.

You can download an abbreviated FREE sample of the "live" books onto your Kindle ... Check it out.

Please feel free to pass the word around to your friends.

Life is a contact sport,

Larry Beighey

MY THOUHTS ON MOTHER'S DAY

Because Carole and I didn't get married until we were 32, I never dreamed we would have 40 years of marriage [in 2010], especially when you look at the longevity in both our parent's “life lines.”

As I grow older, my love for my Wife and Family grow stronger & stronger ... I have always loved my wife and family very much but, I was like many men that thought my total obligation was to provide a livelihood for my wife and family. I thought that was my only role. I thought my wife would do the rest ... After all I was working hard ... Traveling all the time ... What did she expect from me? Boy, was I wrong!

I remember one week when in an unfinished house [Mt Vista, Pennsylvania], Pregnant with Daughter, Anne, she had Business Dinner parties at home for 5 couples on two successive nights ... She stained wood, finished trim and doors ... Had Family sit down full course meals including desert every night ... Did the cleanup ... Slept for only 4 hours every night ... Writing the Waddodles pre-teen books [Five [5] are in print] … I could go on and on ... Literally, she did everything for the family and me ... I provided the money ... What did she expect from me? Boy was I wrong!

It was a long, slow "learning curve" for me but, I finally "get it."

One night, on one of our frequent "couch dates" ... Having a picnic, rubbing Carole’s feet and watching a DVD ... We watched "Fireproof," [Made by the people who made Facing the Giants] a Christen movie about a troubled marriage] ... We both ended up crying I guess because we could "relate."

I "hope and pray" that every husband and wife have a "Date Night" together and watch your "Wedding Tape" ... Then watch "Fireproof" [Fireproof was the biggest-grossing indie movie of 2008.]

"Fireproof" is the story of a firefighter who after seven years of marriage to his wife , is seeing their relationship fail. His father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day test called, "The Love Dare." ...

The 40 day "Love Dare," is making a daily commitment to our love and marriage ...


The Firefighter starts it, and, after several weeks on it, becomes frustrated with having his efforts rejected. He needs to save his marriage. Thru faith he continues on ... unsure if it's too late to "fireproof" his marriage.

If you can relate ... Take the "40 day Love Test." In this day and age it is easy to just give up ... But there is so much at stake it is worth the extra time and effort to make it work. Carole and I grew up in an age when divorce was not an option. we certainly had our ups and downs but we "persevered." ... Our Love and Marriage endured.

On this Mother's Day, I can reflect on my wife and family ... I told Carole yesterday that she was and is the "perfect" Wife and Mother ... I couldn't ask for anything more ... It took me 32 years to find her but I found the "needle in the haystack."

Yes, I got her a card, flowers and a box of candy but my "Love" is the best gift I can give.

Carole ... I Love You ... Forever, Forever [Engraved in her Wedding Band]

Her is one “40 Day Love Test” … Get a Journal, write in it everyday. LETS GET STARTED. Here are the challenges in a nutshell:
1. Demonstrate patience and say nothing negative to your spouse.
2. Do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.
3. Buy your spouse something that says, "I was thinking of you today."
4. Contact your spouse with no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.
5. Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated simply to gain their perspective.
6. Make a list of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.
7. Get two sheets of paper. On the first, write out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second. Place both sheets in a secret place. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.
8. Take yesterday's list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.
9. Think of a specific way to greet your spouse that reflects your love for them.
10. Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse.
11. Choose a gesture that says, "I cherish you" and do it with a smile.
12. Willingly choose to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse and tell them you are putting their preference first.
13. Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement and resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.
14. Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse.
15. Choose a way to show honor and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine.
16. Hope for three specific areas where you desire to help in your spouse's life and in your marriage.
17. Determine to guard your mate's secrets and hope for them.
18. Prepare a special dinner at home, just for the two of you and focus this time on getting to know your spouse better in areas you've rarely talked about.
19. Look back over the dares from previous days and assess your need to change your heart to love. Ask yourself to show you where you stand and hope for the strength and grace to settle your eternal destination.
20. Dare to trust yourself, believe in yourself and know that you have the power to change.
21. Be intentional about making a time to conflict over your actions and understand them.
22. Say to your spouse in words similar to these, "I love you. Period. I choose to love you even if you don't love me in return."
23. Remove any addiction or influence that's stealing your affections and turning your heart away from your spouse.
24. Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it.
25. Whatever you haven't forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Say from your heart, "I choose to forgive."
26. Take time to reflect on your areas of wrongdoing.
27. Think of one area where your spouse has told you you're expecting too much, and tell them you're sorry for being so hard on them about it.
28. Recognize one of the greatest needs in your spouse's life. Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet the need.
29. Hope for your spouse and for their needs. When you see them, say "I love you," then express love to them in some tangible way. Thank yourself and the world for the privilege of loving this one special person.
30. Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and think about it and wish it gets better.
31. Confess a "leaving" issue to your spouse, and resolve to make it right.
32. Try to initiate sex with your husband or wife in a way that honors what they have told you (or implied to you) about what they need from you sexually.
33. Let your spouse know you desire to include them in your upcoming decisions, and that you need their perspective and counsel.
34. Find a specific, recent example when your spouse demonstrated good character and commend them for this.
35. Find a marriage mentor.
36. Commit to making yourself happy every day.
37. Ask your spouse if you can discuss your hopes regularly together.
38. Ask yourself what your mate would want if it was obtainable and then wish for it.
39. Spend time in personal thought, then write a letter of commitment and resolve to your spouse.
40. Write out a renewal of your vows and place them in your home.

THE BEIGHEY-TRUMAN-BORING-DUBOIS CONNECTION

There is an old proverb that says, “You are only two [2] people away from knowing anyone in the world.” I know it is probably not true but it is amazing when you talk to people how you interconnect with them.

I just finished watching the four [4] hour mini-series on PBS about Harry Truman. He was quite a man … A simple man with no college education who failed many times in his life … He failed as a farmer … Failed as a Haberdasher filing for Bankruptcy when he was thirty-seven [37]. Married the one and only girl in his life, Bess Wallace. His mother-in-law never thought he was good enough for her Bess even when he was President of the United States.

I am old enough to remember that nobody liked him and his approval ratings were in the 20’s … 22-23% … the lowest of any president … ever.

Slowly, people have come to respect him and he is now considered one of our “best” Presidents.
He came a long way and earned the respect of the people … He spoke what he felt and thought and earned the title “Give’m Hell Harry.” Who can forget the sign on his desk “The Buck Stops Here.”


BEIGHEY – TRUMAN CONNECTION

My connection to Harry Truman was through my grandfather Clifford Beighey, who himself was a Haberdasher with a Haberdashery on 1012 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington DC. Thr building has been torn down to make way for a high-rise Office Building.

Clifford and my grandmother lived Several miles up the road on Connecticut Avenue in a very nice apartment at 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW, Apt 604. In 1996, the apartment building was still there and looks the same.

What follows is an account as told to me by my Grandfather … It is slightly different than the account on the PBS Documentary.

“The Vice-President, Harry Truman, and Bess lived in an Apartment across the street from us on Connecticut Avenue … they had no Secret Service and no car or driver.

I would go to the bus stop to ride the bus down to my store and waiting at the stop would be Harry Truman. He would get on the bus with me reading his newspaper as he made his way to his office. I knew who he was but even though we exchanged courtesies we never had long conversations on the bus trip.

One night during the summer, I awoke during the early hours of the morning and it was so bright outside you would have thought it was daylight.

There were floodlights and police everywhere … I had no idea what was going on but found out later that day that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had died and Harry Truman was the President of the United States and he was now entitled to Secret Service Protection.”

After only a little over 80 days in office the little man from Missouri with the wire-rimmed glasses was thrust into the biggest job in the land … President of the United States.




THE BORING-DUBOIS, PA CONNECTION

One of the Secret Service assigned to protect President Truman was Floyd Boring.

Floyd Murray Boring, grew up in DuBois, Pennsylvania and graduated from what was Sandy Township High School before it merged with

DuBois High School. He spent nearly five years as a Pennsylvania State Policeman after graduating from high school. He entered the Secret Service in November 1943 and joined the White House protective detail in March 1944.

I believe he grew up in and around the Dixon Avenue area of Sandy Township.

Little is heard about Floyd “Toad” Boring in an around DuBois but he had one of the most interesting careers of anyone from DuBois, PA.

Floyd M. Boring, guarded five presidents … Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson.

Mr. Boring was with President Franklin D Roosevelt when he died at Warm Springs, Ga., in 1945, and accompanied his body to the funeral at Hyde Park, N.Y.

He was not with President Kennedy's Secret Service detail in Dallas when Kennedy was assassinated (That said, Mr. Boring played a pivotal role in the security planning of JFK's fatal trip to Dallas, as he was in charge of the advance arrangements, according to the research of Secret Service expert Vince Palamara.)

Boring’s involvement with President Truman was his most famous assignment.

On the afternoon of Nov. 1, 1950, Truman was taking a nap at Blair House, where he was living while the White House, across Pennsylvania Avenue, was being renovated. Mr. Boring was stationed outside Blair House with several uniformed White House guards, while two Secret Service agents were posted inside.

“It was a beautiful day, about 80 degrees outside,” Mr. Boring recalled in a 1988 interview for the Truman Library. Mr. Boring had been teasing one of the uniformed guards, Leslie Coffelt. “I was kidding him about getting a new set of glasses,” Mr. Boring said. “I wanted to find out if he had gotten the glasses to look at the girls.”

Moments later, at 2:20 p.m., two men approached Blair House and opened fire with pistols, trying to shoot their way inside and assassinate Truman to further the cause of independence for Puerto Rico.

Mr. Boring, drawing his .38-caliber Colt pistol, known as a Detective’s Special, fired a bullet through the hat of one of the gunmen, Oscar Collazo, grazing his scalp. Mr. Collazo was also shot in the chest, and bullets grazed his nose and an ear. He was captured at the entrance to Blair House as Mr. Boring kicked his pistol away from his side.

Griselio Torresola, the other gunman, shot Mr. Coffelt, who killed him with return fire. Mr. Coffelt died of his wounds hours later. Two other White House policemen were wounded.

When the shooting stopped, Mr. Boring went up to see Truman and, as Mr. Boring recalled it, “He said, ‘What the hell is going on down there?’ ”

Mr. Boring later said that in addition to firing the shot that grazed Mr. Collazo’s head, he thought he had fired the bullet that hit Mr. Collazo in the chest. But in their book “American Gunfight” (Simon & Schuster, 2005), Stephen Hunter and John Bainbridge Jr. wrote that the bullet may have been fired by a White House policeman, Joseph Davidson, and ricocheted off an iron fence before hitting Mr. Collazo.

Mr. Collazo, the surviving gunman, was imprisoned until 1979, when he returned to Puerto Rico, where he died in 1994 at 80.

While guarding Truman, Mr. Boring also dealt with a frightening moment on the Potomac River one day when Truman struggled while swimming off his yacht, the Williamsburg.

Truman was not a good swimmer, Mr. Boring said in his oral history interview, and when he got into the water he started to struggle. Seeing his plight, and with others panicking around him, Mr. Boring threw Truman a life preserver and helped pull him in.

In the mid-1960s, Mr. Boring visited Truman at Independence, Mo., and found that Truman remembered him. “He said, ‘You’re the guy that saved my life, twice.

Floyd Boring retired in 1967 and entered private security work.

Floyd “Toad” Boring died on February 7, 2008 at the age of 92.

So, there is the connection … Larry Beighey to Clifford Beighey to President Harry S. Truman to Floyd Boring to DuBois, Pennsylvania … My Hometown.

THE SPORTCOAT - THE EDDIE LEVINE STORY

In 1954, my first job was working for Eddie Levine in Levine Bros. Clothing Store in DuBois, Pennsylvania. Eddie and his other brothers had all followed their father in the clothing business … Each located in different towns in central Pennsylvania … Altoona, Tyrone, DuBois and State College.

I worked for Eddie all the way through High School and college and worked for his brother, Charlie, at his store in State College while I was at Penn State.

I started working for Eddie for $.50 an hour but worked my way up to $.85 per hour. I did all the usual things like washing the windows, dusting and straighting up the stock and taking inventory.

When I would finish with my daily chores, Eddie would give me one-on-one sales training by role-playing with me. Some times he would be a nice customer … Sometimes he would be a dificuilt customer all the time showing me “the ropes” of Selling.

Things like:
· Suggestive selling
· How to manage around the cash register
· Wrapping
· Packaging and mailing
· Always price check the tags before quoting a price
· Never stand in the front of the store
· Don’t rush a customer … Let them brouse a little before approaching them.

Eddie built his business on honesty, standing by his quality … His word was his mantra.

Usually Eddie would handle the sale of the big items like suits [$85 with 2 pair of pants] and sportcoats [$32.50 and $27.50] … If he was busy with another customer, I was his backup.

One side point … All of this was before computers or modern cash registers … On the price tag was 2 five letter words, such as “black horse” where each letter stood for a digit from 0 to 9 … A code which told the sales person what the cost of the item was … This was the common way to control inventory, cost and selling price. Eddie was a smart business man and would check the small window to see what his sales were … He knew his break even “nut” everyday.

One day I was backup and a lady came in to buy a sportcoat for her husband. I showed her some sportcoats in both prices … she couldn’t make up her mind. Finally, She picked one and asked how much it was. I told her it was $27.50 and she decided to take it.

When I took it up to the register, I took off the tag which was standard procedure for inventory control.

I realized I had miss quoted and told her the sportcoat was $32.50 … She said, “I thought you said it was $27.50.” Oh, Oh … Eddie was standing by the register and said to me, “Did you quote the lady $27.50?” I told him yes … He said, “Then that is what you sell it to her for.”

Of couse, after she left, I received another lesson from “Eddie” … Your Word is your bond … If you don’t stand behind your product and your honesty the customer will be a one-time customer and “Eddie” wanted “repeat and loyal customers.”

We remained in contact for over 50 years … Eddie Levine passed away in 2009 … He will be missed!

"THE MORE YOU PRACTICE THE LUCKER YOU GET"

One of the professional golfers on the PGA tour said, ”The more you practice, the luckier you get" ... this is so true in any endeavor.

Many times you have heard it said when playing golf, “if that ball would've just been six inches more to the right it would have rolled up to the pin instead of dropping into the sand trap. Of course, the person who practices more gets what we would call the “lucky bounce” but it is really not luck. It is more than likely the constant recurring practice that people do.

You can be the smartest person but if you can’t sell your ideas you are not likely to get ahead.

I have always felt the Speech was one of the most important classes in college … Dale Carnegie is also a great way to learn the art of “public speaking.

For several years, a friend of mine paid for ten high school students to attend the Dale Carnegie Program. He is a very successful businessman and realized the value of public speaking and wanted to pass it on to others. What a nice way to help young people.

I had a reputation of being a good public speaker and people may have the opinion that I was just a “natural” … Far from it … I worked very hard at becoming a good speaker.

I would make a “detailed” outline of what I want to say and get it burned into my mind. Then I would stand in front of a mirror and practice, practice and practice … working on delivery, posture and gestures. For example, did you know?

If you are standing behind a podium and you step around to the side and rest your elbow on the podium you are signaling your closeness to the audience?
Don’t chew gum.
Don’t have car keys or jingling things in your pocket.
Don’t stand with your legs crossed.
Don’t point your finger at people.

These are just a few quick things I learned … There are many more. The important point is practice

Another great tip is to “role play.” I have mentioned that one of my first jobs was at Eddie Levine’s Men’s Store. When I would finish with my daily chores, Eddie would give me one-on-one sales training by role-playing with me. Some times he would be a nice customer … Sometimes he would be a difficult customer all the time showing me “the ropes” of Selling.


One of the executives of Brockway, Inc. was going to testify in front of a House Committee … He spent hours “role playing” … answering “hostle” and “friendly” questions he may be asked. It helped him prepare to answer questions in a high stress situation.

One person that continues to impress me with his public speaking is Newt Gingrich. He normally speaks “off the cuff” or with a few cryptic notes. My daughter, Anne, worked for him for over twelve years and as far as I know only once did he write a speech … the day he was sworn in as Speaker of the House. He is an amazing speaker … No pun intended.

A side story … Few people know that Newt Gingrich is a speed-reader … The first afternoon that our daughter Anne was with him, He was traveling to some rallies in his District … During that time he read a book and 2 newspapers … He has written over 300 Book Reviews for Amazon.com … He is a prolific reader with great retention.

The day he was being sworn in as Speaker, He called up to Anne and asked her to call over to the Archives and have them look up a quote … He wanted to get it just right. It was from Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. He said, “It goes something like this … It is about 1/4 of the way into the book … About 2/3 of the way down a left hand page … The last sentence in the paragraph.”

Sure enough, they found it and Anne took it down to Newt. He was in the Ceremonial Room off the House Chamber … Newt was sitting their alone at Thomas Jefferson’s Desk.
Anne said it was “A Kodak Moment.”

I am sure you have heard the saying, “practice makes perfect." ... Well, we know there are such things as a lucky bounce but more often than not it is a result of many hours of repetitive practice. “The more you practice the luckier you get."

The USA … The Best Of Everything

One of the longest jobs I had in my business career was as the Director of International Technical Services. My job required me to travel extensively outside of the United States taking me to Europe, Central and South America, as well as North America. I also entertained people from all over the United States.

It was an exciting job, and I met many interesting people. One of the things that stands out the most in my memory was how much the people wanted to be like the United States. They were into our goods and services. Contrary to what you hear in the news, people from other countries held us in high esteem and in high regard.

In Mexico, we had a large contract with the Modelo Brewery, makers of Corona beer. Our contract was to design and oversee the construction of a large glass container plant, and upon completion, provide technical services and training of all their employees. Over this period of several years, I frequently visited them in Mexico City and received them at our home in the United States. I got to know their top management people very well.

I learned that when Modelo wanted to acquire expertise on brewing beer, they visited the Coors Brewery in the United States. Yes, Corona is really Coors beer in a new label and a clever marketing program.

Also, I quickly learned that when they came to the United States, they would buy our men's razors, clothing, especially Levi's and most anything else they thought they could get back into their country.

I also learned that things we take for granted every day were hard to get or almost non-existent in other countries. Simple things, like a hamburger or a tossed green salad. Since I traveled for three weeks at a time, this was usually my first meal when I arrived back home.

One humorous story happened on one of my first trips … Budapest, Hungary. I was staying in a beautiful new hotel, the Duna intercontinental, right on the Blue Danube River.

The first morning I went down for breakfast and decided I would start out with some orange juice. Imagine my surprise when they delivered a beautiful goblet with a half- peeled orange stuck in the top. Things we just take for granted are not always that easy in other countries.

Around 1999, our daughter and her family lived in England for two years. You would think this established country would have the best of everything. They lived in a beautiful, modern new home that was worth about $450,000. It was considered a luxury home in England. To her astonishment, it had no dishwasher, a very small refrigerator, and no clothes dryer. The heating system was the old-style, large steam registers, and there was no air conditioning. The toilets had a pull chain. There was one shower that was so small you couldn't turn around it. Most homes did not have a shower. The sink and tub were sealed with an old-fashioned chain and plunk.

My personal experience has taught me that the United States indeed has the best of everything. We have the best beer, wine, whiskey, clothing, ice cream, chocolate, coffee and in my opinion, food.

USA … USA … USA … USA!

It's a Dog's Life

I always felt there was so much to learn from mans best friend … A dog. No matter how you treat them they are always forgiving and are happy to see you … Barking, jumping with tail wagging.

Recently my wife sent me the following email that compared a dog’s life with our life, saying it much more succintly than I could.

“A veterinarian, had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. He was dying of cancer. The family was told there wasn’t anything to do for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home."

"As the arrangements were made, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.”

”The next day, the Vet felt the familiar catch in her throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.”

“The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. The family and the Vet sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why. "

"Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned us. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'"

Dogs:
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Blog Administrative Detail

I have made all the Blog Posts that are from my 1st book, A Drop in the Bucket, in a Blue Font Color. All "Posts" from my upcoming book, More Drops in the Bucket are in a Black Font Color.

In addition, you can tell which are from the 1st book by searching on A Drop in the Bucket in the Label Posts ... All Posts from my upcoming book, More Drops in the Bucket carry its Label Name.

The More You Practice, The Luckier You Get

One of the professional golfers on the tour said, ”The more you practice, the luckier you get" ... this is so true in any endeavor.

Many times you have heard it said when playing golf, “if that ball would've just been six inches more to the right it would have rolled up to the pin instead of dropping into the sand trap. Of course, the person who practices more gets what we would call the “lucky bounce” but it is really not luck. It is more than likely the constant recurring practice that people do.

You can be the smartest person but if you can’t sell your ideas you are not likely to get ahead.

I have always felt the Speech was one of the most important classes in college … Dale Carnegie is also a great way to learn the art of “public speaking.

For several years, a friend of mine paid for ten high school students to attend the Dale Carnegie Program. He is a very successful businessman and realized the value of public speaking and wanted to pass it on to others. What a nice way to help young people.

I had a reputation of being a good public speaker and people may have the opinion that I was just a “natural” … Far from it … I worked very hard at becoming a good speaker.

I would make a “detailed” outline of what I want to say and get it burned into my mind. Then I would stand in front of a mirror and practice, practice and practice … working on delivery, posture and gestures. For example, did you know:

if you are standing behind a podium and you step around to the side and rest your elbow on the podium you are signaling your closeness to the audience?
Don’t chew gum.
Don’t have car keys or jingling things in your pocket.
Don’t stand with your legs crossed.
Don’t point your finger at people.

These are just a few quick things I learned … There are many more. The important point is practice

Another great tip is to “role play.” I have mentioned that one of my first jobs was at Eddie Levine’s Men’s Store. When I would finish with my daily chores, Eddie would give me one-on-one sales training by role-playing with me. Some times he would be a nice customer … Sometimes he would be a difficult customer all the time showing me “the ropes” of Selling.


One of the executives of Brockway, Inc. was going to testify in front of a House Committee … He spent hours “role playing” … answering “hostle” and “friendly” questions he may be asked. It helped him prepare to answer questions in a high stress situation.

One person that continues to impress me with his public speaking is Newt Gingrich. He normally speaks “off the cuff” or with a few cryptic notes. My daughter, Anne, worked for him for over twelve years and as far as I know only once did he write a speech … the day he was sworn in as Speaker of the House. He is an amazing speaker … No pun intended.

A side story … Few people know that Newt is a speed-reader … The first afternoon that our daughter, Anne, was with him, he was traveling to some rallies in his District … During that time he read a book and 2 newspapers … He has written over 300 Book Reviews for Amazon.com … He is a prolific reader with great retention.

The day he was being sworn in as Speaker, He called up to Anne and asked her to call over to the Archives and have them look up a quote … He wanted to get it just right. It was from Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. He said, “It goes something like this … It is about 1/4 of the way into the book … About 2/3 of the way down a left hand page … The last sentence in the paragraph.”

Sure enough, they found it and Anne took it down to Newt. He was in the Ceremonial Room off the House Chamber … Newt was sitting their alone at Thomas Jefferson’s Desk.
Anne said it was “A Kodak Moment.”

I am sure you have heard the saying, “practice makes perfect." ... Well, we know there are such things as a lucky bounce but more often than not it is a result of many hours of repetitive practice. “The more you practice the luckier you get.

So You Want to Get Into Management - The Bob Strong Story

I think most people that are working for a company have thoughts of climbing the company ladder and getting to the top. I know that I did!

I have always felt that no matter how good a job you do getting your first opportunity to move into management requires a little bit of luck .... somebody from the top needs to reach down and pull you up. This "sponsor" is someone already in management who is willing to take a chance on you.

My “sponsor” was Bob Strong. Bob ran the Data Processing Department at Brockway Glass and he was a very interesting and "good" person. I may have mentioned that in 1960 during my early career with Brockway Glass they decided to purchase their first computer, an IBM 1460 … It had a 4K [4,000 Bytes] Central Processing Unit [CPU] and filled a 20 X 40’ temperature controlled room … Today, I am setting at my Laptop on my office desk with a 2 gigabyte [2,000,000,000] CPU.

Prior to that they were using an IBM 407 Accounting Machine linked with a IBM 604 tabulator using punch cards. These machines programs were connected using wired boards. This is where the program was stored … The wires plugged into the boards at what looked like an old telephone switchboard. Remember the old days where they plugged in cords into the board in the right holes to connect two parties. This is how the programming was done.

When the company was ready to install this first computer they had no one to write programs in a language called SPS for the new 1460 computer. They gave an aptitude test throughout the company to see who had an aptitude for computer programming. I scored high on the test and along with four or five other people I was taught to program the computers starting with actual machine language (binary codes using one's and zeros. if it was a one there was power present. If there was a zero there was no power). After mastering actual machine language, I received training in SPS.

Since the company had no programmers I was borrowed from the Industrial Engineering Department for 5 months to design systems and write programs for the Data Processing Department. It changed my life forever!

During this time, I developed a powerful bond with Bob Strong which was to play a big role in my business career.

Bob Strong did not have a college degree and the new technology was starting to pass him by. After about 3 years he asked me to become his assistant. People said he was crazy that I was going to end up taking his job away from him. He would reply in his humble way, “If he doesn’t pass me by I am going to be really upset with him. Someday, I expect to be working for him.”

When I arrived for work, Bob had moved a second desk into his office and he took me under his “wing” … He included me in ALL meetings, asked my opinions and discussed all important decisions over with me before making up his mind.

It was such an exciting time … we would work day and night with each other … Bob teaching and my “sucking it all in.”

I have to divert for one story about Bob. In 1939, Bob was in the first Machine Records Unit that the United States Army ever had. Bob had been sent to England (he met his wife Joan there). In 1944, he was sent down to the southern coast of England along the White Cliffs of Dover. He didn't know what he was doing there but realized that it was "top secret". He had 3-40 foot trailers sitting in a “U” shape configuration. The bottom of the “U” trailer contained IBM Accounting Machines and Calculators … The other two trailers contained IBM punch card files that were empty. Within a few days he started to receive punch cards to process and then store in the cabinets. He soon realized that each card was a injured or killed person in the D-Day invasion … Within 3 days the card files were filled up … Somewhere around 50, 000 cards … Bob was sure we had lost the War.

It was stories like this that he could tell night and day.

I will always remember Bob Strong and the opportunity he gave me. The opportunity he gave me to move into “management” changed my life forever and gave me the start I needed to “climb the ladder of success.”

Home - Sweet - Home

Well, the Pittsburgh Steelers won their Sixth Super Bowl … The most of any NFL team.

It brings back so many fond memories and reminds me of how lucky my life has been in my younger years … There is no place like Home.

I grew up in a small town in Western Pennsylvania, DuBois; went to Penn State University; came back to work, down the road, at Brockway Glass Company for 28 years; met and married my wife, Carole, and raised our 6 kids there … It is a great place.

I feel we were so fortunite to spend all the early years of our lives in Western Pennsylania … DuBois and Brockway were home … I was 45 years old when we moved away to Atlanta, Georgia.

From this small town of 2,000 people, I traveled all over the United States, Canada, Cental and South America and Europe, working for Brockway Glass, a Fortune 300 Company … Brockway’s headquarters were there until the late 80’s. We would boost that Brockway was the largest Fortune 500 Company in the smallest town … We used to joke that Brockway employed 2700 people in a town of 2000. When I started in 1960, the company did $50 million a year in sales … by the late 70’s, I managed one of the plants in Brockway and we alone did $50 million in sales … By the time my career ended 28 years later, Brockway was doing One Billion in sales dollars.

It was such a great place to live, work and raise a family. Kids went to the park and stayed all day ... swimming and ball games … no one worried.

The whole town used the park a lot. It was a place to socialize and see friends and neighbors ... cause everyone was there sooner or later.

Where else could you spend every summer evening with your family and most of the rest of the town … Let the children walk the mile home after dark and not worry about them … no traffic lights and everyone knew everyone else Everyone helped keep their eye on each other's kids.

It was Paradise.

Speaking of Paradise, Brockway and DuBois are in Western Pennsylvania about 10 miles apart … DuBois is close to Punxsy [Punsxytawney – home of Punsxytawney Phil the famous weather pronosticating Groundhog.]

To get to Punsxy from DuBois you have to drive through …Paridise, Desire and Panic … hamlets made famous in Ripley’s “Believe it or Not.”

Sports were a “big deal” in Western Pennsylvania. Teams like the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins … High school rivaries were “live or die.”

Sports meant so much to the youth of Western PA. It meant being from a corner of the world unlike any other. It meant being from a place where the people are so tough minded that they have survived the Homestead strikes and the Johnstown flood. These people have the DNA of hard work in mills, glass plants and mines, without the necessity of complaint. They live simply, with few frills.

Western Pennsylvania is so tough, even the towels are "terrible".

They had simple traditions like kielbasa, Picnics and celebrations. They live in distinctive neighborhoods like “Polish Hill,” “The Flats,” “Denigal Hill,” “Swede Town,” “The East Side,” “The Bottoms,” and “The Hill District.”

The people are genuine. They didn’t have chic internet cafes and cappuccinos, but they do have The Original Hot Dog Joint, Primanti's, Eat n' Park, Nick’s, Baileys and “IC Lite” from Iron City Beer.

People from Western PA don't have sunny beaches or fancy boats, but the rivers roll gently, connecting the small towns of people whose histories have been built on strength and humility.

People from Western PA don't have the biggest shopping malls or the best nightclubs, but they'll take Friday night high school football, Penn State Football “White-Outs” and Steeler Sunday over anything.

Sports meant so much more than you think. It symbolizes a cherished past for generations who had the best childhood they could imagine. They ran free without a care or concern in the valleys of those Allegheny Mountains. Their blue-collar world was easy. There was no one to tell them that they lacked material things. There was no one to tell them that they needed more.

As the steel mills closed and the jobs disappeared, some of these people had to leave. While the world benefits because they spread their Western PA “wings.” they long for their home where things were simpler and more pure. They teach their kids about Jack Lambert, Bob Prince, Lynn Swann, Ralph Kiner, Terry Bradshaw,Willie stargall, Roberto Clamente, Franco Harris, Joe Paterno, Jack Ham, Rosey Rosewell, L.C. Greenwood, “Mean” Joe Greene, and Myron Cope in hopes of imparting not just the knowledge, but the feeling that they represented.

They are everywhere, those "Terrible Towels." They wave, not just for the team, but for the hearts they left behind. They wave in living rooms in Fort Lauderdale and in the bars and stadium of Washington , D.C.

Make no mistake that Steeler football is not just about football. I could not be prouder to be from the Pittsburgh area than I am right now!! Even if you no longer live in the area, you have Western Pennsylvania in your blood no matter where you go. And deep down in your heart of hearts, you can still hear the Super Bowls of times past, the excitement in everyone's voices especially our fathers, cousins, uncles, and anyone else who gathered around the TV on Steeler Sundays!

It is not just about rivalries and who is better than the other, it's about family, tradition and roots! It's more than football! If you now live in Arizona, Colorado, Ohio, Indiana, Indiana, Florida, California, Maryland, Nevada, or Texas, be assured that Western PA will always be home.

Remember, you grew up in Western Pennsylvania if:

You didn't have a spring break in high school but you did have the first day of deer season off.
You walk carefully when it is "slippy" outside.
You often played down by the "crick".
You've told your children to "red up" their rooms.
You've gotten hurt by falling into a "jagger bush".
Your mother or grandmother has been seen wearing a "babushka" on her head.
You've "worshed" the clothes.
I ask you to hand me one of those "gum-bands" and you actually know what I'm talking about.
You know you can't drive too fast on the back roads, because of the deer.
You know Beaver Valley , Turtle Crick, Mars, Slippery Rock, Greentree, Mundorf, Roulette, Degus Cohonda, Paradise, Desire, Panic and New Castle are names of towns. And you've been too most, if not all, of them.
You see a girl walk up to three of her girl friends and say, "HEY, YUNZ GUYS"!
You hear "you guyses" and don't think twice. Example: "you guyses house is nice".
You know the Three Rivers by name and understand that "The Point" isn't just on a writing instrument.
Someone refers to "The Mon" or "The Yough" and you know exactly what they're talking about.
You remember not being able to go outside because the snow was over your head and you would have suffocated.
Someone starts the chant, "Here we go Steel-ers!" or “We Are … Penn State” and you join in the proper cadence, waving the appropriately colored towel or Pom, Pom.
Bob Prince and "there's a bug loose on the rug" or Rosie Rosewell saying, “Raise the window, Aunt Minnie” hold special meaning for you.
The “Terrible Towel” and “The Green Winnie” were real.
A “White Out” was what you wore to the Penn State football game not a “snow blizzard.”
You know what a “Babushkas” is.
You've either eaten a Farkleberry Tart or know someone who has. You drink “pop,” eat hoagies, love perogies, and one of your favorite sandwiches actually has coleslaw and French fries ON it.
You know what a "still mill" is.
You know what Eat 'N Park is and frequently ate breakfast there at 2:00 AM after the bar closed.
You order "dippy eggs" in a restaurant and get exactly what you wanted.
You went to the Heinz Plant or the Isaly's Plant with your Cub Scout Troop.
"Chipped ham" was always in your refrigerator when you were growin' up. You refuse to buy any condiments besides Heinz.
You know what the “Immaculate Reception” was.
When you call the dog or the kids you shout, "kum-mere" and they come.
Franco, Roberto, Mario and JoPa don't need last names and you can recite their exploits by heart.
We would “skip” down the sidewalk.
We would play “Mumblety-peg” or “Hopscotch” instead of Video games.
Food at a wedding reception consisted of rigatoni, stuffed cabbage, sauerkraut and Polish kielbasa.
Beer at a wedding reception consisted of 7 oz. Stoney's, Fort Pitt, Iron City, Rolling Rock, Duquesne “Duke,” Straub, DuBois Export or DuBois Budweiser ...
You know that a "butt" is a very close friend ...
If you didn’t know how to Polka or Obedic, you couldn’t dance.
You "did" dishes.
Referring to a door ... could mean a drawer.
Giving the time was simple, like "its something to" or "its something after"
You knew where the "trap house" was.
Your first swearing was calling a sibling "poopy face"
You wore shoes in the summer … only to church.
You stole farmer’s corn for a "Corn Roast" … even though it was boiled.
You would see how far you could "skate" on the icey spots on your way to school.
Home made Italian Wine, "Dago Red," was common with meals.
Beer was bought at a distributor's house and liquor at a State Store only.
You knew how to make a slingshot...and could nail a bird within 100 feet.
Home made bread was all you ate and pitsafritz was bread cooked in oil.
As soon as you got back home you would go get some HOT “Zappas” Bread.
You predated pizza with homemade bread, with sliced tomatoes (from the garden) olive oil and garlic.
You know what a “bon fire” was before the big game.
You went under the Toby Crick Bridge to hang out.
You had an account at Franco's, Augie’s, Danny’s or Murones.
You knew where Riley Town was and also Red Peak.
You knew where the " hot end" was at the glass plant.
You called Rigatoni "sewer pipes"
· You knew of people like: Bubbles, Babe, Toad, Pets, Peanuts, Gamba, Boom-Boom, the Tino, Gino and Fino brothers, Scats, Pepe, Joe the watchman, Float Work, Captain “Nemo,” Big and Little Chew, Ceech, Skinny, George Felt, Teat, Mouse, Joe Guts, Augi, Twila, Smoky, Wimpy, Geo Moody, Rosie Rosewell, Aunt Minnie, Chick Grecco, and Dr Kilgus.
You listened to "the Polka Party" on Sunday, after mass, before you had your weekly spaghetti.
You made a "U" turn on Main Street at Humphrey’s furniture.
You had a feast and played cards all night after Midnight Mass.
The pizza from Chick's was made by Mrs. Grecco and it was a thin pastry-like crust with a sweet sauce on it and you could keep eating it until you were sick … unusual and wonderful!!!
What about Bailey's hotdogs … Ever taste anything else like those … I'll take one with "Everything" oh, make it at least two
People put things in a 'poke' [not a bag]
We dusted the 'mopboards' .
We put clothes in a 'clothes press'
A banana was 'yella' not yellow.

Of course, I knew all of these wonderful things and experienced them with my “family.”

In 1984, I moved my family away from Brockway to the “Big City” of Atlanta, Georgia.

I jokedly told people that it was time to “move on” when they put the first traffic light in Brockway and did away with the “turn-around” at the end of town on Main Street.

We had a good 14 years in Atlanta … Eventually, all 6 children lived there for a period of time.

But, soon the family started to branch out and move away from Georgia. We had a good “run” there.

If you ask anyone in my family where is home, I am confident they will say, “Western Pennsylvania … A little town you never heard of called DuBois or Brockway is my home.”
How fortunite we were … Home-Sweet-Home.

Never Give a Price Range

How many times in the art of negotiating does a person give a price range or a price maximum that they are willing to pay. You know the routine, I will not pay a penny over $20,000 or I will pay you $40-$45,000.

When you do this you are immediately sending a signal to the other party. For example, if you say, "I will not pay over $20,000" or "I only have $20,000 to spend" for this item you have immediately told the other party that you, in fact, will pay up to $20,000 for that article. Now the other party has a significant advantage over you since you have told him that you will pay $20,000. You have to make the choice at that point between paying $20,000 or walking away because you have already tipped your hand and lost all your negotiating power.

The same thing holds true when you give a price range. Let's say you want to buy a new car and you tell the seller that you will pay $40-$45000 for the car. You are thinking low … that he will sell the car for $40,000 and the seller is thinking high … You will pay $45,000 for the car. You have tipped your hand because you gave him a price range. He now knows that you will pay $45,000 for the car. Again you have lost your power of negotiating.

Don't ever tip your hand and give a price range or give a maximum price when you are buying or selling any kind of item.

Many people don't like to negotiate ... especially in the United States. Negotiating is very much a way of life in most other countries.

Negotiating can be a lot of fun and save you a lot of money but you have to be very careful how you go about doing it.

The Sportcoat - Sales Training

In 1954, my first job was working for Eddie Levine in Levine Bros. Clothing Store in DuBois, Pennsylvania. Eddie and his other brothers had all followed their father in the clothing business … Each located in different towns in central Pennsylvania … Altoona, Tyrone, DuBois and State College.

I worked for Eddie all the way through High School and college and worked for his brother, Charlie, at his store in State College while I was at Penn State.

I started working for Eddie for $.50 an hour but worked my way up to $.85 per hour. I did all the usual things like washing the windows, dusting and straighting up the stock and taking inventory.

When I would finish with my daily chores, Eddie would give me one-on-one sales training by role-playing with me. Some times he would be a nice customer … Sometimes he would be a dificuilt customer all the time showing me “the ropes” of Selling.

Things like:
· Suggestive selling
· How to manage around the cash register
· Wrapping
· Packaging and mailing
· Always price check the tags before quoting a price
· Never stand in the front of the store
· Don’t rush a customer … Let them brouse a little before approaching them.

Eddie built his business on honesty, standing by his quality … His word was his mantra.

Usually Eddie would handle the sale of the big items like suits [$85 with 2 pair of pants] and sportcoats [$32.50 and $27.50] … If he was busy with another customer, I was his backup.

One side point … All of this was before computers or modern cash registers … On the price tag was 2 five letter words, such as “black horse” where each letter stood for a digit from 0 to 9 … A code which told the sales person what the cost of the item was … This was the common way to control inventory, cost and selling price. Eddie was a smart business man and would check the small window to see what his sales were … He knew his break even “nut” everyday.

One day I was backup and a lady came in to buy a sportcoat for her husband. I showed her some sportcoats in both prices … she couldn’t make up her mind. Finally, She picked one and asked how much it was. I told her it was $27.50 and she decided to take it.

When I took it up to the register, I took off the tag which was standard procedure for inventory control.

I realized I had miss quoted and told her the sportcoat was $32.50 … She said, “I thought you said it was $27.50.” Oh, Oh … Eddie was standing by the register and said to me, “Did you quote the lady $27.50?” I told him yes … He said, “Then that is what you sell it to her for.”

Of couse, after she left, I received another lesson from “Eddie” … Your Word is your bond … If you don’t stand behind your product and your honesty the customer will be a one-time customer and “Eddie” wanted “repeat and loyal customers.”

We remained in contact for over 50 years … Eddie Levine passed away in 2009 … He will be missed!

Right Place, Right Time

I know I have said several times in these books that luck can play an important part in your life. Rest assured that luck is one factor and one factor alone but there are many other factors that are important to your success in life.

Probably the best job I had in my young business career was as the Director of Techinal Assistance for Brockway Glass … It was the position I held for the longest time in my career … and I got it because I was in the right place at the right time.

I had a position as the Director of Training for Brockway and I taught Management Principles to Manufacturing Supervisors in all 13 Brockway Plants in the United States. I visited every plant every month for a year … I was only home 3 days per month including weekends. I didn’t mind as I was single then and enjoyed the traveling and meeting all the new people.

Each month when I returned to Brockway I would meet with the Director of Personnel and brief him on what I saw in my travels to the plants.

During one such meeting, in the last month of my worldwind training program, he took a call from the Chairman and CEO of the company … I was only hearing one side of the call but later he reconstructed the conversation for me.

Brockway had superior glass-making techonology than any other companies in the world and wanted to take advantage of this by selling technology to other glass companies in other countries … since glass weighs too much to have any importing or exporting it was a good business fit.

The International Techinal Services Department was a one-man show and that one person had major health problems and was not expected to return for a long time, if ever.

It was the company’s intention to grow this business segment since it had the potential to be a very profitable business segment for the company.

Because I had moved around in the company more than most people and had worked in Industrial Engineering, Training and Management Information Systems [MIS], I probably knew more people in the company than any one else.

The CEO was looking for a person that had a technical background, personable, could sell the company and knew where to go in the company to get the help he needed … He had to be ready to move into the position NOW.

The Director of Personnell was sitting behind his desk looking at me and said “I have someone in mind let me get right back to you.”

Within a week I was in my new job. I grew the Division into a very profitable business with 10 employees.

I had the qualifications and was a good pick for the job but would he have thought of me if I hadn’t been in the right place at the right time?

Never Give Up

Sometimes in life when you are down and out you get the urge to just give up. Never give up.

I remember a story that happened when I was coaching a baseball team of young men 13 to 15. At that age, peer pressure can be great and can literally destroy a person’s self-confidence.

I had a nice, young fellow named Eddie that was playing for me. He was not a very good hitter. The other kids his age would be hanging around the fence and riding him as well as a lot of other players. They had an informal club that when somebody struck out three times they would yell that they belonged to the KKK … The KKK Club and they would yell it for everybody to hear. A K is the baseball symbol for a strike out.

In one particular game we were playing a team that was a big competitor of ours and it was a very important and close game. Three times during the game Eddie came to bat with runners in scoring position. Each time he struck out and the young men in the stands were yelling at him that he was in the KKK club. Eddie was sitting in the dugout crying. His self-confidence was destroyed and the other boys had reduced him to tears.

I took Eddie aside in the dugout and explained to him that many, many times in life you are going to run into situations where things just seem insurmountable … It seems you can’t do anything right and you just want to give up. I told him not to give up, that life has a way of redeeming itself and that Eddie would find a way to come back and earn everybody's respect and restore his self-confidence. I told him that it might not be that day or that week but if he had confidence in himself and didn't give up eventually he would make a comeback.

Late in the game the score was tied and we again had runners in scoring position. One of the best pitchers in the league was pitching for the other team. As fate would have it, who came to bat but Eddie. I reminded him of our little talk and told him that he could do it … Just watch the ball and have confidence that he could hit it.

Well you can imagine what happened. Eddie got a hit to right field scoring two runners and we won the game. Eddie was a big hero. He went from being a bum in the KKK club to being a hero in the eyes of his peers.

Don't ever give up no matter how bad things seen or how down you are. Remember to have confidence in yourself and always strive to do better.

Never give up!

Make Something Happen - PSU Baseball Story

I believe that I had mentioned before, that I played baseball for Penn State University. It was one of the happiest times in my life. I had many baseball assets in my youth, including speed, and a very strong right arm, which really helped me along in my career.

There's an old joke in baseball that says, “I'll be home tomorrow mom, they started throwing curve balls today.” I was a very good defensive player, but was what you would call a “streak” hitter. Sometimes, I would hit everything in sight and other times. I would be in a hitting slump.

When I was a college junior, I went into one of those slumps. I was a right-handed hitting first baseman, and the coach started to alternate me with a left-handed hitting first baseman. I played against left-handed pitchers, and he played against right-handed pitchers.

During my junior year, we played in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. It was one of the high points of my life, and I will always remember it. We finished third in the nation and lost to the National Champions, Oklahoma State, twice in a double elimination tournament. I played in several games but was still being platooned, playing only against left-handed pitchers.

In my senior year, I was still being platooned at first base, but early in the season started hitting everything in sight. Since I was a very good defensive player and could play many positions, I wanted to play somewhere, but still had to alternate playing first base.

I thought to myself that this was not the way to end my college career and that I needed to make something happen. The centerfielder was in a very bad hitting slump, and I thought to myself, now is the time.

When we were on road trips, we would stop to eat and the coach, Joe Bedenk, would quickly eat and then head back out to the bus, where he would sit in his usual front-row seat. The rest of the team would still be in the restaurant eating.

We were traveling to play Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and I decided that it was time to make my move. I skipped eating and hurriedly went back out to the bus. I went up to the coach and said to him. "If you want to get that job done in Centerfield, I'm the guy that can do it." He just looked at me and didn't say a word.

I figured that he would think about it and that one of two things would happen. He would just dismiss my idea, and nothing would happen or he would give me a chance, after I had practiced in the new position for a while.

Our coach was famous for calling people by different names. Our second baseman name was Larry Fegley, and I was the first baseman Larry Beighey, so we both were forever known as “Larry Begley.”

Imagine my total surprise, when before the game started the coach yelled "Begley, get out in Centerfield and shag some flies." I played Centerfield that day and played every game the rest of that season … Hitting over .325 and never sitting on the bench again.

Sometimes in life you just have to take advantage of an opportunity to make something happen. You can't just sit back and wait for it to happen, because many times it never will. You have to make it happen.