Hard Times

“Hard times are coming.” That’s what T.K. used to say. T.K.’s real name was Todd Kimsey. He was my college biology professor, and he wanted everyone to call him T.K. It was the fall quarter of my freshman year, and T.K. stood looking out the window of our classroom. He announced, with his speech pattern of ever protracted syllables, “yeees….hard times are comin.’ I’ve got a frieeeeend who said to me….Toooodd….one daaaaay, they’re gonna plow up that rooooaaad…..and plant potatoeeees. Hard tiiiiiimes are coming.”

Well, T.K., I think they may be here. Or soon will be.

You know, it’s interesting how people will take more risks during “hard times” than during “normal times”. For example, people will choose not to spend money on brakes that need replacing….choosing to wait a little longer before putting on the new shoes. Or let the treads of the tires get a little balder before buying new ones. Of course, any number of arguments can be made as to why that should NOT happen. But it does.

Being in the tire business right now must be as difficult as any other retail establishment. Struggling is probably the buzzword.

He owns a tire mart. It’s right there on the main Boulevard in the middle of town. And although the President was addressing the world on national television last night about the economic crisis and his plan to put the United States on the road to recovery, he didn’t watch.

It wasn’t because of lack of interest, for surely anyone owning a small business is interested in the economy right now. And it wasn’t because he didn’t care. In fact, all his friends and neighbors say he is one of the most caring people they have ever met. He has been called a civic leader. A business leader. A person who has led by example all his life. A person whose whole life has been about helping others.

These were the words that Bill Bowles said about him.

Bill should know. He has known him for more than 25 years.

He wasn’t watching the President speak because he was being honored at the Hilton Garden Inn. The dinner was $75 per person, and was sold out. And they were going to make sure his legacy would never be forgotten. This would be done by establishing a scholarship in his name, and then endowing it for posterity.

Last night, over 200 people came together in southwest Georgia, in the town of Albany (which the locals pronounce al-BIN-y), to establish this scholarship. In 2010, some lucky Southwest Georgia high school student will be awarded a $25,000 scholorship to attend Auburn University. The Southwest Georgia Auburn Club is making sure of that, and the scholarship will be named after him…..73 year old E. Cleve Wester.

Cleve Wester was an offensive tackle on Auburn’s 1957 National Championship Team. He was toasted by his former teammate, Jackie Burkett, who said, “Cleve was a good player who was liked and respected by his teammates.” Another of his teammates, Teddy Foret, said of him, “He’s just a super guy. He’s always smiling and always your friend.”

The entire current Auburn football coaching staff attended the event, along with athletic director Jay Jacobs. Former Auburn (and NFL) football players Will Herring, Ben Leard, and Joe Cope, along with former coach Pat Dye were on hand, along with other local celebrities.

At the end of the evening, when asked what this day had meant to him, that the new coaching staff had taken their time to come; that the Southwest Georgia Auburn Club had honored him this way; that the Auburn family thought enought of him to endow a scholorship in his name; Mr. Wester’s answer was short and to the point. It also spoke volumes about the man and his loyalty to Auburn. He simply said, “It means we’re one. War Eagle. ”

Maybe he was teaching us a lesson and giving us a glimpse, that for Auburn football at least, hard times are about over.

WJLaneSR