PAUL AND I

Wilberforce University

I am so grateful and indebted to my daughter, Marian, for suggesting the title for my blog (Grandpa Then and Now)

The present covers a lot of time. Thank you, Marian. I am grateful to you for expediting the time for production. I use the Columbus system typing (discover and land.) I would probably still be on number 1 blog.

This blog is THEN. PAUL AND I.

(Suggestion: read “My Friend Paul” blog to know Paul.

After graduating from Walnut Hills High School, Paul spent his first year at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio and I attended Wilberforce University in Ohio.

Being freshmen in two different schools, we had very little communication with each other.

For whatever reason Paul decided to matriculate at Wilberforce University for his second year. Paul was a brilliant student so U.C. couldn’t have been too difficult for him. We decided to be roommates that year. We had another roommate who was absent most of the time.

Paul still depended on me to help him in his social life. We enjoyed laughing about some of our high school ventures, then there were times like:

Paul – Lee, don’t go to sleep yet. I’ve got a question.

Me – I’m tired, Paul. Coach made us do 5 miles before 8:00 am this morning.

Paul – This girl in chemistry class wants me to help her with a project.

Me – What’s the problem?

Why would she ask me?

Me – Put it on the table over there.

Paul – Lee, don’t go to sleep. What do you think?

Me – What was the question?

Paul – Are you awake?

Me – I’m awake. What was the question?

Paul – Lee, don’t go to sleep. Are you awake? Me – Yeah, the girl. She wanted to go to the store – for what!

Paul – Lee, Lee, Lee, wake up.


Me – Ok. ok. ok. ok….

Another night.

Paul – Lee

Me – Yeah.

Paul – Remember the girl, Laura who finished Woodward High last year? Me – Yeah, very attractive girl.

Paul – She’ll be here next quarter. She’s going to transfer fro U.C.

Me – Ok. Tomorrow. Tomorrow – talk about it tomorrow. Man I need some sleep.

Paul – She’s gong to expect me to be taking her out.

Me – If you say so, Paul.

I finally was off to sleep.

The next morning I was out early and kept thinking, was I dreaming and did Paul say this girl was coming to Wilberforce and would be asking him to take her to school affairs. He did mention her name, but taking her out – No. Maybe I was dreaming.

I did see him that afternoon on the campus. We gave our usual greeting from our high school days. Paul got it from a ancient Greek or Roman reading. Right hand in a salute position, but point upward, fingers closed, and the upper body in a quick upward gesture and the word “Ta.” That was our greeting.

Me – I was dead tired last night, but you said something about this girl, Laura switching from U.C. to Wilberforce next quarter.

Paul – Yeah.

Me - (a brief pause) You took her out last year when you were at U.C.?

Paul – A couple of times.

Me – How come you didn’t tell me?
Paul – We were just friends. Hey, see you later. I’m late.

This was puzzling to me, so much so that later I asked Paul just how did this relationship come about.

(to be continued)

GREAT LAKES, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS OR CHI-TOWN

Great Lakes, Chicago Illinois

In spring of 1944 the Japanese were showing their strength. The Germans were trying to take over Europe and I was entering the fight to help in any way I could.

The training was rugged and challenging at times, but as I look back on those times, the first thing that comes to my mind is the one day of liberty in Chicago. Three of us were in the big city of Chicago with limited change in our pockets and looking for a place to spend it. There was a group that had made a recording that was selling like hot cakes. It was called “Straighten up and Fly Right” and they were performing at a small club within our reach, physically and financially. ha.

We made our way there and as we entered the emcee was saying “Ladies and gentlemen, the King Cole Trio.”

The young fellow singing and playing the piano was none other than Nat King Cole who later became one of the world’s greatest entertainers with his beautiful voice and engaging personality. Nat King Cole. ha ha.

BOOT CAMP? Well, the war had been going on for a couple of years and I was doing my part. I was excited , yet a little apprehensive. I wasn’t surprised to find that the training camps were segregated. Being from Ohio, I was well acquainted with racial separation and some outright segregation. I was sure that this situation in the military would be resolved by the war’s end and would be a number one issue in the country in the post-war days.

Physical protesting was not my nature. I chose to try to lead by example. More power to those who were willing to offer their lives in protest. It takes strong action on all fronts.

Navy boot camp training was interesting, gratifying in some ways, and compelling at times. My college and graduate school training in health and physical education were an advantage. After a few weeks, I was assisting in some of the training procedures, and at the same time getting a good workout myself. ha.