Dave the Hero

Mom (Mama Nelle) had a bad habit of leaving a frying pan of oil on the stove to heat, and then forgetting it. When it became too hot it would flame up, and scorch the wall and ceiling in the kitchen, and left long enough, the house could have caught the house on fire. It happened on more than one occasion. 

When Dave was 16 or 17, he happened to find a blazing frying pan on the stove. Leaping into action, the now 75 year old, but then a teenager, grabbed the flaming pan and ran to the back door and threw it outside. I didn’t see the burns, but I do remember the gauze and salve/medicine oozing out from under the bandages. On the bright side, Dave’s employer, Albritton’s Pharmacy, where he was the delivery boy, sent him their in-house, homemade ice cream.

Bob Kester

The making of a hero (and an early "Awkward Family Photo"--yes, that's Daddy Bill with a mustache. Mama Nelle told me he grew it for a Centennial celebration and it didn't last long.)