Eddie and I remained close personal friends over the decades, catching up with Christmas cards and a phone call between Christmas and New Year's Day. It became a tradition of sorts. We emailed each other frequently, and often called on more than one occasion during the year, just for the Hell of it.
I knew that Eddie would go far once I got to know him at Auburn, and his meteoric rise through HW did not surprise me one bit. However, Eddie remained grounded in his roots, using a good South Georgia country boy raisin' (I have relatives who came from Adel as well) to make people seek his advice and follow him as a leader. I was thrilled to see a good guy wearing a white hat go to the top.
Alex and Dana, I felt that I knew you kids as well, since your dad sent me pictures of y'all quite often. And, I would like to tell you kids something: your dad at times regretted his position and the travel associated with same, as he missed out on some mighty important events in your lives. He and I talked about that often, and he was truly sad many times that we talked because he missed something that he wanted to attend, but his job duties prevented him being physically present. However, believe you me, he was there in spirit.
Dana, I could not help but see your recent post on the two-year anniversary of your dad's death. You and Alex are much too young to have to deal with the death of a parent, as I was in your general age bracket when my dad died in 1980. And, to hopefully make you feel a little better, your dad was my primary confidant during that time frame that my dad died. That is the kind of person and friend your dad was to me. I consider myself blessed to have been able to call him a friend.
Jenny, I never met you or talked to you, but I can assure you that, besides Alex and Dana, you were the best thing that ever happened to him in the time frame that y'all were a couple. He told me many times about the positive relationship that y'all had, and I am elated that y'all crossed paths and found each other. These things do not happen by accident.
I did make a donation to the scholarship fund at Auburn in Eddie's memory. He lives on in that manner by helping others get a good education like he and I got at Auburn.
God Bless,
Jim Sellers