Yes Arlin, I remember all the times you spoke of.  Sorry I didn't see this story until this year.  We called his 53 Chevy "Ole Yeller"!  What a fun time we had as "kids" growning up.  
Roger was a gentle giant and his nick name was "Bull".  Everyone that knew Roger really loved him.  He was always there when in need.  Roger was a really fun person to be around and with.  
I can remember many times Roger, Arlin and I spent together.  They were all good times.  
RIP Roger.

Roger was a great high school friend of mine.  His mother’s house was across the street and two houses down from mine.  Neither Roger nor I chased after girls very much at that age so we spent a lot of time together whenever we could create the opportunity.  In fact, I was at his house so much I began calling his mother “Mom”.

We loved to go road hunting for pheasant after school and on Saturdays.  Not sure we shot that many, but we had a good time doing it.  Always had to watch out for the Game Warden because we usually drove the country roads with our guns loaded and at the ready.  The challenge many times was to solve the transportation problem.  I had a car but by parents kept a tight grip on driving privileges.  The alternative was his mother’s ’53 Chevy which Keith seemed to need the same time we did.  But somehow we always worked it out.

As I look back at it, my parents were probably right about the car.  Roger and I took my car when I wasn’t supposed too so we could join in the “victory parade” after the high school football pep rally.  Roger was honking the horn and apparently I was staring into space because we ended up in a 5-car accident, smashing in the front and rear of my car.  The good news was that no one was hurt.

Another time I had a chance to sell my car to someone in Fremont, Nebraska.  Roger and I made the 75 mile trip but, just as we drove into Fremont we could hear a knocking in the engine.  We had let the car overheat and had thrown a rod.  Needless to say, I got a lot less for the car.

Roger always seemed to be the star when it came to basketball.  At 6’2” or 6’3” he was one of the tallest kids in school and was the starting center.  He always had problems with the coach because the coach liked buzz cut haircuts and Roger liked his longer.  I think, in the end they agreed to disagree.  Roger was also the cause of a state rules change.  He liked to come down with the rebound with the ball in both hands and his elbows out as far as he could get them.  With a couple swings left and right his elbows would punch the defenders in the ribs, which always cleared the space around him on the floor.  Apparently the state rules group thought someone might get hurt because they outlawed Roger’s move.

We also made a few trips to Yankton, South Dakota because it was legal for 18 year olds to drink 3.2% beer at that time.  That was before fake ID’s were the rage but we knew which bars didn’t check ID’s anyway.  It was only 60 miles from Norfolk so how could we pass up a deal like that?

Sounds like I told you about all the bad things Roger did but he was really a great friend and someone I could always count on in a time to need.  I talked to Roger on the phone over six months ago for the first time in 50 years.  It is sad that we let friendships slip away so easily.

Again, I am so sorry to hear of his passing but I think he is in a much better place now.  My sympathies to your family and friends.

 

Arlin “Joe” Schnoor

12804 Gallant Court

 Keller, TX 76244