I don't know where to begin to describe the primary mentor of my life.
I could start with my first memory of him doing electrical work at our house for one of my earliest birthday parties. I could start with my first memories of him coaching legion ball and introducing me to all the top ballplayers in the Union County area. I could start with the years he spent helping coach me and my friends in baseball and basketball in our young careers. I could start at the point where he influenced me to start investing early, driving a new interest that would turn into a permanent career.
All stages of my life, he helped guide me along the way. Everything that I have done, have obtained, and have accomplished, my grandfather played a significant role.
My grandfather spent much of his retirement years watching me after school/during the summer while my mother worked. As far back as I can remember, we spent many hours at the Lion's Club Municipal Golf Course, having me caddy as we watched slice after slice "call the dogs" as the helpless golfball bounced off of tree after tree. Between opportunities of practicing my chipping, I spent a majority of my time (particularly the first hole) down on the right of the fairway learning to determine the difference between a driving range ball and the one he had teed off with. I learned early on to always know what type of ball he was hitting, as it would become beneficial to my personal game once I picked up the clubs. At the age of 15, my grandfather gave me his clubs for my birthday, as his sore shoulder would never allow him to play again.
My grandfather also taught me how to play many card games. I have recently picked up playing Gin with some friends from time to time, as it holds a special meaning to me than other card games because Rummy (similar to Gin) was a game that my grandfather and I played often. The irony of the game was that his deck of cards were a humorous set dipecting certain negativities that people have towards the game of golf, and I would always remind him (especially after I won- which wasn't often) that I had witnessed some of those same actions/words first-hand from him. His laughter will be one of his best attributes that I'll always carry with me.
Competitive as he was, I would never expect Grandpa Bill to "let me win." This was especially the case when it came to shooting pool. I learned from him how to play 8-ball and 9-ball at an early age, and he was the reason why I acquired a pool table for myself a few years ago. He would come over to my house to play from time to time, and I would remind him of the times he had no mercy on me. When I would stay with him, Grandpa Bill would have a friend come over from time to time to play a game for a quarter. I can't remember one particular gentleman's name; however, he introduced me to "the most annoying sound in the world." That sound came from an old, iron ash tray that Grandpa Bill would flip his newly won quarter into when he won. The noise from the quarter hitting the iron would sound as if symbols were being drug along a chalk board. Grandpa's friend would try to mimic him by flipping the quarter at different places; however, the sound of it hitting that iron was the common end result at the end of the day. Having my Grandpa over to shoot pool with me at my house brought back some great memories of our time together, and it was always a great way for us to share stories of my days growing up.
Even in retirement, the man was notorious for getting up early. 4:30 a.m. was a common time to find him sitting down with a cup of coffee and a newspaper, in which I learned from him that "the early bird gets the worm." Memories of his grandfather clock chimming at 5 a.m. as I sat in his opposite recliner of the end table admiring him sticking his dentures in and out will stay with me always, as well. The times he spent beating me in pool also played on my competitive nature, which he is the reason why I have a pool table today. The games we have played over the past few years proved to him that I was no longer an easy win.
I was blessed to have someone as knowledgable in sports as him in my life. Early on, he would attend my ballgames regularly and become an assistant coach in my youth baseball & basketball playing days. Though some of philosophies became outdated (such as squaring up to bunt), his advice was taken in as if Bobby Cox (Braves were the dominant team of the time) had made the suggestion. My grandfather, growing up outside of Cleveland, was an Indians fan. He would tell me stories of the playing days of Bob Feller and Herb Score, who were some of his early idols. However, I remember he would enjoy us watching the Braves on TBS, and he would always encourage me to watch the way Ryan Klesko (his favorite of the Braves), Chipper Jones, and David Justice swung the bat. He would even encourage me to tape games to learn "the hardest thing to do in sports. A 30% success-rate is thought to be exceptional." I should've taken his advice more into account, as my tapes of the Cubs (I was/am a huge fan) games on WGN probably led to my averages being less-than-stellar to my expectations.
Growing up in Ohio, my grandfather was a huge Cleveland Browns fan. One of my most prized-possessions is a football autographed by the NFL Champion Cleveland Browns of 1954. His favorite player was Otto Graham, and he also had some fond memories of Lou Groza. The Cleveland Indians also won 111 games that year, though they lost in the World Series to the New York Giants, as sports would play a major role in his life.
He was there to support me every step of the way. I was/am truly blessed. Upon high school graduation, I learned the real benefit of his frugality. My grandfather grew up in the depression era, learning the value of a hard-earned dollar while his parents maintained a restaurant in the struggling Cleveland economy. He was the most content with the simpliest things, and he encouraged me to think of my future early and "to do more with less." As a graduation gift, he bought me two stocks to get me started: Ford and Gateway Computers (2002). This would be instrumental on two fronts: learning how/when to take advantage of capital gains with Ford while learning the "benefits" of a tax write-off with Gateway. I started putting some money back, though I made some expensive youthful mistakes along the way, and I gained a strong interest in "making your money work for you responsibly." Though we butted heads on some of our philosophies, we shared much of the same strategies. I would come to learn the saying "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" quite well.
With sports becoming a thing of the past as I began to start a career and family, our relationship would remain strong by sharing another common interest. I had been successful at a few jobs; however, I was looking for a career that I could build in El Dorado to be close to him and the rest of my family. Law school was always the main motivation, all the way to taking the LSAT and getting accepted; however, I decided to focus on the investment/financial industry for a career path. Through all of this, he was there for advice and support every step of the way. Whether it was out working in Camden with Office Equipment or in the Smackover/Norphlet area more recently, my grandfather's home was always available to stop by for a visit, especially on a March afternoon to catch March Madness. Getting him to accept technology (dvd player) was always a challege; however, he did take to some, such as a cell phone. This was a major accomplishment, believe me.
Kelli and I became engaged in September 2009. This was out of the norm for me, as my Grandpa had always encouraged me to "be like the Lord and love them all!" Focusing on taking care of school was important, and I finally had time to consider the future of my personal life, as well. That Christmas, Grandpa Bill blessed us with a great legacy: he got us a dachsund, Skye. He also got one of Skye's brothers, Raschel, who became a gift to my mother. While growing up, my Grandpa had always enjoyed giving a treat/cookie to my childhood dog, Speckles (a beagle). By knowing how much he had meant to me, he thought a new addition would be just the thing Kelli and I would need (and he could enjoy giving treats/cookies to!). Now that we have kids, he couldn't have been more right. Skye will always be a legacy that I can share with my kids as they grow up. A true blessing.
The one thing I will remember most about my Grandpa is that I saw him dress up in a suit and tie one time in my life: on Kelli's and my wedding day. It meant alot for him to be there, as he was the first one to greet me out front of First Baptist Church of El Dorado. A hectic day that flew by quickly, it is a day that I wish I could live over again. He was not one that would share his emotions much, but it was a day that I could feel the proudness he had for me. He really thought alot of Kelli and would always tell me how lucky I was to have such an attractive and intelligent girl to share my life with. What can I say, the man has great taste!
Through it all, the most joy I ever saw in his eyes would be when he'd hold my daughter, Maddie. He loved holding that little girl, even making a point to stop by on his way home from the hospital to be a part of her first birthday on January 13, 2013. She was definitely "blessed" with Thornton feet, and this will be something she and I will be able to share in our future stories. Getting together often at my parents for lunch, whether holidays or random, meant much to us once I graduated Henderson State. This became a new pasttime in our ever-busy lives, as it was a great compromise once we started having kids and my life no longer became "mine."
Losing a grandparent is tough. I have lost friends, close and acquaintances, in the past, which was very difficult. However, no matter how prepared I thought I was, you never can honestly say that "you are prepared." No matter how much time you receive with someone, more is always demanded. However, a prayer request was answered from an evening at the dinner table with my parents in 1995/96. My mother had lost her grandfather (Howard Thornton) when she was 12 and he was 61. At that time, I was 12 and my Grandpa Bill was 64. His brother, Fritz, had passed away in 1994, and it had been the first, and only, time I ever saw him cry. My mother said she saw him do the same at my wedding, but I never saw it. To stay on topic, I got emotional and just wanted one blessing to be granted: for my grandfather to live long enough to watch me grow up, start a career, and have a family that he could have a relationship with. Looking back on what I wanted, God answered my prayer. My grandfather attended my graduations, played a mentor through my jobs and career, built a strong relationship with my wife, had the opportunity to hold/play with my daughter, and even had the opportunity to see pictures of my son whom I named after him. How blessed am I to have had such a prayer answered; and I will have all of his advice to pass down to my children as they grow up. God does truly answer prayers.
Recently, it became my grandfather's chance to make me even more proud of him. Everything that he had done, accomplished, and stood for, it would seem impossible for this to happen. When I was younger, I had always encouraged my Grandpa to attend church. He had told me that he got saved (age 8) around the same age that I did (age 9), and he had been a Deacon at a church in Ohio. However, he had a bad experience at a church after he moved to El Dorado, deciding to never return. For those that know my grandfather, he was a man of principle and would not sway from his decisions. He had moved here in 1970 and, even in 1995-2000, I would still not be successful in swaying this decision. Recently, through some health-related insomnia, he promised God that he would start attending again once he was blessed with his sleep. He kept his word with God, as he began attending the church I grew up and was baptisted in: First Baptist Church of Norphlet. He built a strong relationship with Brother Doug Wills, and Brother Doug checked in with him often when Grandpa Bill had to visit the hospital. We are very grateful to Brother Doug having this relationship with Grandpa, and Brother Doug was able to share some of the feelings Grandpa had with his faith in Jesus and the fondness/appreciation he had for us. Though my Grandpa has always had the blessing of Jesus as his Savior, it had been a long while since he had had a spiritual healing. Brother Doug provided this for Grandpa, and his influence will always hold a special place in our hearts.
There are many more amazing stories that I'll continue to share about Grandpa Thornton, as this site will be a great place to reminisce. I hope some of what I just shared provides some solace and understanding of the awesome man that I had the privilege to call my Grandpa. And I look forward to using this connection for Maddie and Will as a source of insight into the quality of man that their daddy had for a hero. If I can become half the man that Grandpa Bill Thornton is, my children will considere themselves blessed. I love you, Grandpa! I know you are enjoying your time with Jesus, Fritz, and your parents. I just look forward to the time we'll get to share together again!
