Reply #227: I worked for Yarborough [View All]

[jobycom]

a couple of years before he died, as a part time researcher and office assistant while I was in grad school. My first daughter was born while I worked for him, and since the job didn't pay enough for a sitter, I brought her to work with me. I have a picture somewhere of her as in infant in her carrier in Yarborough's office library, with a backdrop of a wall of pictures, all personally signed, of JFK, LBK, Hubert Humphrey, and others.

On the Senator's 90th birthday, they held a joint birthday/anniversary party for he and his wife, Opal. Both turned 90 the same month, and they celebrated their 75th anniversary the same month: June. The party was held at the Governor's Mansion, when Ann was governor.

So there I was, a man with a six week old adorable infant, in a yard full of famous Democratic politicians. I met a lot of people that day! Yes, including Ann Richards, who saw my from about forty yards off, made her way over to me, and said no politician could resist a baby that adorable. At that exact moment, my wife had wandered off with the camera. No picture.

I do have a picture of Ralph and Opal holding her at the party, though.

Ralph Yarborough was a beautiful man. Any time I saw him, no matter how tired or mad or upset I was, I left smiling. There just aren't enough humans like him.

Yeah, I'm getting misty typing this, so I'll stop now. I need to visit his grave--haven't done that in a while.