Pardon me if I brag................

[Bob Wright]

'Way off subject, but I'd bust otherwise...........

I was on Facebook recently, and someone mention a certain Catholic church in Memphis. I remarked that the copper work on it was done by my Dad. A query was raised by another person, whose name sounded vaguely familiar. And he asked if my Dad was Pappy Wright, who was 80 years old in the early 'Seventies. I had never heard my Dad referred to as "Pappy" but...........

This correspondent went on to say, "......we remember William Herschel Wright very well! Nobody ever came close to his skill level!"

My Dad died in 1975 at age 83. I have heard it said of him several times that he could make molten solder flow uphill. His reputation was city wide working with copper.

I can't tell y'all how that makes me feel.

Bob Wright

 

[Merle1948]

'Way off subject, but I'd bust otherwise...........

I was on Facebook recently, and someone mention a certain Catholic church in Memphis. I remarked that the copper work on it was done by my Dad. A query was raised by another person, whose name sounded vaguely familiar. And he asked if my Dad was Pappy Wright, who was 80 years old in the early 'Seventies. I had never heard my Dad referred to as "Pappy" but...........

This correspondent went on to say, "......we remember William Herschel Wright very well! Nobody ever came close to his skill level!"

My Dad died in 1975 at age 83. I have heard it said of him several times that he could make molten solder flow uphill. His reputation was city wide working with copper.

I can't tell y'all how that makes me feel.

Bob Wright

That surely was good to hear!

 

[vito]

Things like this can be very meaningful, and rewarding.

 

[Mike J]

Nothing wrong with being proud that your father was a skilled coppersmith.

 

[Cholo]

That's a really cool story, Bob! And to think that you never even knew they called him "Pappy". Neat little piece of family history!

 

[eveled]

That is awesome. The hope of every tradesman is that your work will endure into the future but you don't expect anybody to remember your name.

I was taught early on to listen to the "dead men", meaning those who did the original work. Try to think like they did and treat their work with respect. Nameless artists.

 

[dad45]

Mr. Wright, it must be a great feeling to know your father is such a craftsman and well respected, today's world of cheap and fast makes his work all the more important and iconic as his work will endure as unmatched

 

[gramps]

Hard to find a Coppersmith these days. Bob, congratulations for finding out those tidbits of information. Your father was SPECIAL!
gramps

 

[Acorn]

It is something to be proud of Bob.
My Dad had a relative that was a stone mason in England. His aunt had a book about some famous cathedral that he helped build. Sadly my Dad his Aunt and the book are gone. It's sad to think of all the history that is lost when people pass on. I'm glad you have an extra golden nugget of your own now.

 

[smoke-eater]

I understand completely. My Dad, who passed away in 1988, made ornamental ironwork, mostly railings and columns, as a side job. His work endures. I can travel through many towns in south Jersey, and still see his work, some of it 50 to 60 years old. Always gives me a warm feeling.

Jeff

 

[Skoopski]

That is a wonderful feeling, and something to be proud of for sure.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

Is he the man that the famed "Uncle Herschel" breakfast was named after at our favorite on the road restaurant? 8)

 

[exavid]

Your father sounds like a fine craftsman. I'll bet he was one of those who could weld a piece of tinfoil to an anvil. Good craftsmen are the people I admire most. When I was building my last airplane, a little Avid Flyer, people would pass by and admire it. Some would compliment my craftsmanship. I always had to tell them I was just a bump on the butt of a real craftsman. There's a guy here who recently made a new nose bowl for his Air Knocker Champ. He was a fellow of about 80 or so but that man could make metal do thing with a hammer and leather pad that was hard to believe. I enjoyed immensely watching this man work, only wish I could have had time to learn that.

 

[WendyZXZ]

That is fine to brag about!

 

[Tom W]

It is something to brag about...... keep your head away from ceiling fans for a while...I can imagine how proud it is to hear from other folks what you have known for years!

 

[protoolman]

When I was a kid I thought everyone's dad could gas weld aluminum or custom stretch and form aluminum aircraft skin on a sandbag with a mallet. So since I was the smartest teenager ever, I didn't bother to learn anything from him! Luckily later in life I have learned a few things of my own.

 

[Armybrat]

Yes indeed, it's a thing to be proud of when others appreciate what your dad did for the community.

My grandpa & great grandpa were both skilled blacksmiths in Northwest Missouri, with grandpa later becoming a self taught auto mechanic, machinist (he made his own parts for his auto repair garage business if none were available), and owner/operator of the battery-powered telephone system in his small hometown during the WWI era.

It's a shame we lost track of the large anvil that our great grandpa forged his living with during the 1880-1930 period.
I still have my grandpa's old National Cash Register he used in his garage business until selling the place in 1958. The cash key is worn through, while the credit button still looks new.

However, he & my grandma kept a lot of family's cars & farmers' tractors going through the Great Depression and never received a dime from many.
His impeccable reputation extended beyond the county where he resided until passing in 1960.

 

[Pal Val]

Mr. Wright, that's not bragging. You tell us of excellent work done by your late father, and you do it with all dignity and right. In doing so, you honor your father, something the Bible tells us to do.

For this, you deserve all respect and admiration. Thanks!

 

[Muley Gil]

Bob, that is a great post. I know you are proud.

My granddaddy died just before I turned four. I still have a few good memories, but wish I had more. My grandmother did most of my raising due to my mother having to work. My granddaddy was always held up to me as a role model.

My barber was a retired Army first sergeant, who served from WW I through WW II. During War 2, he had been advanced to LT COL, reverting back to his enlisted rank at the end of hostilities. He once told me that he had served with my granddaddy and that he was one of the finest men he had ever known. Needless to say, I was pleased as punch.