This is my Dad. William "Red" Reynolds.
Unless you are a family member, or old family friend, you missed the chance to meet him.

This Father's Day I want to honor him through our "new fangled technology" and share some of my memories with you.

This Iowa farm boy was the youngest of 5 boys. (Good heaven's Grandma, how DID you do it??) His life adventures included being tossed out of 2nd story window by his brothers into the snow drifts below, hitch hiking to California between 8th and 9th grade, and serving in the US Navy at the end of WW2. He met my mom in Phoenix, AZ. They met and married, had my brother, Gil, and 5 years later moved to Oregon. He was a "jack of all trades" and LOVED doing many things at once (sound familiar??)
He was a gifted and well-rounded artist. This had him working for the Oregon Hwy Dept in the travel and tourism bureau, owning his own ad agency with my mom, and a stint on TV.

In the mid-50's he hosted a kid's television program called "The Big Round Up" out of Eugene. Somewhere in here and my mom (a great writer) made a few movies and dabbled in some big screen adventures.

My 2 sisters came along and were part of that journey. December 1967 they welcomed me (a pleasent surprise ;). They had gotten involved w/ the school bus business and 2 days before my third birthday, we moved to Fairfax, VA. This is where most of my memories start.

I have to say I had the coolest Dad! My Dad made time for me, let me tag along, didn't let being a girl get in the way of anything, AND he embraced my love for dancing. I had a little artist easle next to his and we'd paint together. He'd tell me to "put on your grubbies we're going to Hechinger's" (the Home Depot of the day). I learned how to use tools, mow the lawn, build a rock wall and tons of other skills. I didn't care if it was hard work, I was with Dad.

He was a dreamer. And many of his dreams came true (except the ones that my Mom had enough brains to talk him out of... like being a chicken farmer- nothing against chicken farmers... it wasn't a good idea for my folks) His retirement dream was to build a house in the Arizona desert, with an art studio, and paint. The land was bought, the "studio" was built and the house plans drawn. He was to retire in July of 1982 and we'd moved out in August so I could start high school.

Sadly, he died of a heartattack December 9, 1981. It was 2 weeks before my 14th birthday.

I miss my Dad. And I am grateful for the years I had with him. His life, and death, have had the most signifigant influence on who I am today.

So many ponderables and unanswerable thoughts and questions...
I wonder what he would have been like when I started dating.
I wonder if I would have finished college.
I wonder what he would have thought of Dennis?
If he didn't die in 1981 of a heartattack, how much longer would we have had him around?
What advice would he have given me in all aspects of life?
What would he say to some of the decisions I've made?
What other life goals were on his list?
What would he think of all this "new fangled technology"?

I DO know...
we would have hit some rough patches here and there
he would have encouraged me in whatever endeavor
he would love his grandsons and want to spend copious amounts of time with them
he would be proud of all 4 of his kids and 6 grand kids
he would still love my mom and supporting each other's dreams

I wish you could have met him. I wish I knew him as an adult.

My senior year in high school we had to do a research paper. I chose my Dad. The teacher said I would not be able to be objective enough. Red Reynolds had touched the lives of so many people that I had more than enough resources to tap. Letters poured in. I got to know him better through others. One desciption that sticks with me to this day "Red was the most mulit-faceted person I have ever known". Guess that's where I get it from.

thanks for reading.

and Happy Father's Day