Beech Tree News Network

Since last month’s article about the women I admire, I’ve made a list of admirable men. Certainly, many have positively influenced our world. However, I want to share a short list of men whom I admire.

Five of the men whom I admire are listed below. Each has made a unique contribution. In spite of barriers, they were able to stand out from the crowd.

• Joshua from the Old Testament (about 1355-1245 BCE) – Joshua was born a slave in Egypt, assisted Moses, was a military commander and eventually the leader of Israel. Joshua risked his life repeatedly, serving God and his people. Can you imagine being the man to follow Moses?

•   Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) – Roosevelt was the 26th president of the U.S., serving from 1901-1909. He made conservation a priority, establishing national parks, forests, and monuments. Roosevelt also encouraged Congress to pass the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Under Roosevelt’s leadership, conservation as well as pure food and drugs were made priorities. I appreciate Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership in these areas.

•     Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) – Cronkite worked as a newspaper reporter, a radio announcer and a television news reporter. When I was a child, he worked for CBS, becoming their evening news anchor. His was the voice I heard reporting much of the news – now history, such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I admire his longevity and dependability in media. During the 1960s and 1970s, he may have been “the most trusted man in America” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cronkite).

• John Grisham (1955- ) – Grisham has been an attorney, served in the Mississippi legislature, and for three decades has written about one book per year. Several of those books have also become movies. His ability to write so many books is likely an indication of his creativity and strong work ethic. And his books are pretty good, too.

• Warren Buffett (1930- ) – Buffett is the second wealthiest person in the U.S. and the fourth wealthiest in the world. Although he has shown great wisdom regarding investments, he has chosen a relatively simple lifestyle and seems willing to help others (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffett, https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2017/09/20/warren-buffett-reve...). He appears to have held on to his roots, and I like that.

On a more personal level, family and friends have also earned my respect and admiration. Some of those people include:

•     My grandfather – Granddaddy was generally a patient, thoughtful man. He had a sense of humor and enjoyed entertaining his grandchildren. He was not too busy to play with or hold his grandchildren, and he often provided treats (i.e., chewing gum, candy, colas, ice cream). He cared enough to show up, checking on the well-being of his family.

•    My dad – Dad worked to support six children, generally working more than one job. He would have killed or died in order to protect us. He taught us to work, to do our best, and to look out for other family members. He also expected us to play at the end of the work day. I’m thankful he taught us ‘both sides of the coin’ – to work and to play.

•   My four brothers – My brothers are dependable men. They have better than average work ethics, kind hearts, and enjoy a bit of humor. They work to ensure the safety and security of family – they are problem solvers. And they are imperfect, lovable men.

•    A former boss – This man provided me with opportunities to learn. He gave clear direction and earned my respect. He helped me when I needed help and earned my trust.

•      My husband – Having lived forty years with my late husband, we knew one another well. Larry, though not perfect, was a good husband and father and an adoring grandfather. He was a smart, funny, affectionate man. He loved the Lord and journalism. He helped me find my path and set priorities for my life.

I believe that family and friends are invaluable.

Kitty Kelley said, “A hero is someone we can admire without apology,” and Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/admire.html). In my opinion, these men are remarkable in many ways. I am grateful for the examples their lives have provided.