Virgil E. Bonner….1934 – 2012
Posted by Pete | Posted in News | Posted on 21-08-2012
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I would like to pay my respect to another cousin lost this year. A great guy, a good father, and good Christian man. And he was a good football player, he played in the line for the Pickens County High Crimson Tornadoes, Reform, AL and a lot of times good play from a lineman goes unnoticed. I played linebacker behind him when we ran a 6-2-2, well, it was a long time ago (does anyone play 6 down linemen anymore?)…Anyway, we were in a game and Virgil was held…He screamed at the ref,” hey, Ref he held me,” the ref replied, “yeah, I saw it” and penalized the other team. Next play, same thing and again Virgil hollows at the ref that he was held. Again, the ref said he saw it and penalized them again. Next play same thing and the same comments from the ref. Virgil gained more yards for us that night than any of the running backs. One other story about Virgil is that in his youth he was very strong. One night we were out coon hunting with several other cousins and two or three of our Uncles. Every thing in the swamp was wet, no dry wood for a camp fire anywhere. Virgil got the idea that we could push over a rotten tree nearby. It had no limbs and was a very tall tree. Virgil started pushing on the bottom of the tree, got a real good rhythm going and instead of the whole tree falling, about ten feet of the top of the tree broke off, fell and centered right across the top of his head, breaking into. It buckled his knees, but he jumped right back up and ran the dry tree over to our Uncles. He got the praise of all the Uncles that night and we all enjoyed the fire, but I wondered if he didn’t also get one heck of a headache. If he did, he never complained. I only saw Virgil a few times after we graduated high school, at funerals and the like, but his disposition never changed as far as I know. I understand he was a deacon there at the First Baptist Church in Reform, AL and I feel sure that everyone who knew him will testifity to him being a good man. We will miss you, my Cousin, see you up there….ps…Virgil, Cecil Bonner and I were saved at the same revival meeting at Coalfire Baptist Church. Read Chapter Six of Cousins in my downloads….I changed our names in that book and for the life of me I don’t know why, but that is us three….Thanks for loving us, Big Momma….Pete Hester
Excellent piece of writing! I knew most of the story about Virgil, but several of the details involving the football team, I was unaware; but I knew Virgil. That is all that was required to piece the story together. I was more aware of Virgil, the School Bus Driver, than I was of Virgil, the lineman. As a school bus driver, I remember him as almost never being late, rain or shine, snow or sleet; though deep down, I was disappointed when he was late so rarely. Then, there was Virgil, the Moptop, which is about all I knew about my cousin. I hope to meet hime someday in Heaven, so I can learn more about him.
Yes, the man was steady and dependable. Thanks for your comments. Pete
I knew Virgil better known to me as “daddy” as a gentle loving man. I remember his stories of times passed. I never remember my daddy having a bad thing to say about anyone. He taught us how to look for the good in everyone. He was one of the best Christian men I ever knew. He worked at General Tire for over 40 years and during my childhood he always brought me something home in his black metal lunch box he never missed a day! I miss him so, but I know that I will see him again someday. Thanks for the article, it brought tears to my eyes yet a smile to my face.
Linda, thank you so much for writing. It is so nice a Dad can be that special to his daughters. Your dad was a very nice man. I know you miss him and yes, that will be a special reunion for us all. I suppose we have crossed paths over the years but somehow I don’t think we have ever been introduced. I hope you will be a regular visitor to hesterbooks.com. Thanks for your comments…Pete