I have been thinking a lot about the heroes that I had during my childhood. I believe the kind of heroes we have in our youthful years have a very strong influence in our life, and help determine much of our personality.
Here is a list of my boyhood heroes. They are listed in the order that they became my hero.
1. My father CLYDE McDONNELL
2. My grandfather ANDREW BOYLE
3. JOHN BROWN
4. A neighborhood older boy RUSSELL SMITH
5. GERONIMO
6. WINSTON CHURCHILL
7. JOHN L. LEWIS
8. COLIN KELLY
9. HARRY S, TRUMAN
As I got older and gained more knowledge about them, I realized that they were individuals who had their faults and made mistakes as do we all. This knowledge did not tarnish my image of them; just the opposite happened. It made them more heroic in my eyes. The shine on these nine names have never dimmed in my mind. I think about them quite often (especially the first two) and realize that I am still trying to learn from them.
CLYDE
