My grandfather was the wisest man
That I had ever known.
I did not know how wise he was
‘Til I was wise and grown.
He told his story through his words,
So grand you can’t defile it;
He told us of his stories as
An Army Air Corps pilot.
My grandfather was precious to me,
A dear and treasured friend.
But just like all great friendships,
This one had to end.
But after dying, I guess that
Our bond won’t cease to grow,
For while he was alive
I didn’t know the things I know.
I heard his stories from his friends,
And all of them were rife
With anecdotes that showed him as
A hero in real life.
Though all heroes come and go,
When the day is done,
My dear, amazing grandfather,
You’re the greatest one.
You were a great actor who was often cast in tough-guy roles.
You did a fantastic job as a police officer on Highway Patrol.
You passed away in 1986 at the age of seventy-four.
When you died, you were married to Mary Alice Moore.
Your first serious acting job was as a footballer in She loves me not.
Becoming as brilliant of an actor as you was what other actors sought.
You enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. during World War II.
When people look up the word hero in dictionaries, they see a picture of you.
You have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of fame and you won an academy award.
Nearly a quarter of a century ago, you were sent to Heaven to be with the Lord.
(DEDICATED TO BRODERICK CRAWFORD WHO DIED APRIL 26, 1986.)