I first met Bill Sutherland in 1967...

Bill Sutherland

I first met Bill Sutherland in 1967 when he pledged our fraternity, ATO, at Sam Houston State.

In a fraternity, you naturally gravitate to people who you relate to and those who share common interests. Bill and I became great friends instantly. Eventually I was in his wedding to Elaine and he traveled to Illinois to be in my wedding to Susie.

At one time, during summer employment, I also lived with Bill’s parents for a month when I was working pipeline for Elaine’s father.

Bill and I also shared this common endearing admiration of one of our fraternity brothers, David Harris, who became Bill’s Big Brother in the fraternity and at that time David was my roommate.

David Harris was one of the most sincere, honest role models we both could have had in that Fraternity of motley 18-22 year old men. Interestingly, it is now nearly 40 years later and both of us have remembered the profound affect our “Best Friend David” had on us and the solid advice he shared. 

Unfortunately, David was tragically killed in a US Army jeep accident in 1971. His death had a lifetime affect on both Bill and I as his void is still felt today.

Recently on the week following Thanksgiving of 2009 I was in Naples, Florida for business and suddenly remembered that Bill lived there. In a fortuitous series of two lunches, we spent nearly 4 hours cumulatively talking, sharing, and renewing our old friendship. It could not have been a better experience. We had not spent this much time talking and sharing with one another since we had been undergraduates.

We both laughed and listened. Our lives had gone on separate paths but it was not hard to rekindle that old friendship.

There are a few things that I want everyone to know that came out of these conversations:

-He described each of his children in vivid detail, their children, and how much he loved each one of them. He specifically mentioned their successes and how proud he was of where their lives were taking them.

-He talked about how he cared for Janet, how good this had been for him, and that they had such a good relationship.

-At the first lunch I met Janet and with Bill they both discussed their plans to move to Texas so that Bill could be closer to his kids. He also reflected on how he might do better in business in the Conroe area.

Finally, on our last day together, we discussed the death of David Harris. His loss had still left us both with many unanswered questions and heartfelt regrets…It caused both of us to pause.

Well, today, I too have many heartfelt regrets.

I, like all of you have so many unanswered questions.

Now, I too must pause…

I miss you Brother Bill…….I love you and God Bless You