Bubba's Brother

His name was Hilton, but folks called him “Bubba.” I’m sure he was a typical little brother. I have one and I’d do anything for him and he knows it.

I’ve never lost a sibling, but I can’t imagine how tough it would be to lose one when they were young. Bubba was 11 years-old when he passed away. It was a freak accident. He was playing in the yard and stepped on a dog bone and died of tetanus three days later. It was 1947, these kind of things happened.

The pain to the family was incredible. Again, I can’t even pretend to imagine. It hit Bubba’s brother hard. Some folks say that his introverted personality was partly due to losing his younger brother. If that was the case, I sure would understand it.

Bubba’s brother went on with life. He got married young and became one of the best at his trade. He gave back much more than he took. Bubba’s brother was successful at the most important parts in this life – helping others.

One of the things that Bubba’s brother did was a start a boy’s ranch that served as a refuge for at-risk and troubled teenage boys throughout the state. Maybe this was a tribute to Bubba, I am really not sure.

My Mama had the pleasure of meeting Bubba’s brother on a few occasions. She told me the story many times before she passed away. I always asked the same question, “What was he like?” Mama always answered the question the same way. She said, “He wore a starched white shirt, all the girls made over him and he sure could play the piano.” Mama would go on to say that all of the sorority girls would circle around the piano and listen to him play and ooh and ah.

In all of the conversations about Bubba’s brother, Mama always ended them the same way. She would say, “He was such a gentleman.”

He definitely made an impression on Mama and a lot of the girls at Auburn University.

I heard the story countless times and loved it every time she told it. She got this starry look in her eyes when she told it, like the teenager she was in the early 1950’s.

Recently, I was sitting at a restaurant in Sandestin, Florida, eating breakfast.

Two couples sat down at the table directly across the aisle from us.

I wish I could have seen my face. I’m sure I had a smile bigger than Dallas on it.

No one knew him.

He was just sitting there with his wife and the other couple. In my mind, I said to myself, “Dog gone it Mama, there is Bubba’s brother.” I could have reached out and touched him.

Never having met this man, I was still sure it was him. I told my children that I was going over to talk to him. As they always do, they begged me not to. They didn’t realize it was Bubba’s brother, they just thought it was an opportunity for me to embarrass them in public.

We finished eating and I walked over to the table.

Bubba’s brother looked up at me with a puzzled look and then a smile. I asked him if I could ask him a question. He said, “Sure.”

I asked him, “My Mama always talked about a fellow who would come down to Auburn and play the piano for the sorority girls. Was that you?”

Bubba’s brother started laughing. He said, “That was about 60 years ago.” Before he had a chance to say anything else, his wife chimed in, “Oh he was the one, and I was there.” She said it with a big smile on her face.

She ought to know, they’ve been married for 58 years. I asked his wife, “Wasn’t that dangerous?”

She laughed and agreed it was.

We made small talk about my family and I introduced them. They took turns waving at Bubba’s brother as I wrote their names down for him and his wife.

Bubba’s brother said he would send them all something in the mail. “Mama, that’s pretty awesome,” I said to myself.

Bubba’s brother worked for a man who once said, “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”

Bubba’s brother did a lot with what he had. Bubba would have been proud.

You see, Bubba’s brother is Bryan Bartlett Starr, or “Bart” Starr, winner of five NFL championships, MVP of Super Bowls I and II, NFL MVP in 1966 and inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1973. His football resume is second to none.

I was more interested in verifying the piano playing Mama always told me about.

He did.

Coach Vince Lombardi was the coach of the Green Bay Packers who made the statement about doing well with what we have.

Bart Starr did just that.

Bart Starr rarely played in his senior season at Alabama in 1955. The University of Alabama had a new football coach (J. B. “Ears” Whitworth) who wanted to start over with a group of younger players.

The basketball coach at Alabama had a friend with the Green Bay Packers. He (basketball coach Johnny Dees) recommended Bart Starr as a prospect.

The Packers were under the impression that Starr was a Phi Beta Kappa and would learn quickly. My son asked me what Phi Beta Kappa means. I told him it meant, “He was smart.”

In the 17th round of the 1956 draft, the Green Bay Packers made Starr the 199th player selected.

What a steal - Drafting one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play in the NFL in the 17th round.

It was a good breakfast. It was a special encounter. It verified Mama’s story.

Bubba's Brother

Mr. Starr insisted on sending autographed pictures to all of my children and my daughter’s boyfriend who will be a freshman at the University of Alabama in the fall. His wife, Cherry said, “Consider it done.”

I remember when Mama died, I knew the thing I would miss the most, was her stories. It seems everywhere I turn, I still hear Mama telling them. They may not be out loud, but they are in my mind and heart, and I still talk to her.

I know exactly what I would tell her about Bubba’s brother.

He was such a gentleman.

(There's a short video at the bottom worth watching.)

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Cranks My Tractor

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I'm BN Heard and I like semicolons, dogs and talking to Mama in my mind (and heart).