After graduating from Norphlet High School, I entered the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and spent my freshman year enjoying college. I squeaked out a 2.0 grade point average, and worked the following summer at MacMillan Refinery to help pay expenses. I was anxious to start my sophomore year, but college life was about to change for me. It started with a phone call.

"Mason! Mason!" Someone had answered the dorm hall phone. "It's your mother, and she sounds upset."

I grabbed the phone and said, "Mama! What's wrong?"

"Richard, your daddy has been in a serious car wreck!"

"What? How bad is he?"

"He is seriously hurt. You need to come home as quickly as you can."

Thirty minutes later I was on the edge of town hitchhiking, but since it was late the day, I only made it as far as Camden. After spending the night in a $2.50 hotel room, I made it to El Dorado by 9 a.m. the next day.

My dad had head injuries and died a little over a week later. My professors were very understanding, but after catching up on missed tests and assignments, I was faced with other problems. With my father's medical........

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