A Life of Words

Often when men who leave an indelible mark on this earthly life pass away, people will say, “He was one of the good guys.” It’s an overused expression but generally true. Likewise, it’s often said about guys who are still here: “He’s one of the good guys.”

We know there are countless good guys in this world because we’ve all been blessed to know them. I sure have, and a number have flown to heaven before they had a chance to do all the things they dreamed of, love all the people they wanted to love, make a difference in as many lives as they hoped to impact.

My best friend Doug Brown wasn’t just one of the good guys. He was Number One on that infinitely long list. Numero Uno. The absolute best of guys. I don’t think any of our mutual friends would argue this point.

October 26, 2023, marks 21 years since Douglas Allen Brown, at age 45, made an early trip to be at God’s side. Every year when the sad anniversary arrives these days, my wife Kay and I are stunned he’s been gone so long. We are among the legions – including his dear wife Melissa, whom Doug married on October 10, 1998, just four years before his passing – who still can’t believe he’s not here with us and who will never stop missing him.

When Doug’s huge heart gave out after he finished mowing the yard, the hearts of all who knew and cherished him broke in unison. The shock was great, but the loss of someone who had been a friend to all was immense.

I’ve counted plenty of close friends during my six decades plus two years, but I’d have to say I’ve never shared as tight a bond with any as I did with Doug. We met in 1987 after I began working as an editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he’d already been on staff for about five years. That means our friendship lasted a too-short 15 years.

Although our interests diverged and our personalities were quite different – Doug was more easygoing; I can be more high-strung – we found common ground in our shared love of baseball and the Houston Astros. And, as I quickly learned, Doug was the kind of person you could talk to about anything because he was a great listener – and he cared, deeply, about others. Doug’s gracious and giving heart shined through his willingness to spend time with and offer support, consoling or advice to anyone.

When Doug was alive, we commiserated over our Astros’ inability to win a playoff series. During his lifetime, they made the playoffs seven times without advancing, finally defeating a postseason opponent in 2004 – two years after he left us. We wondered if they’d ever make it to, much less win, a World Series, and now that they’ve won two (OK, OK, I know one has an asterisk), I’m sure Doug is more than pleased.

But knowing his integrity and his unwillingness to condone wrongdoing, I’m also certain he’s very DISpleased with the Astros for engineering a scheme to steal signs on their way to the 2017 championship. Then again, Doug always believed in forgiveness, so he may already have given our team a heavenly pardon. But now that the Astros have been knocked out of the 2023 playoffs by the local team, I’m sure he’ll be rooting for the Rangers to win the World Series like I plan to.

On my most memorable of days, when Kay and I married September 24, 1994, Doug stood proudly as best man. I can still vividly remember us in the parking lot outside the Star-Telegram after work late one night when I asked him if he’d do me that honor. On his most memorable of days, when Doug and Melissa said their vows four years later, I proudly filled the same role for him.

No doubt Doug’s sad to see that I haven’t played a round of golf in, gosh, it’s probably been about nine years. He got me started in 1989 and we played many a municipal course together with other S-T friends/colleagues like Robert Philpot and Joe Guerrini, walking 18 holes as Doug piled up pars and birdies while the rest of us carded 6’s, 7’s, 8’s and worse, with the occasional par thrown in.

I still cannot see animals of all shapes and sizes without thinking of Doug, who had a fascination for and know-how about God’s creatures unlike anyone I’ve ever known, sharing that passion with youth groups visiting the Fort Worth Zoo during his many years as a volunteer.

Although it may seem like it to some, I don’t write about Doug every year on his birthday and the date of his passing. But he’s someone who’s never far from my thoughts, forever in my memories, and always brings a smile to my face when those memories rise to the surface. That’s why I like to honor Doug by writing about him.

And I know all my fellow friends of Doug’s would agree: He’s simply the best.

We love you, Doug.