My meeting John was very simple, actually. I took a temporary teaching position in 1955-56 in C&BA prior to going to Ohio State for my Ph.D. My mother and dad had moved to Tuscaloosa from Demopolis subsequent to my graduating from Alabama, and since they had an extra bedroom and it was only for a year, I lived with them. Dr. John Fraser Ramsey lived in an apartment directly above my folks at Drury Lane Apartments at the corner of 8th Avenue and 20th Street. My mother was a little cautious of John at first because he had a record player which he enjoyed at rather high volume levels, and it was music with which my mom was not real familiar, like classical (ugh). Although I was not educated musically (since I was in C&BA of course), I had been exposed to good music and really loved it. So, my love for HIS music brought us together exactly forty years ago.

The friendship was primarily based, however, not on music, but on the fact that John Ramsey’s involvement with students was something I understood and was the real motivating force behind my desiring to make a career in university teaching. I grew to love John, and I watched his “positioning strategy” (to use a management concept not known then) in serving the students in a most effective manner. If John Ramsey was not involved, the activity probably was not important; at least that’s what I thought as a young, temporary assistant professor. When I returned as a “real” faculty member in 1960, I determined that I would model my academic career “in the fashion” of John Ramsey. Based on my satisfaction with my life as a professor at Alabama, I would say my role model held up beautifully.

My fondest memory of John took place on an evening years ago when we were both involved in the faculty advisorship of a student honorary (I think I was Anderson Society and John ODK, and at the time, a fall dinner party was cooperatively held at the Cotton Patch near Eutaw. My wife Judy and I took John in our car and he was in a talkative mood. I remember he essentially gave an autobiographical summary of his life — and the real joy was that we did not have to share him with others, but he was our captive for the ride to and from the event. It was memorable.

I sadly remember the time John’s friends ran a “yard sale” to make some money for him and to make it easy for him to move to the Cadenheads' who generously offered him a place to live when we found out that he was essentially destitute and his health would not allow him to live alone under any circumstances. I remember buying a large ash tray that was on his desk so that I would have something of his. I keep it on my desk today, and it holds rubber bands and many memories.

My favorite John Ramsey story takes place after his death, strange as that may sound. He had requested that his ashes be scattered on the Mound. I was one of those honored few who “took a handful” of John and scattered. It seemed so appropriate. Who other than Dr. Ramsey would make such a request; and who other than friends of his would carry out his wishes? It was an unforgettable event that I shall always cherish.

Since the Ramsey Board still involves most of the “original” founders of the Award as well as close friends who came on board immediately after the Award was established, and since the Board also includes several “early” Ramsey recipients who had the good fortune to know John Fraser Ramsey, there is no question that the Award and Dinner keep his spirit alive. The focus of the dinner is to assure that the recipient gets to know Dr. Ramsey from those who knew him well. I think the concept is unique on our campus, and is the best “protector of tradition” that I know. The Ramsey Award tells the world that Alabama respects scholarship, student recognition, and friendship. The Award in many ways serves as the real conscience of our institution.