Batman: In my work at Herculaneum High School nothing caused me more consternation than the bats that used to get into the old gym building at HHS. It was an old building and for a time it seemed like daily a bat would get in and sure enough I would get a call to retrieve said bat. Now listen, I am going to be honest with you, I would almost rather stare down the face of a grizzly bear as to deal with one of these man eating bats. One day my friend Donny and I were sent to get a bat off the wall and that killing machine takes off from the wall and flies down the hall with me in its sights. That thing looked like a pterodactyl coming down the hallway. I did what I like to think anybody would have done. I hid in a closet while the beast was retrieved by Donny and then Principal Cheryl Aylesworth. Now I know what you are thinking, what a pansy. But you don't understand, clearly this thing was out to get me and I was not going to be a hero. So what does this have to do with Harry? Well the story about my bat phobia made its rounds and to my dismay word got back to Harry. So from then on when he was sent to fetch a member of the Bat Brigade he would always find me and chase me around with a bat he had caught in a butterfly net. For this reason I have an endorsement deal with Depends Adult Diapers. Like I said, these bats were man eaters. They had a wingspan of at least 10 feet. Ha Ha
Float trip hijinx: Every Summer co-workers of mine and myself would go on a summertime float trip in Steeleville, MO. Harry was a member of our floating party and was always entertaining to say the least, as a matter of fact I don't know where to begin. First let's start with his wardrobe. Anyone that knew him remembers that Harry always wore bib overalls. So when we went on the trip for the first time my mind wondered just what the denim king would wear on a float trip. As he walked out of the tent the morning of the float I couldn't believe it, he had cutoff bibs on! Not only was I shocked anyone would wear denim on a summertime float, I was also shocked to see the whitest, never seen the sun legs in my life. Those legs were so white that if that man was standing naked in a snow bank you would not be able to see him.
So the float trip begins and everyone is having a great time and after we get 3/4 of the way finished on the float I get shoved off the back of the raft. After I come up in chest deep water I look up and here is this man, 70 years old, in denim, albino white legs, jumping out of the raft as only Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka could, headed straight for me. He lands straight on my head and compressed my vertabrae in a manner that took my height of 5'11" and reduced it to 5'9". Once that denim was full of water I am surprised Harry ever surfaced from the Meremac. After the trip was over we fried fish, fried potatos, fried about everything we could get our hands on. Now this is fine if you are within close proximity of bathroom facilities but when you are not known for your speed and are camped a half mile away it can pose a problem. Sure enough a half hour after dinner my stomach fires a warning shot to make me aware that hey you may want to head to said facilities. But no I decide it will be ok. Approximately 15 minutes later I am driving my Ford Explorer across the campground in a manner that only the Duke Boys could appreciate. Picture me in my Explorer jumping over a pop up tent full of city clickers that probably never ventured to the Ozarks again. I still hold Harry reponsible.
Caught red handed: For most of my career at HHS I was a paraprofessional and worked with a great group of kids that needed some extra help. One of these kids was Cody Lott. So I would go with Cody to every class and write for him, take notes and such. One of his classes was Mr. Budde's Math class that had windows facing an area of the campus that had a big sidewalk outside. Our buddy Harry would without fail stand outside the window and make faces, dance, gyrate, whatever he had to do to make Cody and I laugh out loud and get in trouble. One day the good lord smiled on me and returned the favor. In the middle of a Math lesson Cody and I look up and see the John Travolta wannabe dancing outside the window. What our friend did not realize is that then Principal at the time Andy Runzi had walked up behind him and witnessed his audition for Dancing with the Stars. The look on Harry's face when he turned and realized he had been caught was something that would make even the most unhappy individual bust out with laughter.
The Raging Rebel: Harry will always be remembered as the most loyal and supportive Blackcat fan ever. He and his buddies Dave Hanley and Sam Litton were always being spotted on the top row of the bleachers for any and all things related Blackcat Athletics. One Winter evening he and I traveled down to Park Hills to watch the Cats face Park Hills Central in basketball. As we pulled into the parking lot, approximately an hour before gametime I notice there were only about five cars in the entire lot. So Harry gets ready to back into a spot right next to the best looking car in the lot rather than simply pull into a spot that has no cars within striking distance. As he is backing into his spot he backs into the Ford Mustang in the spot next to us. Now we barely hit the car, however the trailer hitch on his truck knocked a hole in the bumper of the car. So not only did we just hit a car, we find out it is the best player on Park Hills Central's basketball teams car. His father comes out and was understanding and asked if we could tell his son after their game because he didn't want to upset the kid. This was welcome news to Harry and I. The problem was that his friends had let him know and he checked out his car and was not a happy camper. So during the game this lad proceeds to drop about thirty points on the Cats. After every made three pointer I would make sure to thank Harry for making this all possible.
The other side of my friend: I could literally write a book with stories of escapades and fun times that Harry and I enjoyed over the years. But I want to close this story with the other side to Harry Goodwin. Not only was he a funny and a one of a kind individual, he was also one of the most loyal and supportive individuals I have ever met. Over the years I have moved numerous times, my friends have moved, etc. and every single time Harry was there with his truck and horse trailer to help in any way he could. Anytime someone needed anything at all, if Harry could, he would be there to help or in the very least tell you how you should do this or that. He was good at that. He was always kind and light hearted with anyone he came into contact with. I was blessed to have a father that I miss every single day. But I also was blessed to have a dear friend that filled that father figure role in the time that my father has not been here for. My kids grew up calling him Grandpa Harry because to them he was a person they viewed in a role that a Grandpa would provide. For that I am thankful.
To the family: I want to take a moment to thank the family of Harry Goodwin. I want to thank you for sharing a wonderful man, a man that touched the lives of every person he came into contact with. In the nearly thirty years I have been friends with the man I have never heard anyone say an unkind word about Harry. That is a heck of a compliment. If you need anything at all please let me know and myself or my friends will do what we can to make it happen.
In closing I ask two favors of anyone that may have read this story. The first of which is if you have a story that you would like to share about Harry feel free to share in the comment section of this blog or on facebook as we all would love to hear more stories of how Harry may have touched lives.
The second favor I ask is that we all take a lesson from my dear friend. It doesn't take money or status to be a good person. Let's all try to not take ourselves too serious, life is too short. It doesn't take anything special to lend an ear to those that need it.
Thank you all for reading, and to my buddy, may heaven be stocked with denim and slot machines. R.I.P. Friend