BILL ANDERSON STORY
(The Anderson Boys)
A single act of generosity can live forever
WRITER’S NOTE: It is amazing how
someone can mean so much to you and yet not be
involved in your daily life. Perhaps it is just me,
but somehow I feel the presence of each of you as I
continue my walk through this world. I sometimes
wonder if you ever think of me. Do you? When I got
sick Bill was one of the first to send me money along with
wishes of a speedy recovery. I will never forget the
kindness Bill and his wife showed me. Bill
and I were never close in high school and I have not
seen him in over 30 years. However, I think of him
almost every day. Bill is another person I wish I
could be more like. By the way Carolyn Davis had
a huge crush on Bill in high school. In fact there
was more than one girl in our class that had their
eye on Bill. He was (is) quite a catch.
THE BILL ANDERSON STORY!
The way I remember it Bill had two brothers who also attended
Harding. Steve who was one year behind me and Charlie was
three years behind him. Charlie, was the one that I had the
most contact with during his high school years at Harding
because my cousin,Bill Ivey (Squatty Body) was Harding's high
school football coach. Charlie was an outstanding member of
what I believe was called the ‘Blue Angels’.
It is Steve, however, that told me one of the
funniest stories I ever heard in my life. I hope I can re-tell
it with the same humor as told to me.
I am not certain where we were, but I think it might have been
Freed-Hardeman. I asked Steve about an outing he had with
Mark Pledge.
You see months before Mark had told me, that the week of
spring break, he and Steve decided to go to the
Loosahatchie bottoms to spend a few nights. Steve
confirmed that indeed they had. I listened intently
as he describe being in the bottoms with Mark and
having a great time. They were hunting, camping,
and fishing.
I could not imagine having the desire
to do such a thing. Let me pause here to say, that
hunting a deer with a $40,000 automobile, a $700 gun,
and $400 worth of clothing does not really seem like
a sport to me. Please do not get mad at me if you
are a big time deer hunter. I just don’t understand
'the sport’ aspect. I have heard many claim it is a sport. I
have even heard of something called ‘buck fever’.
This is where a would-be assassin ‘freezes up’ as he
gets his sights on this animal of the wild. It seems that the
person just simply freezes and can not pull the trigger.
This many times results in the ‘wild beast’ escaping.
Now, I can see bird hunting as a challenge. I can
see fishing as something very difficult. I just can
not understand how it would be exciting to ambush a
poor little ol’ deer out for a stroll.
Anyway, Steve talked for quite a while about his
adventure with Mark. It sounded as if they had the
kind of time that creates a life time of memories.
Then he told me another story:
It seems Steve and several of his high school friends
made this pact. They had all agreed to go to Alaska
as soon as they graduated. They were going to hunt
and fish the whole summer. Let me insert this, if
one of the Anderson boys told you something you
could depend on it. If Bill, Steve or Charlie made
an agreement they would do whatever it took to keep
their end of the deal.
Steve told me he had given
his word and he intended to go even if that meant he
was to go by himself. Well, sure enough the others
backed out. Steve headed for Alaska alone. Upon
his arrival you can imagine the feelings that must
have overcome this 18 boy from Memphis, Tennessee.
He said he could not wait to go hunting. After all,
that is what had brought him to the Great State of Alaska.
It wasn’t long before he found a guide and had made a
deal to go Moose hunting. He said he could hardly
sleep the night before.
The next day on their journey he said the
anticipation was unbelievable. He had shot deer
before and other small game, but never a Moose.
Finally his guide stopped as they approached a
clearing. His guide motioned for Steve to continue
ahead by himself.
As Steve started across the field
he said he looked around and saw his first Moose ever.
He could not believe it. He said it was an awesome
sight. It was just him, his gun, the Moose and God’s
plan. He could hardly breath as he lifted the gun
up and then lowered it to get the Moose in his sights.
He said he was about to pull the trigger when all of
a sudden the ground began to shake. He first thought
it was some type of earthquake, or bull-dozer or
some other huge piece of earth moving equipment.
Then he saw what he had never imagined. It was the
Moose’s mother.
What Steve didn't realize was about to shoot was a
baby Moose He said the mother was no baby and she
was headed straight for him. He said she was about
10 feet tall and no where near the size of the deer
that he had so readily shot before. She appeared
angry and was protecting her baby.
Steve said he
did not know what to do, but then his instincts took
over. He started running. Yes, running straight
toward a tree. He said he dropped his gun and
climbed the tree. It seems however, that was not
good enough for the mother Moose. She began butting
the tree with her head. She was trying to knock him
out of the tree, so that she could teach him a lesson
about messing with her baby.
It was a lesson that
Steve apparently had already learned.
I was laughing so hard at this story when Steve told
it to me. I could just imagine the ‘great white
hunter’ finding out that there was more to shooting
a Moose than meets the eye.
Well, Steve finally got out of that tree and came
back to Memphis and as I said he told me this story
some time later.
I understand Steve now
lives in Alaska and has for a number of years. I
feel he probably has enjoyed hunting many different
animals and may even have a number of trophies on
his walls.
But, I will always remember the first time Steve
went hunting for Moose.
I will also always remember
the integrity of 3 sons that went to Harding.
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