My Best Friend Passed

No one knows when they will be born, nor when God will call you home. That's why we must be so thankful to God or allowing us to live and do our best to enjoy life to the fullest. God has called home my best friend from elementary school (Swayze) to the current day, Mr. Don Zimmerman. It (friendship) began in the fourth grade. I lived on Atkinson Street, and Don lived on Morton Street in the Bryant's Addition neighborhood just a few city blocks from each other. One day, John built a cardboard fieldhouse on a vacant lot on Morton Street, and invited me to drop in. I did, and the rest is history. We instantly bonded as best friends for life. Done was like a brother to me. As we grew older, we discovered that we had similar interests in just about everything, especially girls and sports. We scouted girls on both sides of the Ouachita River (Monroe/West Monroe). We both played quarterback at Swayze Elementary under former now deceased, head coach Patrick Robinson, who taught us the fundamentals of football. John extended his Swayze athletics to basketball. We were both honor roll students as well. Don also starred in a Swayze School play featured as Rudyard Kipling, reciting the poem, "If." He got a standing ovation. From Swayze, we journeyed to Richwood High School, with our common interest still intact. Since we live in the Monroe city limits, we were zoned to attend Carroll high school. However, with the consent of our mothers, who were female hands of households, we were given permission to attend Richwood, where we both play quarterback under Legendary Coach Mackie Freeze. At Richwood Don extended his athletics to football, basketball, track, and baseball. I also played baseball and tennis along with football. My tennis coach was the late Oscar Williams. Don and I continued our honorary academic achievements at Richwood where we graduated with honors as members of the class of 1967. We both furthered our education all higher learning, Don initially at Arkansas A.&M., where he played wide receiver, and I, at Grambling State University. Due to a severe knee injury I received at Richwood, I deferred on my scholarship offers to play college football. Don transferred from Arkansas A.&M to Northeast Louisiana University (NLU) now known as the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM). At Northeast Don played wide receiver on the football team and ran track. From Northeast Don was drafted and went on to play professional football and at Martin Luther King Middle School. Don was well loved and respected within his family and community, as well as by his high school and college classmates, friends, and associates, both blacks and whites. Don and I were so close as friends until when you saw one of us, you saw the other, which game does the title of "Twin Quarterbacks," within the community, and on Richwood High Football Team. Don was an honorable, considerate, friendly, and respectful person, who treated others the way he wanted to be treated. He was a gentle spirit, and only became defensive if he was threatened. He was generous and caring, and at times humorous and playful. One of our greatest inspirer's was our second mother, and Richwood homeroom teacher, Mrs. Nora Brown, who insisted on our good behavior, academic excellence, and accountability. Dawn, I am so glad, and thank god that you and I talked to, and saw each other just a few days before your departure. Remember our legacy, Friends forever. Until I see you again, may God bless and take care of you infinitely. with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers. After retiring from professional football, Don pursued higher educational status in the teaching profession, and get back to the youth he taught, counseled, and coached, the best of himself as an instructor at Louisiana training Institute (LTI) known today as Swanson Correctional Center,