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The Most Important Lessons I Learned From the Baseball Diamond By Thomas J. Turner, Attorney at Law hen I was in elementary school in Carrollton, We don’t always learn life’s meaningful lessons from Texas, I met a unique individual who had a the most successful or important people. Sometimes Wprofound impact on my life. His name was we learn these lessons from individuals who have no Jimmy Porter and he was born on September 2, 1903. power or infuence over anyone or anything. Jimmy Jimmy was the only black man who lived within was one of those individuals and was one of the the Carrollton city limits. My relationship with him greatest gentlemen I had the privilege of knowing. occurred at a time when our Country was mired in Jimmy had a positive infuence on the lives of every racial discrimination. Yet, I never heard him complain young man he met. When he died in 1984, they about his place within the community. Everyone found his old Kansas City Monarch uniform. He was appreciated the things Jimmy did for the children in buried in that uniform along with a bat, a baseball, the neighborhoods. Jimmy’s only source of income and a glove. I believe that Jimmy’s spirit still roams was doing yard work and odd jobs for various families. the streets of Carrollton seeking to teach the game of He didn’t own an automobile but walked everywhere baseball to eager young men. The world is a better he went. Jimmy never married and never had any place because of Jimmy Porter. After his death, the children. He lived in the north part of town in an old City of Carrollton honored Jimmy by naming one of wooden boxcar and had wood burning stoves for heat the city parks after him. ● and cooking. In the evenings, I often found him in his chair reading his Bible. Law Oces of Jimmy’s greatest love in life was coaching young men in his favorite sport of baseball. In his sparsely omas J. Turner furnished home he had a large refrigerator and freezer stocked with ice cream and sodas that all the kids Located in Richardson, Texas Te Law Ofce of Tomas J. could enjoy after their games with Jimmy. When he Turner is available to handle was not working, no matter what time of the year, your legal needs. he was seen walking the streets of Carrollton with As a US Marine Corp Veteran, several bats, a bag of baseballs, and gloves over his a graduate of the University shoulder looking for neighborhood children who of Texas Law School and over 42 years experience as a local wanted to learn to play the game. Whenever there was attorney, Tom Turner can assist an argument on the feld, Jimmy would put his arms you with Wills and Trusts, Probate, Family and Personal around the players and say, “Please don’t argue…it’s Injury Law. only a game.” Parents trusted Jimmy to coach and play baseball with their children. When Jimmy was Call (214) 217-8363 today for your FREE consultation 65 he could still strike me out with devastating curve balls that I could never hit. Practice Areas Include: Free Initial Consultation Of all the people, with the exception of my father, Wills & Probate | Divorce & Adoption Practice areas • Business Contracts that taught me life’s most important lessons, I learned Mediation | Personal Injury | Criminal include: more from Jimmy Porter than any other person I have • Criminal ever known. Besides teaching me to play baseball and • Divorce and Adoption Te Law Ofces of instilling in me an intense love for the game, he taught • Personal Injury Tomas J. Turner me the value of treating everyone with kindness and • Mediation respect. Jimmy played professional baseball for the • Wills and Probate Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro leagues back in 1121 Hampshire Lane Ste. 224 ∙ Richardson, TX 75080 1121 Hampshire Lane, Suite 224 Richardson, TX 75080 the 1920’s. He personally knew some of the greatest O: 214.217.8363 ∙ F: 214.217.8364 athletes that ever played the game including Jackie tomturnerlaw@live.com 214.217.8363 tomturnerlaw@live.com Robinson and Satchel Page. page 26 | www.celebrationmagazine.com