Dad’s Friends

Dad’s closest friend, Jim O’Herrin (1918-1936), died young, when Dad was a high school senior.

Afterward, he remained close to Jim’s younger brother, Bill (1920-2009), and the O’Herrin family. After Dad’s mother died in 1944, Mrs. O’Herrin wrote an affectionate letter to Dad as “Son,” signing it, “‘Mom’ O’Herrin” (below). Dad was best man at Bill O’Herrin’s wedding in 1948. His obituary is below.

Dad’s other close friend was Roman J. Renk (1918-1983), his companion on his 1940 canoe trip. See the autograph version of his “Diary of a Mississippi River Canoe Trip, 1940.”  The easier-to-read typeset version is here.

Dad acted as best man at the wedding of his friend Roman Renk and Arliene Noll, 1944 or 1945. The canoe pictures show Dad with fellow voyageur, Roman Renk.