The Truth Teller

The Hogans never had children. I didn't know why. When Hogan was alive I hadn't known that his father had had a drinking problem, or that his death was by suicide. Hogan showed you his life, he didn't tell you about it. You could see his devotion to doing a difficult thing well. That was enough. It was intoxicating.

Hogan died in 1997. I wish he could have known my current wife, Ginny, a former Seminole manager. She's my Valerie. Ben would have loved her.

In my 69 years I have not loved many people, but I loved Hogan. He felt my pain and saw my promise. I'll go to my grave grateful to him. He treated me like the son he never had. I needed that, and I guess he did too.