My

hero and mentor died this past Sunday, Franklin

Garrett.

owe him much.

When

the Fayette County Historical Society was formed

in 1972, we had him come to speak to us and

that's when I learned he disliked freeways. He

took every back road known to get here, but he

arrived happy.

He

spoke to us for 45 minutes, hardly stopping to

draw a breath, and relating what seemed to be

thousands of historic facts. I sat in awe.

Twenty

eight years later I am able to do the same thing,

but realizing the time and effort it has taken to

accomplish that has made me admire him even that

much more.

In

1977 the society published "The History of

Fayette County," and I realized it would add

great validity to the tome if "the"

Franklin Garrett wrote the "Forword."

He was most gracious to do so, but in my haste to

get the completed work to the printers, I spelled

the word as "Forward." Do you have any

idea how embarrassing it is to have a noted

historian gently point out to you that you

goofed?

My

children and I entertained him at our home for

dinner one evening in 1972 and my daughter was

about four years old. He went to the restroom to

wash his hands and as he approached the kitchen,

my daughter looked up at him and asked, "Did

you go potty"? Another embarrasing moment?

You

betcha.

attended a seminar at Oakland Cemetery several

years ago and climbing some stairs I heard him

behind me. Now, if you've ever heard Franklin

Garrett speak, the tenor of his voice registers

in your mind forever. It was deep and resounding

and unmistakable. Without turning around I called

out, "It must be Franklin." He replied,

"Yes, someone once told me that I should

never try to rob a bank, as everyone would know

who it was." Well said.

am what I am due to the heritage and influence of

my parents, my work experience, my friends and my

children.

And

I am what I am in Fayette County due to the

influence of a man right up there with Flavius

Josephus, Pliny the Elder and Plutarch.

Mic

de mithas.

Carolyn

Cary is Fayette County's official historian and

editor of "The History of Fayette

County," published by the Fayette County

Historical Society.

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