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Tenth Legion book update! #2136912
06/13/17 05:27 AM
06/13/17 05:27 AM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,507
Montgomery
bamaeyedoc Offline OP
Old Mossy Horns
bamaeyedoc  Offline OP
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,507
Montgomery
As I eluded to in an earlier post, I was on a quest to somehow figure out a way to get Tom Kelly to sign an early edition of "Tenth Legion" I found while going through my deceased father's things. A little after lunch this past Sunday I finally got the call I've been anxiously awaiting. Mr. Tom Kelly called me and said he was happy to meet up with me at some point and sign my book. Due to my schedule being somewhat up in the air I asked if it would be convenient for us to come down in a few hours. He said that would be fine! So Janet and I went back home, changed clothes and headed Baldwin county to meet him.

We arrived late that afternoon and were supposed to meet him in the lobby of this assisted living place where he now lives so he can be next to his wife who is nearing the end of her earthly journey. frown He wasn't there so we asked where his room was and as we were standing at his door, I look up and here comes this gentleman with a slight stoop but with a gait and stride of a 20 year old coming down the hallway toward us. As he approaches he says "Hey, y'all must me looking for me!" I said "If you are Mr. Tom Kelly, we sure are!" "Well, that's me!" he replied and let us into his room.

We dispensed with the pleasantries and introductions and he offered us a seat. So I pulled up a chair and Janet sat on the couch and Mr. Kelly sat down in a chair directly in front of me. Well, he had no longer sat down and he leaned forward and and asked me if I was driving. I must have given him a quizzical look because he said "I have some of the smoothest, best whiskey in the world, and we need to have a drink!" After assurances that Janet could handle the driving duties, he pulled out a bottle of Blanton's Single Barrel and said "This is the best stuff in the world! I'm not rich but I'm blessed to have some rich friends that like me a lot I guess and one of them gave me this so let's have a drink! You like one shot or two?" I gulped and said "Whatever you're pouring yourself, I'll have the same." He poured two shots of that amber libation into a red Solo cup, dropped in a couple of cubes of ice, and hit it with a splash of water. As he handed me the cup he smiled and said "If you can't be rich, have rich friends! Cheers!" and we touched cups and each took a sip. He was right. Best whiskey I've ever had.

I then told him the story of how I came in possession of this copy of the "Tenth Legion." He seemed truly touched as I handed him the book. He took his hand and gently felt the worn and slightly tattered dust cover and looked at it for a moment in silence if he were looking at a long lost heirloom that brought back distance memories of a long time ago. He then told me how the book came about at the encouragement of his wife and how he based on what Ebay says the first edition is worth, "I wish to Christ I'd saved a box full of 'em!" rofl

The next hour or so was spent sipping on fine bourbon, talking about family, timber, military service, and yes, turkeys were mentioned a time or two! grin He told me of the story of his first turkey and how the first gobble he ever heard he thought it was a barking dog! He also remarked that in his opinion turkey hunting is the only thing in life that is just as much fun the last time you do it as it was the first. A lot of truth to that.

I told him I thought I'd made enough mistakes in my 30 years of hunting them that I don't know how I could make any more. He found that quite humorous and as he laughed he said. "You ain't done yet! You got lots more mistakes to look forward too!" Over the course of the next 30-45 minutes he dropped some nuggets of wisdom on me about these birds and life that I will never forget. Man, and the laughs! There were a lot of those!

Being respectful of his time and considering I had somehow made a drink last about an hour, it was approaching time to say our goodbyes. I asked him to sign and date the copy of the book which he seemed very pleased to do. He took the pen, and with a surprisingly steady hand whose owner has seen 90 birthdays come and go he inscribed "To Benjy with best Wishes. Tom Kelly 6/11/2017." With a stroke of a pen, he created a possession that I will cherish as long as I live.

With handshakes (Janet got a hug!), our expressions of gratitude for his time, and with promises to keep in touch, we bid our farewell to Mr. Tom Kelly. As we made our way back to Montgomery I had to take inventory of what happened. I got to spend an uninterrupted hour or so, one on one, sipping whiskey, talking about life and turkeys, and sharing laughs with Mr. Tom Kelly. WOW! And to have about half of it videoed by my wife who was just as tickled as I was with the whole thing was just amazing.

Guys, I've been blessed to be able to do a lot of cool things in my life. But for a turkey hunting addict like myself, the uninterrupted hour I got to spend with the humble, humorous, and all around "man's man" who is Colonel Tom Kelly ranks close to the top of my outdoor life experiences.

As he said himself with a smile, "At my age, I don't buy green bananas anymore! " but I hope the Lord gives him many more healthy years on this earth. I have a feeling there are a lot more stories and wisdom he needs to impart to those of us who, like him, are "helpless in the grip of our compulsion."

The apprentice with the master!

The gem!


Dr. B


Last edited by bamaeyedoc; 06/13/17 08:38 AM.

AKA: “Dr. B”
Aldeer #121
8-3-2000
Proud alum of AUM, UAB, and UA
Member of Team 10 Point
2023-2024 ALdeer Deer Contest Winners

Glennis Jerome "Jerry" Harris
1938-2017
UGA Class of 1960
BS/MS Forestry
LTJG, USNR



Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136917
06/13/17 05:38 AM
06/13/17 05:38 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,850
Dothan/Hartford,Al
87dixieboy Offline
10 point
87dixieboy  Offline
10 point
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,850
Dothan/Hartford,Al
absolutely awesome story and congrats on the time well spent


Only accurate rifles are interesting.
Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136918
06/13/17 05:40 AM
06/13/17 05:40 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,377
Helena
3
3toe Offline
Talking Turkey
3toe  Offline
Talking Turkey
3
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,377
Helena
Man that's awesome, and I'm jealous to say the least! smile

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136944
06/13/17 06:06 AM
06/13/17 06:06 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,633
Parker243 Offline
8 point
Parker243  Offline
8 point
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,633
Really enjoyed reading that story. Awesome!

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136945
06/13/17 06:06 AM
06/13/17 06:06 AM
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 9,541
Montgomery, AL
jbc Offline
14 point
jbc  Offline
14 point
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 9,541
Montgomery, AL
very cool

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136950
06/13/17 06:14 AM
06/13/17 06:14 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 36,092
alabama
BhamFred Offline
Freak of Nature
BhamFred  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 36,092
alabama
congrats!!


I've spent most of the money I've made in my lifetime on hunting and fishing. The rest I just wasted.....

proud Cracker-Americaan

muslims are like coyotes, only good one is a dead one
Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136951
06/13/17 06:17 AM
06/13/17 06:17 AM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 930
Piney Ridge
G
Gobl4me Offline
6 point
Gobl4me  Offline
6 point
G
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 930
Piney Ridge
Thanks for sharing

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136953
06/13/17 06:20 AM
06/13/17 06:20 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,449
A
abolt300 Offline
Booner
abolt300  Offline
Booner
A
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,449
Congrats. Very cool story.

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136957
06/13/17 06:25 AM
06/13/17 06:25 AM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,481
Earth
snakebit Offline
10 point
snakebit  Offline
10 point
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,481
Earth
Would love to see some of the video


"Hate is an acid that does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored, than the victim on which it is poured."

"Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity."
Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136966
06/13/17 06:43 AM
06/13/17 06:43 AM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,546
Mobile, AL
soalaturkeys Offline
10 point
soalaturkeys  Offline
10 point
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,546
Mobile, AL
Oh, man, that is just an AWESOME feat!! What a memory! And the NWTF shirt, perfect.

Last edited by soalaturkeys; 06/13/17 06:46 AM.

"For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America" ~Benjamin Franklin

Isaiah 40:13-14

RAP is CRAP

NRA Life Member, GOA, BamaCarry Member
Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: snakebit] #2136967
06/13/17 06:44 AM
06/13/17 06:44 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,993
Covington County
Squeaky Offline
12 point
Squeaky  Offline
12 point
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,993
Covington County
Dr. B this is just awesome!! I'm truly jealous of the time you got to visit with Mr. Kelly. That had to be an awesome experience thumbup Thank you for sharing with us.


"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.
Comes to us at midnight very clean.
It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.
It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136969
06/13/17 06:44 AM
06/13/17 06:44 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,231
Central Alabama
Y
Yelp softly Offline
10 point
Yelp softly  Offline
10 point
Y
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,231
Central Alabama
A memory to be cherished for sure! Really cool.


"When there was no fowl, we ate crawdad, when there was no crawdad, we ate sand."

"YOU ATE SAND!" - Raising Arizona
Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136975
06/13/17 06:53 AM
06/13/17 06:53 AM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,410
bham
C
crocker Offline
10 point
crocker  Offline
10 point
C
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,410
bham
That is really cool!!

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2136980
06/13/17 07:02 AM
06/13/17 07:02 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,879
Lauderdale County
Cousneddy Offline
8 point
Cousneddy  Offline
8 point
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,879
Lauderdale County
That is awesome!

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2137004
06/13/17 07:52 AM
06/13/17 07:52 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 10,634
Past Ol’ man Finley’s plac...
Southwood7 Offline
Booner
Southwood7  Offline
Booner
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 10,634
Past Ol’ man Finley’s plac...
Wow Doc! Incredible! What a special memory.



The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4
Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2137015
06/13/17 08:13 AM
06/13/17 08:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,062
B
blade Offline
12 point
blade  Offline
12 point
B
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,062
Awesome!!

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2137056
06/13/17 09:13 AM
06/13/17 09:13 AM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,472
All Over The Place
Runningdeer Offline
10 point
Runningdeer  Offline
10 point
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,472
All Over The Place
Great story. Inasmuch as you enjoyed such a memorable visit, I'm sure you made Mr. Kelly's day as well. What a great idea, Doc!

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2137083
06/13/17 09:46 AM
06/13/17 09:46 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,016
Pike Road, Al
M
Mully Offline
10 point
Mully  Offline
10 point
M
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,016
Pike Road, Al
Congrats again! That surely had to be an awesome time!

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: Mully] #2137100
06/13/17 10:04 AM
06/13/17 10:04 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,135
Ramer
ronfromramer Offline
10 point
ronfromramer  Offline
10 point
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,135
Ramer
I can't think of a more significant experience for a serious turkey hunter. You are truly a lucky and blessed man.

Re: Tenth Legion book update! [Re: bamaeyedoc] #2137119
06/13/17 10:27 AM
06/13/17 10:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,071
NBama
mr.clif Offline
6 point
mr.clif  Offline
6 point
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,071
NBama
Cool story, will be one of those things ya never forget.

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