I graduated from Lubbock High School in 1959, a few years after Buddy Holly.  Needless to say, I knew of him and the Crickets.  In fact, Joe Mauldin and I were in the same gym class for a short time.  Once someone pointed out a beautiful new 1958 Chevy Impala cruising a local drive-in and told me that it was Buddy's car. 

However, as much as I enjoyed his music, I didn't really know Buddy.  As a Baptist preacher's kid, I had never been to the Cotton Club where Buddy and even Elvis had played.  I only knew his music from listening to it on the radio.  Like most teenagers then, I liked his early, up-tempo music best.  I remember kids complaining about how he had turned soft with the orchestra-backed album.  Now "True Love Ways" is my favorite of all his music.

I was eating lunch in a hamburger place near school on February 3 when I heard about the airplane crash.  I remember thinking that it was a shame his life and career ended so quickly.

During the 40th reunion of our LHS class, we toured the still-beautiful building in which we had attended school.  I'm proud of the photo that my son -- also a Buddy Holly fan -- made of me standing by a plaque commemorating Buddy's home room.