$25 for life - A gift from a "Good Man"

It’s a passion of mine to express to others the mostly unrecognized actions of good men because I believe it’s these actions that truly matter in life and compel us all to keep pressing on.  Good men lead by example. Good men push through the ups and downs of life without giving in or giving up, and resist taking an easier path that may negatively impact their families or tarnish their character. 

My father, Thomas F. Letson, Jr. was as good a man as they come. He died in 2010 at the age of 81 and like most good men, I learned his powerful lessons through constructive example. The following story is one that keeps me pressing forward in my own life and I share it with others whenever the opportunity presents itself. 

Born two weeks before the Stock Market crash in 1929, he came into this world at a time when everything was a struggle, and all a person had as he grew up was his family, his friends and his word.   Looking a man in the eye and offering your word while sealing it with a handshake was considered a tangible form of collateral in his day.   And you know what?  In this day of deteriorating moral conduct, with the daily news packed with the exploits of cheats and thieves, we could use more good men, more men like my father.  Let’s be him for a minute to provide an example. The year is 1968.  My father, a lifelong seaman, took out a sizable loan to purchase an 89' vessel to begin the business of delivering grain to companies such as Frank Purdue on the Chesapeake Bay. What happened to him during this time would put any man to the test. With very little notice, the Coast Guard performed a spot inspection of his vessel and it failed under their criteria which my father challenged. Despite his protests the inspection results were final and the consequences dire: the Coast Guard took ownership of the vessel and removed it from the waterway.  With it they took my father’s livelihood and left him with the desperation of having to provide for his five children with no income while at the same time facing the remaining balance on the loan for the vessel. This amount was over $20,000 in 1968. Think about it. His creditor, caring little of his predicament, expected each month’s payment in its original amount of hundreds of dollars, which my father was unable to pay.

So what’s a man with five children and no job to do in such a dire situation? Run out on his family?  Rob, cheat or steal? What would you do?  Let me tell you this good man from Sea Bright, NJ did.  He went to see his creditors face to face and told them he could only afford to pay them the amount of $25 per month on his outstanding loan. His proposal, initially taken as jest was flatly denied. At this denial, my father stood up, looked his creditors directly in the eyes and said the following:  “Listen to me. I have 5 children to provide for and one of them has special needs requiring special doctors which are very costly.  I cannot afford to pay you what you demand as it will put my children out in the street.  I will pay you $25 each month and I promise to you I will never miss it. You have my word.”   My father’s conviction persuaded the creditor to put his word to the test and they allowed for the reduction.  This good man was true to his word. My father paid that $25 per month, month after month, year after year, decade after decade until that loan was paid in full.  Upon the loan’s discharge, he received a special commendation from the Creditor, thanking him for being one of their most loyal and valued customers by never missing a single loan payment of $25 and for keeping his word. 

This story about my Father has inspired me to figuratively paid my $25 as promised in all areas of my life. Just as my father did I try not to miss a payment and live my life as a good man. It's people like my father that give me hope that the world can always be a better place regardless of how bad it may seem at any given time. If you have a story like this one tell it whenever possible to encourage others to live their lives in a similar fashion to make this world a better place!