They Don't Make Those Men Anymore

Elmer Conrad

The day started as many do

I ran up the hill of the grounds

I'd leapt from bed, in fear and dread

that I would be late to the Downs

We had so many horses then

thirty one as I now recall

Only two men, to jog back then

 rushed to finish before the squall

 

We had six horses in that night

each hurried to finish in time

We'd bathed them all, cleaned each ones stall

life was hard back then in my prime

The rain was roiling from the west

black clouds had portended a storm

All were ready, stout and steady

for us this was just the norm

 

On that night between the races

I spoke with an old friend of mine

His the mystique, the most unique

of any horsemen you could find

His dad named him Elmer Conrad

he was a product of the old school

At eighty four, or maybe more

this young man thought he was so cool

 

As the oldest racing driver

I must admit he held great sway

In him I'd found, a lonesome sound

as he'd outlived all from his day

One night Elmer was in a wreck

his temper puffed a powder keg

There on the ground, a cracking sound

he lay picking bones from his leg

 

But this night he drove his rig home

it was late and the roads were wet

He'd had bad luck, and wrecked the truck

I'm sure he blew it off, "no sweat"

That was the last I saw of him

someone thought him too old to drive

With no great ease, took Elmer's keys

and with that his desire to thrive

Elmer hung himself in the barn

beside the home family owned

Looking back now, I wonder how

any of us could have atoned 

 Next day I heard my hero died

where-bye we'd lost a man so great

Scrawled on a note, that he had wrote

"I am the Master of my Fate"

 

He treated me as if his own

and for that I honor him too

By eighty four, he had done more

than any man I had ever knew

He was the last great gentleman

I had known of four and four score

There died our best, eternal rest

they don't make those men anymore

Author's Note

Men like Elmer led their lives by a code unlike the average man. Elmer Conrad was such a part of the track his was the template from which we were all created. He was the constitution and conscience of us all. The old ones respected him. But I admired him. The secrets he had learned followed him to the grave, as did our feelings and admiration for his spirit. As a young man I felt a little poorer for the loss of such a spirit. He had been the guest on the Carson show the year before as the oldest living driver. I remember watching him and thinking he is so cool!
I am not one who believes that finishing third is winning. I think we do our children a disservice by awarding them trophies for participation. It is the truth of life that excellence is the key to success. Life is meant to be hard. I use to look at Elmer and knew from the tip of his hat to me that he approved. He watched me work night and day. He saw with what deference I paid homage to my own father and in me I hoped he had found something of himself and the times that led to the man I so admired. He was one of a kind.
May God Rest His Soul

Reviews

[Brother Rooster]

Holy moley. Jeewhizz. Jaw dropping. This poem is like being hit by giant hammer through a pillow. It took my breath away. The imagery, the sense of nostalgia. This is so far my fav Tate Morgan work. It's inspiring in its briliance. You should be out there, Tate. Your works touches people and...well...you should be on the cover of TIME. Great. Really great.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you rooster

[Diane Lockard]

It was a different time back than, hard work was the norm, without questioning, should I do this, or not?
Men, like Elmer, set an example for you, and didn't realize how far-reaching it would go...
I love the combination of story/poem, and picture, a perfect tribute to Elmer, and the people who make a difference in our lifes!

[Tate Morgan]

thank you very much I am trying to finish up a few things before next week Ill get on soon as i can

[Stella Armour]

he really sounds "old school" Tate knowing the values of working from dawn 'til dusk and thinking nothing of it.. they were a different breed in those days men with wonderful characters to be learned from.Horses and horse racing are in the blood of Irishmen and others, generation after generation, how lucky you were to know this gentleman

[Tate Morgan]

When Elmer was around we laughed and listened to every word he said. With a nod and tip of the hat he left us as he had found us a little richer for having known him.

[Stella Armour]

not often someone touches your heart like like that Tate,, you were obviously blessed in knowing him..

[Tate Morgan]

He was a good man and we all respected him.

[Stella Armour]

i can sense that by the way you talk about him

[TL Boehm]

what a wonderful bit of history and a fitting tribute!

[Tate Morgan]

thank you im sure if Elmer were around he would say i make a lot of noise about nothing lol

[Pointblank]

Love, Love ,Love all these writings! I am off to the library in hopes to find your books. If not. I will have to be satisfied with what you've shared thus far.
Thanks.

[Patricia B. Hepler]

Recognizing and honoring the memory of Mr. Conrad is to allow your readers the priviledge (sp?) of understanding his strength of character. Mr. Conrad truly was the master of his destiny. Thank you for the introduction~
~pat

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you while each of us choose our own idols I was moved by the toughness and inner kindness i found in Elmer

[SheWolfNLust]

This surely is most stunning tribute, to your friend Elmer, so sad the way he went, but he went his way, his choice, he sounds like a man that many held much admiration for, I am sure he will never be forgotten by those that loved him dearly and that admired him for the man he was, your words brought tears, eah was most heartfelt and I thank you so much for sharing xoxo

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you i find that throughout my life my favorite people were those i looked up to .They also were older than I. Elmer was a great man after his death his 12 yr old grandson chased his son around with a baseball bat.Dead set on exacting tribute from him for the slight he thought responsible for Elmers death.

[jwesley]

Enjoyed this, my friend, well written. and the photo was a perfect fit. Funny his name should be Elmer, my family's surname is Elmer, and my grandmother is the profundity in my life.

well done...

jimmy

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Jimmy I could only wish to be so fondly remembered by those i have known when My time is up.

[Silhouette]

He treated me as if his own
and for that I honor him too
By eighty four, he had done more
than any man I had ever knew
He was the last great gentleman
I had known of four and four score
There died our best, eternal rest
they don't make those men anymore

This is a really good story, and those lines were my favorite. Well done =)

[Joylene Miller-Rios]

WOW that one made me cry. Such dept and emotion pouring out. WOW

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you joylene

[Tate Morgan]

It made me shed a tear too.