Story by Donna Swagerty Shreve
Sitting in my dorm room at Grace Covell Hall at University of the Pacific, I received an intercom message that a gentleman had phoned at phone #2. I left my room and headed for the phone bank down the hall. Way back in 1963 there were no phones in any rooms and a phone call became much more of an effort.
Hi Donna. This is Bill Sandeman. How are you?
Fine. (Oh my gawd! Bill Sandeman!)
I need a big favor from you.
O.K. (What on earth could Bill need from me?)
Can you meet me down in the lobby in a few minutes?
Sure. I will be right down. (Is my hair presentable? A little lip stick wouldn’t hurt.)
Hi again. Leigh(his girl friend and future wife) is gone this weekend so I thought you could help me. (Leigh also had the dorm room right next to me.) I need to deliver a job application to the dining office and it is located at the end of the room. It is full of girls at the moment and I would appreciate your company so I am not so much on display.
Sure. No problem. ( Was he kidding! He needed me to feel more brave in front of about 100 girls drooling at the sight of him!)
Please understand that Bill stood 6 feet seven inches and was a well-built athletic machine. Bill came to U.O.P. on a football scholarship and went on to play professional football for several years. after college. I felt he was doing me a favor to walk and be seen with him! I met him in the lobby and he rewarded me with a story about my father.
Donna, I would love to share with you a story about your father. When I was a sophomore at Lincoln High School, I got myself into a bit of trouble. Three of my buddies and I were sent to the office at the request of the principal, your father. We all feared that guy. He was huge and had such a big voice to match. I knew your dad had played football at U.O.P. and was tough by reputation. He kept us waiting in the outer office until he could call us in one by one. He finally came out of his office and looked us over. He chose me to go in first. I was sweating big time. I knew I had been stupid with our prank.
I find it hard to believe you got in so much trouble that you had to be sent to the office!
Oh believe me. We deserved to be sent to the office! Your dad had me sit in a chair facing his desk. He placed his huge hands in a clutched fist on the top of the desk. I swear his hands stood at least a foot tall grasped on that desk. In no time I had confessed our stupid prank and gave names. What he did next still amazes me. He got up and reached for his “board of education” (large paddle) that was sitting on top of his file cabinet. Have you ever seen that thing?!
He never brought it home as his hand was effective enough. I have been on the receiving of his discipline!
Well, as I sat there quivering, he told me to yell real loud and convincingly when he hit the file cabinet with his paddle. With great relief I complied with the best yelp I could come up with. He then opened the door and let me out and asked for the next culprit.
Well, we have arrived. Thank you so much Donna. I really appreciate this.
Oh Bill, that was not a problem. You repaid me with a wonderful story. I thank you!
I saw Bill years later at an award ceremony at U.O.P. and I reminded him of that story. He remembered my father fondly and stood by his tale.
679 words
10/21/18
D. Shreve
Swagerty-Aldrich Family Web Site 