At 11 a.m. Saturday, services for “Red” Garner will be at Wesley United Methodist Church, burial to follow in Highland Cemetery. That’s a terse account to the end of an 88-year life that touched many Iolans.
I don’t recall how long I’ve known Red, but it’s been a pretty good spell. Maybe we first visited at a city commission meeting when they occurred on Tuesday afternoons. He often was the only person other than Mike Russell, the radio guy, and I listening in. Or, maybe it was down back of Sutherlands’ dairy, when he and I stumbled onto each other baiting or running trotlines in the river.
Red liked the taste of flatheads, as did I, and the best way to catch big ’uns is with an 8/0 hook dangling a small carp. In later years we agreed the effort of putting out the lines was too much work, but whenever we happened onto each other a story about fishing was sure to drum up.
One summer afternoon, wife Beverly and I dropped by a shaded table in Riverside Park for lunch when Red pulled up. Sit a while, I said. Always ready to gab, that was invitation enough.
We talked about his days growing up in Iola, back when blacks faced rampant discrimination. Many places — swimming pools, gathering places, most restaurants — were reserved for whites only. The disgusting comment “they know their place,” always rankled me, even when I was young. Comments such as racism “wasn’t so bad then,” is a bunch of hooey if ever there was one. Red talked matter-of-factly, without rancor, and allowed racism is not a thing of the past.
Trump’s election, and some events that have occurred since, prove the nation is still far short of social inclusiveness.
In the years I knew Red, I never detected bitterness, though I suspect there were times when condescending looks and comments tested his resolve. I think he learned to roll with the punches, though he having to do so sure wasn’t right.
In many respects Red was a model citizen, he worked hard and was one of those fellows who always had a smile, liked to kid around and never shirked helping when the community called.
One of his public chores that may have escaped a good many folks’ notice was hauling equipment to and from the bandstand for summer concerts. A tribute piece to Red would be nice when the band starts its 2017 season.
