This is the true story of a boy, born and raised on a poor farm in rural north alabama. in it he reminisces about his hard-working family and their struggles to barely survive during and after the great depression of the thirties. it is about his determination to acquire an education, his career in broadcasting as a country music disc jockey and radio station owner and manager in tuscaloosa, alabama. this is about how he at nineteen years of age and his young wife, also nineteen, began from nothing, then retired after forty years as multi-millionaires. the author intended to write a series of comical stories, things that had actually happened to him and his friends, but in doing so he gets into a serious discussion of some of the not so funny things that happened to him as he pursued his career. his discussion touches on his relationships with friends, family, employees, government, famous broadcasters, politicians, and sports figures, including coach paul 'bear' bryant. he writes about his serving on the board of directors of the national association of broadcasters and his eight years on the board of the associated press. the ending chapters describe his almost unbelievable number of health problems from cataracts in his eyes to a leg amputation. the reader should find this work to be easy reading. it was meant to be a funny story, but in case you find something in it that is serious, so be it. we think you will enjoy they called me syrup sopper.