Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Passing of a Giant

My Grandpa Juan Manuel Wheeler and I. (2000)
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On Tuesday, September 16 my grandpa Juan Manuel Wheeler passed away.
He was bigger than life in many ways, and he lived life to the fullest AND had a huge impact in all of our lives.
He was a poor kid from Mexico who became a giant in his field and in the region of Coahuila and Texas, he started as a radio personality and later he created a TV station on which he was the owner and the main anchor for the news.
This was the most trusted man, way before the internet, and when TV ruled the world.
He was my hero.
He cursed worse than a sailor, and his daily mission was to make everyone around him laugh.
He wore very cleancut suits with a crazy tie and had a huge mustache. His pride was his voice and his voice was his life.
His voice was very commanding and deep, and when broadcasting he sounded like a Mexican version of Walter Cronkite.
Naturally, he had a way with words.
As a kid he never finished elementary school, he had to work to support his Mom and the rest of the family.
He taught me many lessons that I will never forget. He was always there for me and he inadvertently did things that changed my life forever.
He was a great mentor and a great friend.

You were a fighter, and even though it hurts losing you, I still laugh at all the insane things that you did every day.

That's all I could write.

I Love you.