Fuzzy Farnsworth

I certainly knew that heading would get your attention. It most definitely got mine when I received an Email recently with that name in the subject line! . The message came from Herb Huber, a member of our Email Fort Smith History Posse. (That's worth another later Blog entry). Herb had received a copy of a great little book written by former Fort Smithian Warren Berkley, now a pastor in McAllen Texas. Warren was kind enough to send me a copy. I was delighted with his account of my father teaching his father and later as Warren's firm but fair high school principal. When a young boy,Warren had attended Daddy's Stay at Home Summer Camp for several years. Some of you Nifty Fifties might remember that, too, at the junior high... now called Darby.

Why was I happy to read this message.... headlined by my father's most hated nickname? Because it was honest and entertaining and not the least bit insulting to my dad. So now I pose a question to all of you: Where did the name "Fuzzy" come from? That is an unsolved mystery at this point. Perhaps you have a story to tell about your relationship to "Fuzzy". I'd love to hear it. There are many theories about this name, but I really reject any theory that has to do with his hair. My father's hair was never curly or "fuzzy" .... thin by the time he retired, but he was never truly bald, either. I think it was just a word that began with the letter F...not good, but not too bad either. Probably no one ever used it to his face, but he certainly knew about it., and I think in retrospect many of you men think of the name with affection. Am I right?

The nickname my father truly loved was "Skipper". I am not sure when that started, but probably with his Boy Scout Troop 12 in the 1940's. By the time I was in high school, that affectionate term was in common use and continued until his death in 1981. All his grandchildren and son's in law called him Skipper. He was never called Grandpa.... he was Skipper.... and the most fun grandfather any child could ever hope to have. My parents spent long summer vacations with us in California and my children benefitted from his many varied interests from visiting every California mission to cooking amazing dutch oven meals as we camped in the Sierras. He was always ready to see something new, learn something new, and teach us something new. Life with Skipper (Fuzzy) was never boring.

I'll look forward to hearing from any of you great Nifty Fifties!

Rosemary Farnsworth Erickson
Email: lse12@cvip.net or on this Blog.