Ronald Reagan

Throughout our lives, we never know what event, what person, or perhaps how a particular situation will make an impact on us. Sometimes the impact may not be felt for years or decades later. A benevolent gesture performed without much thought by one person, could end up being a life-changing moment for another. When a member of First Baptist Church of Patterson gave two tickets to his pastor for a Chamber of Commerce banquet, how would he have known what impact that event would make on two 8th grade boys years later?

Ronald Reagan was already well-known for his Hollywood movie career and for his tenure as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975 when he made a visit to St. Mary Parish in the late 1970’s. He twice ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for President in 1968 and 1976 but many were hoping he would run again in 1980 against Jimmy Carter.

Even in elementary school, Ray Cowart was a political junkie. From local elections where Fred Allen Mensman or Tee Aloisio could be running for mayor in Patterson, to watching Edwin Edwards battle J. Bennett Johnston for governor of Louisiana, Ray was enthralled by elections and the political process. As Ray followed elections, he also took up the hobby of collecting campaign buttons and writing to past and present politicians on the national stage. His collection of political artifacts grew to the point he was recognized locally with a feature story and photographs in The Daily Review.

Robert “Bob” Watson was Chairman of the Board for Patterson State Bank and the President of the East St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce. Later he would also serve as the President of the Patterson Rotary Club, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Deacons at First Baptist Church of Patterson, Louisiana. An influential member of the community, faithful church member and friend to many, Bob offered two tickets to my dad, Arthur Achord, to attend the annual banquet of the East St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce. The keynote speaker that year was Ronald Reagan. My dad asked me if I wanted to go and I immediately said yes. That could have been that and he and I would have gone together and had a good time. However, my dad knew of a young man who would probably be thrilled to go and who would be more impacted by hearing from Ronald Reagan. His name was Ray Cowart.

“What impacted me the most about that night was YOUR Dad giving me his ticket to the banquet. I mean, he could have just taken you but he gave his ticket to ME. How selfless,” Ray would tell me via text one night as we reflected on the night we met Ronald Reagan.

So two nerdy 8th graders were dropped off at the Municipal Auditorium in Morgan City, Louisiana, probably dressed in obscene green leisure suits and silk shirts, and with tickets in hand, walked into the event like we belonged. We tolerated the Chamber business and awards and waited for the main reason we were there, to hear Ronald Reagan speak. I wish I could say I remember his speech and that his words are still with me even unto this day, but that would be untrue. Too many years have passed for me to remember what he said. I’m sure Ray and I were just so excited to be listening to him speak for us to remember his words. We were just two teenagers without parents by our side who thought life couldn’t get any better than this and we were in the presence of someone famous who one day could be the President of the United States.

Following the banquet, Mr. Reagan was standing on the stage, shaking hands and talking to a few people who came up to meet him. Ray and I weren’t shy and we went up on the stage to do the same. What Ray and I both remember about Ronald Reagan was how he gave us his undivided attention. He spoke to us, listened to us and when we were done, personally signed our program for the event. I told him he should run for president again but he smiled and humbly said, “well, it’s a little early for that.” Like groupies for a rock band, Ray and I hung back and tried to go back through the line again. I think we were going to see if the plate Governor Reagan was eating on was still there so we could swipe it and take as a souvenir. However, the plate was missing on the second time through and the event was coming to an end.

Earlier that day, during school, Ray had a little trouble. Ray apparently was excited about the event that night and must have gotten too hot so during class, he decided it would be okay to change from his long-sleeved shirt into his short-sleeved physical education shirt. Ray was busted and sent to the office and had to meet with our school principal. The principal told Ray he was going to call his house and let his parents know what he had done. (During this time, Ray was being raised by his sister and brother in law who were basically his parents, especially when it came to school, home life and of course, discipline.)

When Ray got home, his brother in law was waiting for him. Ray went ahead and confessed. Raleigh, his brother in law gave Ray a choice. He could skip the banquet and Ronald Reagan speech or take a whipping. “I took a whipping with a belt to hear Ronald Reagan that very night. Absolutely true story,” Ray says now with laughter.

As everyone knows, Ronald Reagan did run for president in 1980 and solidly beat out Jimmy Carter to become the 40th President of the United States. I know it wasn’t the advice of an 8th grader from Patterson Junior High School that prompted him to run for president, nor were the words he spoke that night were such to cause Ray or me to always make the correct decisions and to never get in trouble again. (But I don’t think Ray ever changed clothes during class again, haha) However, the chain of events that allowed us to experience this incredible event made an impact on our lives in more ways than I have time and space to write here. Ray and I closely followed the life and presidency of Ronald Reagan and for us, he was the greatest president our country has ever had. I know many may not agree or want to debate this, but that is not why I am telling this story.

I want to remember the goodwill of Bob Watson and his generosity. I want to remember how excited Ray was when my dad asked him to go to the banquet and to take the ticket that had been given to him by a deacon in the church. I want to recall how selfless my dad was to give up his tickets so Ray and I could attend the banquet. I want to remember a remarkable man taking his time to speak to us, listen to us, shake our hands and wish us luck for whatever life had in store for us. A man by the name of Ronald Reagan. It’s been nearly 40 years but I am still grateful for that moment and the impact it made on me. For Ray, the impact was even more significant. On March 29th of this year, Ray published his first book entitled “Saturdays with Reagan: The Radio Addresses of President Ronald Reagan.” It’s available as a Kindle book and I’m so proud of Ray for his latest achievement.

From Back to the Bayou, by Steve Achord