An LCTXO local author book review:
“Profile of a Country Boy” is a delightful book that will bring back childhood memories to most anyone who has reached the “Golden Years”! It is an extremely well written autobiography, and should become a special, priceless treasure for the author’s friends and family.
Paperback: 230 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 20, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1466458356
ISBN-13: 978-1466458352
Bill Williams made it very easy for the reader to “get involved” in his life story which, no doubt, will resurrect countless personal memories for his readers as well. From the first page of his story through the epilogue, his poignant memories are woven into a captivating tapestry of his life.
Native Texan, Armel “Bill” Williams was born in the small Texas farming community of Bullard, but “the spirit of wanderlust” took his family t Lamesa out in West Texas by the time he was a year old. They lived there until he was five years old when his parents decided to return to east Texas, where he lived until he entered the Air Force in world War II.
After serving as a bomber pilot, Bill returned to civiian life in Texas. Afer college he worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram where he met his future bride, Barbara, to whom he has been married since 1954.
Mr. Williams, who finished writing his autobiography in 2011, will be 90 on May 23 this year.
EXCERPT
Ant Trails … Traveling along the trail from school sometimes turned into an interesting adventure. Getting home later than Dad would like was usually due to one of the those exploratory days. Sometimes it might be watching the big red ants toiling at their labor, as they worked together in perfect harmony. We wondered at their orderly organization, how they communicated and which one gave the orders.
We, mainly the boys, (girls weren’t interested) would often follow the trail from their mound as far as the length of a football field. The ant trail was about an inch and a half wide, a veritable ant freeway, with traffic flowing smoothly each way. The ones leaving the mound were empty handed, while those returning from their hunt were carrying loads many times their size and weight. Most fascinating was an ant lugging a leaf an inch and a half high, sticking up over his back like a huge dorsal fin as he navigated through the ant traffic.
Their trail didn’t end abruptly but gradually faded out as they dispersed in all directions to gather food. Sometimes they would meet head on, as they were coming and going, but politely back up and yield right-of- away, rather than crash. No road rage here! I never saw an ant fist fight because of traffic irritation.