He Was A Friend Of Mine....

He Was A Friend Of Mine

"Sam The Man” we called him in those Catskill rolling hills

And though its fifty years ago, I picture him at will

A long and lean and lanky kid, fair skinned, blue eyes, blond hair
Raising hell and having fun, he’d take on any dare

As kids, we prowled those hills and towns in both our father’s cars
We “parked” and went to swimming holes, under-aged, we’d hit the bars

We’d go pick up “The Prattsville Girls”, we’d smoke and buy them shakes
Like devils, drive the fire roads in the hills behind Earl’s lake

His Dad had bought a ‘52, pale green, cool Pontiac
And I flipped a butt and burned a hole right through the seat in back.

We both played sports in high school, though he a year behind
Both dirt poor and scraggly, but we didn’t seem to mind

When he went in the Navy, I saw him just once more
On Haskin Hill, while both on leave, we swapped our service lore

But I often thought about him and the crazy times we had
From what I know it seems he had more good times than the bad

Then I look back and have regrets as everybody can,
I knew him only as a boy I never knew the man…..

Haskin, Leonard William "Sam"

23-Year Navy Veteran Retired From City Of Chattanooga

Leonard William "Sam" Haskin, 67, died on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, at his home.

He served 23 years in the U.S. Navy before retiring to Chattanooga.

He worked for the city of Chattanooga for the past 13 years.

He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Fay Henderson Haskin, of Chattanooga; daughter and son-in-law, Jacqueline and Kevin Smith, of Chattanooga; sons and daughters-in-law, Peter and Annette Haskin, of Ooltewah, Brent Haskin, of Chattanooga, Keith and Jeanne Haskin, of Dalton, Ga.; three grandchildren, Alex Smith, Zach Smith and Katie Haskin; brothers and sisters-in-law, Neil and Ruth Haskin, of Duanesburg, N.Y., Michael and Ruthy Haskin, of Southwick, Ma.; sisters, Charlotte Carlton, of Chattanooga, Joan Tiger, of Lexington Park, Md., and Peggy Harper, of Syracuse, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Chattanooga National Cemetery with the Rev. Art Jones officiating and with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4355 Highway 58, Chattanooga, TN 37416.

Condolences may be sent at www.heritagefh.com.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home & Cremation Services,

7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.