Grandpa Mac

                                                 

                                                             G R A N D P A     M A C

    It's almost World Series time! Which reminds me of my very favorite professional baseball player!
         On October 20th we commemorate the Birthday of Luther McAllister . Born in 1895 in Spencer County, Kentucky to Robert Luther McAllister and Mahala Scrogham, Luther was the 6th of 7 children.  The 3 boys and 4 girls consisted of (oldest to youngest) John William, Ona Bell, Bradford, Ora Lee, Lettie May, Luther and Ottie Esco. When Luther was 5 years old their family joined the church.  Shortly after, they moved to Safford, Arizona. Luther grew up in Safford and when WW1 broke out he was inducted into the Army. Serving in Germany he was wounded in the leg and was twice decorated for valor in the line of duty and awarded the Purple Heart.  When the company cook was injured and could no longer serve they asked if anyone could cook .  He volunteered that he had served as a cook on a cattle drive so that apparently was good enough for them, Mac as he was called became the new army cook!  Upon his release from the Army he returned to Arizona where he played his favorite sport of baseball in the Minor Leagues. Back then, baseball salaries were more modest, $1.50 per game.  His favorite position was 2nd base and the $1.50 was just a little extra for doing what he was good at and loved. Playing ball brought the attention of the young girls and a pretty Susanna Johnstun caught his eye.  He bought a shinny new model T ford which was just the thing for courting Susana.  Mac and Susie became engaged and were planning a New Year's day wedding.  When word got out that friends were planning on kidnapping his wife the two decided to elope so they snuck away and got married on New Year's Eve (Dec 31,) 1922!  Five children  later blessed their union; Edmond Luther, Marvin James, Donna Lou, Billie Bradford and Dorthy Fae.
     Luther loved his children and enjoyed spending time with them. Family activities like camping, fishing, hunting and baseball took place throughout their active lives. Realizing that he couldn't support a family on his baseball wage he had decided to try the grocery business soon after marriage before the kids were born. Soon he was the Manager of the local "Pay and Take It", which was then purchase by the Safeway corporation. With the new owners came changes which weren't friendly to existing management like him so it was time again for a new career.  Everyone knew and liked Mac McAllister, he even knew the Governor! Discovering a vacant position in law enforcement Mac was soon appointed Constable of Maricopa county.  He graduated from a course he took from the FBI and became a respected and loved political figure, a position he held while in Arizona.. When the family moved to Utah at the suggestion of Susanna's doctor, for a cooler environment, Mac took employment at Defense Depot Ogden. While there he made many suggestions to improve their work procedures which resulted in saving the government thousands of dollars and earning him citations and recognition awards as well as money bonuses.
     When Mac wasn't working or fishing he was gardening! He truly had a green thumb!  He grew tomatoes, potatoes, green beans and boysenberries, fruit trees etc.  He had a weekly routine after retirement ( which he called his "daily constitution" which back then meant any activity to keep his body in shape) where he would bring produce to his neighbors keeping them all supplied through harvest time.
     We Wade grandchildren lived across town so close enough to enjoy Sunday dinner or a cookout for the weekend. The summer we built our home on 14th Street,(1963) we moved into grandpa's basement.
It was fun to live with Grandpa and Grandma McAllister and enjoy grandpa's famous vegetable beef stew and on occasion a chocolate Malt at Jimmie's drive-in. Grandpa's favorite candy was candy corn and we knew where the candy dish was kept, in plain site for the taking.  His favorite cookie was the vanilla wafer and to this day our family calls them "Grandpa Cookies". We played catch and other games on their lawn , helping ourselves to the garden goodies, went to a baseball games or just enjoying spending time with them.
     In retirement Grandpa and Grandma would play snow bird and head to Arizona during the winter.
Grandpa and Grandma had friends in Arizona, Ted and Alice Sliger who owned the Buckhorn, a retreat where the ball players would stay during the winter league games and soak in the mineral baths. I have a picture of Grandpa sitting at the Buckhorn with Willie Mays! One winter he presented me with a signed baseball with signatures of Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and others. Still today it is one of my treasured possessions.   We loved greeting them when they returned with a load of cactus wood that grandpa would later turn into lamps, picture frames or pin cushions.  They often brought watermelon (my favorite as a boy).One time they came back with a bunch of mistletoe which we entrepreneurs bagged up took to school and sold to our friends for 25 cents per bag. We thought we were rich!
     Grandpa Mac was an amazingly adept fisherman.  He could read a stream and tell us where to drop a line for a fish and sure enough- we'd catch one!.  Later he preferred lake fishing with less walking and he soon mastered that. The McAllister's were a formidable hunting team. Grandma could spot deer like nobody's business and would say , "There's one Mac."  Grandpa would soon have it in his sights and if it was one big enough to his liking he would pull the trigger and it was his!
     Grandpa Mac was 5 feet 7 inches ( some quipped that he was built too close to the ground) but he was a  gentle giant of a man in our eyes. He loved to tease grandma and between him and A.B. (our Dad) , she was often the brunt of their mischief.
      Few of us get to choose how we exit this old world of ours but If I could, I'd like to exit Grandpa Mac style- in a recliner with my feet up, watching the world series!
     May God bless the memory of our amazing Grandpa Mac.

Much love- The Grandparent Chronicles

Sources- Memories of Luther's daughter- Donna Lou McAllister Wade
               Memories of Luther's grandson -Bruce K Wade