Stephen Tally Lunceford

When I think about a hero I think about my dad. He has helped me throughout my life in sports and in being a dad and caring for my sister and me.

When my dad was growing up he had a little bit different life style. His dad was never at home and his mom was not a "normal" as you would say "mom." But in high school my dad was kind of living with one of his best friends, John Sutton. They grew up together and were friends and are still friends to this day. In high school my dad played many sports like football, basketball, and baseball, and his dad did not really ever come to any of his games because he was always at the hospital because he was a doctor and helped found the Moore Orthopedic Center in Columbia, SC. One thing that my dad does for me is coming to my games and cheering on the team and me.

Anyway when my dad was like 7 he started to fly with his dad because grandpa loved to fly planes and he got my dad to like flying planes. But about four years before I was born grandpa had to land in a parking lot because the runway had turned off the runway lights and grandpa was just about to make it safely to the ground when his wing on the plane hit a power line and his plane crashed and grandpa died. My dad did not let that keep him from flying. But my dad always tells me that I do not realize how lucky I am to have such a great caring family that supports everything that I do. And now my dad has a great healthy family, and we all support each other in what one does.

My hero was born on January 5, 1962. And he tells me all the time that things were not like this when he was younger. He always tells me stories about how we take a lot of things for granted and we do not even notice it. But when he was younger he said that his friends and he did not have cell phones, and laptops, and golf carts and things that we get when we ask for them. My dad also said that if he wanted something that he would have to get it with his own money. That was the case most of the time. He also told me that he and his friends walked almost everywhere that they went and they would not get lost because they have lived there all their lives. He said that it was a good thing to walk around because you get fresh air and the exercise.

In my dad's life he has lived in South Carolina all his life in lower school, intermediate/middle School, high school, and even college. If you asked him if he would move to another place he would probably say no because he loves to fish, hunt, play sports, and definitely loves the weather.

My hero, my dad has done so many great things for me in my life. He has always helped in when I need it and is always there to cheer me on in sporting events. I love sports so much and my dad was the one that got me hooked in playing them. I remember when I was a little younger all I did was ride horses, and I still do, but I found tennis racquets in our garage, and I asked my dad how the sport was played and I wanted to know every detail about the sport. So I think it was when I was 5 that I started to really like the game a lot and I was playing it a lot in the week as I got older I played competitively and my dad was there to back me up. He knew exactly what to say at the moment when it was happy or sad and he always made me feel good. Then this past year 2005 of 7th grade I wanted to try to play basketball. When I told my dad, he was so thrilled so he started to help me out outside when he would get home from work he would help me on my shot and dribbling. My dad has always been there for me, and I know that he will always be there with me. And I just feel all good inside when I know that my dad cares for me and loves me to do the things that he does for me. He also helps others like my sister, my mom, and his friends. He has always been a caring person and that is what I love about my dad.