Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today my dad is a very spry 79 years young!

Dad is retired after nearly 25 years in the Air Force as a staff judge advocate and eight years as a business law professor at East Carolina University. When it comes to my dad, you can forget all the lawyer jokes you have heard. Moral. Honest. Principled. Those are the kinds of words that describe him. I am blessed with a strong, God-fearing father. His character set the standard I used in looking for a husband.


Here is my favorite Tar Heel with a few of his camellias. One of his hobbies is rooting and growing camellia bushes by the dozens. Thanks to Dad, my parents' yard in eastern North Carolina is gorgeous all winter and spring with camellias in every imaginable shade of white, pink, rose, and red.

Dad is an avid history reader. If you spend more than a few minutes in his company, you're sure to hear an interesting story about some colorful historical figure or event.

For a little fun, I researched Dad's birth date (February 10, 1929) and discovered a few little-known facts:

1542 - Queen Catherine Howard of England is confined in the Tower of London to be executed three days later for treason (adultery).

1763 - French and Indian War: The 1763 Treaty of Paris ends the war and France cedes Quebec to Great Britain.

1814 - Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Champaubert

1840 - Victoria of the United Kingdom marries Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

1967 - The 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution ratified.


Dad, have a wonderful birthday today.

I love you,
Laura Lee
PS: There will be a quiz on the above names and dates the next time I see you.