All men have an opinion of their father. My father was the coolest person I’d ever met.
Growing up in the small rural town of Stafford, KS, he worked hard to build a hall of fame career. In high school my father was a four sport athlete that gain him a scholarship to play football, baseball and track at The Kansas Teacher’s College in Emporia, KS (now known as Emporia State University. It ’s amazing what he accomplished in his four year College career.
My father played three sports, was a member of a fraternity, gained his undergraduate and masters degree in education. If that wasn’t enough, he also attended Officer’s Candidate School (OCS) with the Untied States Marine Corp after his junior year.
After graduation he served with the United States Marines Corp in the Korean War as a supply officer providing much needed materials to our fighting men. Like most veterans of that generation, he did not speak of his time or accomplishments in the War, he was just doing his duty.
After the war, my father stayed in the Marine Corp Reserves for a total of 28 years retiring a Lt. Colonel. He was proud of his service and was honored to call himself a Marine until the day he passed away.
While in the reserves, he started teaching and coaching in Waverly, KS where he met my mother. They married and shortly after moved to Kansas City,KS after the Nuns at Bishop Ward High School asked him to be the school’s Dean of Men. As most education professionals, he had many duties from teacher, coach and leader of young men and women.
I’ve been told many stories from that era by former students and players. The ones that always stand out to me is how everyone respected my father, how he was a great leader and how he was always sharply dressed. The last one was because he worked at a men’s clothing store on the weekends to make a ends meet with a growing family.
My three siblings were all born in Kansas City, KS and I came along after my father was asked to start the baseball program at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, MO. My father coached at MWSC (now MWSU) for 30 years before his retirement. During his time, he had over 700 wins, coached the USA National Team and eventually was inducted into nine different Hall of Fames. The most notably being the American Baseball Coaches Association. He coached a total of 45 years.
My father passed away the day after Christmas in 2019.
My father taught me many lessons that I try to pass along to my four children. One of the small lessons he passed to me was…. A man should always carry a pocket knife. You might need a knife to cut a loose string, open a envelope, breakdown a box, cut a lime for summer cocktail or use for defense in case of emergency.
To honor my humble father, J. Patrick & Co. introduces THE LEGACY KNIFE, because as D. Douglas Minnis would say… “A man should always carry a pocket knife”
D. DOUGLAS MINNIS