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By Patrick Okey
(Editor's Note: The author of this story, Patrick Okey, is my first cousin. I
thought Empower readers would be interested in this delightful story of
history and seeds of success. It is actually an excerpt from a letter recently
received from Patrick, who currently works in the healthcare
administration profession in California.)
Yes, it was my grandfather, Homer O. Okey (of White & Okey) that built the old
(Montrose) courthouse. He also built many of the other commercial buildings in
Montrose along with many of the local residences of the time. They also built the
town's first hospital, where I think you even worked!
Dad grew up in a house at 510 Selig Ave. in Montrose. Dad was back visiting his
sister Jane (Miller) in Grand Junction about three years ago and stopped by the
old Okey homestead in Montrose. He reported two things. The house had been
nicely remodeled and was occupied by the mayor of Montrose; and two, the
black walnut tree he planted in the back yard as a youth had turned into a
beautiful tree and was doing well.
He has told the "tree story" to me and my kids on several occasions, trying to
illustrate different messages. When dad was 12 or 13, Judge Jessie Bell lived in
the house across the street from him. The Judge had a row of black walnut trees
against the back of his property. He talked my dad into making an investment in
his future by taking some of the nuts and planting them in Dad's back yard.
Only one of the many nuts germinated and grew into a tree. While the messages
are all "situational" and easily embellished, some of the more notable concepts
relayed included the need to try more than once, it takes time to reap the
benefits of anything good, an illustration of the need (and ease) of investing in
yourself. The list goes on and is very applicable to parables for young people to
learn and grow by. I know I did. (end)
A Proverb: A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade
they know they shall never sit in.
(Editor's Note: The author of this story, Patrick Okey, is my first cousin. I
thought Empower readers would be interested in this delightful story of
history and seeds of success. It is actually an excerpt from a letter recently
received from Patrick, who currently works in the healthcare
administration profession in California.)
Yes, it was my grandfather, Homer O. Okey (of White & Okey) that built the old
(Montrose) courthouse. He also built many of the other commercial buildings in
Montrose along with many of the local residences of the time. They also built the
town's first hospital, where I think you even worked!
Dad grew up in a house at 510 Selig Ave. in Montrose. Dad was back visiting his
sister Jane (Miller) in Grand Junction about three years ago and stopped by the
old Okey homestead in Montrose. He reported two things. The house had been
nicely remodeled and was occupied by the mayor of Montrose; and two, the
black walnut tree he planted in the back yard as a youth had turned into a
beautiful tree and was doing well.
He has told the "tree story" to me and my kids on several occasions, trying to
illustrate different messages. When dad was 12 or 13, Judge Jessie Bell lived in
the house across the street from him. The Judge had a row of black walnut trees
against the back of his property. He talked my dad into making an investment in
his future by taking some of the nuts and planting them in Dad's back yard.
Only one of the many nuts germinated and grew into a tree. While the messages
are all "situational" and easily embellished, some of the more notable concepts
relayed included the need to try more than once, it takes time to reap the
benefits of anything good, an illustration of the need (and ease) of investing in
yourself. The list goes on and is very applicable to parables for young people to
learn and grow by. I know I did. (end)
A Proverb: A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade
they know they shall never sit in.
Uncle Homer (left) and his City of Montrose,
Colorado memorial bench in Centennial Plaza.
The bench photo was taken in December of 2007.
Colorado memorial bench in Centennial Plaza.
The bench photo was taken in December of 2007.