“Hal, This is Foy Valentine” 

By Hal Haralson, Austin, TX 

I knew who he was, but had no idea how he knew who I was. I was to learn later that my cousin, Weston Ware, had given him my name. He was to become my friend, mentor, and teacher.

The voice on the telephone was a surprise to say the least. “I want you to submit an article for Christian Ethics Today.

“Foy that is a sophisticated theological journal. Seminary and college professors are its writers . I don’t write that kind of stuff. Mine is country. Rural. West Texas!”

I had read Christian Ethics Today often. Foy Valentine was the editor. “I’m familiar with your writing,” said Foy. “Send me an article.”

That was over ten years ago. My first article was after one written by Bill Moyers. When I saw that, I knew I was in over my head. Since that first one, however, I have been privileged to have an article in over forty consecutive issues of the Journal.

Foy Valentine died last week and among the professors and theologians at the funeral was a seventy year old country boy from West Texas whose book, Gentle Mercies: Stories of Faith in Faded Blue Jeans, would not have happened without the encouragement of Foy Valentine.

Thanks, my friend. See you on the other side.

Hal.