Although I had not talked to Gene in the last 10 years or so, I wanted the family to know how much he meant to me. My family moved to New Jersey in August 1971. This was just before we started our Senior year of High School. I wanted to stay in Texas to finish school but my parents and the Lord knew best (which they always seem to do). Luckily for me I met "G" (as we called him in those days), Jerry, Rick, Ron and Curtis and many others too numerous to mention. They took me in and I had a great Senior year.
I only lived in New Jersey 2 years before I left to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in California for two years and then off to college in Utah. I then settled back in Dallas where we were from. Gene meant a lot to me. I loved his convictions about family. He always had my back and we always had fun together.
I saw him a few times over the years. As we got older our families grew, got busy and I am ashamed to say we had not talked in the last 15 years. I want you to know that he meant the world to me and many others. I will always be grateful to him and will love him forever. I know life is great where you are now G and when the time comes, we will get together again and remember the great times we had. You will never be forgotten.
Wes Lansford (Tex)