Jerry Sims, The 2nd "Sonny Martin"

It was a little over six years ago when Jerry Sims came through Mobile on his way back from Florida on the way home to Little Rock.  This was the first time we met, at The Original Oyster House on The Causeway.

It was five years and two days ago, August 7, 2011, that Jerry passed into Eternity, from heat stroke.  He told me the previous February or March that I needed to come to Little Rock, before something happened.  I believe now, as I did in August 2011, that he was prophetic in his statement.

By gosh, and what a trip that was back in April 2011!  Jerry, David B. Treadway, Charlie Scarbrough, Felix McDonald, Barry McCorkindale and Dale Seidenschwarz were there.  I'd met Barry a couple of times previous on some of his trips through Mobile, David B., Charlie, Dale and Felix I met there for the first time....

But back to Jerry; because of his insistence, I'd made "the pilgrimage" I'd wanted to do all my life.  Because of Jerry's insistence, I experienced things few fans of KAAY had ever lived.  Because of Jerry, I'd met people I'd only talked to via telephone or e-mailed.  I'd met some Gentle Giants of The Gentle Giant, KAAY.

A year later, almost to the day, I almost died from heat stroke myself.  I was in the attic, doing a "20 minute job" and had already been stressed from working in and out of the attic.  Instead of taking the flooring outside to the saw, I decided to whittle the little bit of wood I needed out of the way while up there.  It was almost a fatal mistake....

I'll spare you the details- I think I mentioned this before, but it bears remembering- but I finished the job over three hours later, after I'd somewhat recovered, with my wife tending to me and cooling me down.  That tunnel I was looking down almost closed and I nearly passed out.  I berated myself, after having been a Paramedic, I didn't notice the signs until it was almost too late!  I thought of my family and of Jerry; what would they do without me, and would I see Jerry in heaven?

My point to this post is: no matter where you are, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and heat cramps are nothing to play with!  I have since tended to another man who we almost lost at work, a customer at that; I remembered Jerry and my own experience and we were able to help him get back before the Paramedics arrived (I am a First Responder at my main job).

We have been experiencing triple-digit temperatures and heat indices here in Mobile already, in the first week of August.  This is no laughing matter; please keep yourself hydrated and cooled off, keep a cold towel around your neck and wipe your face often with it (I put one in the freezer and one on my neck and swap them every ten minutes or so, when working outside).

But for Jerry's insistence, I would have never met one of the nicest guys in the world.  Thank you, Jerry, for kicking me in the keester until I came to Little Rock... I'll see you again one day....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)