My Father, My Unlikely Hero

My Father, My Unlikely Hero: The story of my father through my own eyes CLARENCE JR. BALDWIN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword Dad vs. Fish (Or Something Else)-1 Dad vs. Spelling Bee-11 Dad vs. NFL Playoffs-22 Dad vs. Little League Baseball-42 Dad vs. Disneyland-59 Dad vs. Marine Corps Graduation-83 Dad vs. My First Love-103 Dad vs. Oakland Raider Fans-112 Dad vs. Fish (The Rematch)-125 Epilogue-133

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This is dedicated to the memory of my late grandfather, Clarence Lee Baldwin, who showed me that being a man didn‟t require many words and that true character comes from the merit of your deeds. To my son Jaxson, who didn‟t get the pleasure of knowing his grandfather, but reminds of the man more and more with each passing day. Finally, I dedicate this to my first love, the late Shawna Alexander. May your memory endure always.

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FOREWORD:

This book is meant to be an honest celebration and remembrance of my father, Clarence Eugene Baldwin Sr. He passed away suddenly on August 13th, 2008 at the age of 51. It was sudden not only because of his relative youth, but because our relationship was at its high point when he passed. The sadness I felt was and remains very deep. I wanted to create something that would allow my friends and family insight into some of the stories I have of him inside of me. My thinking when I started to write this was I did not want to forget the experiences we shared together. But along the way, this book became something cathartic for me to help take the pain away of his loss. At the same time, this book is a way to share my father and a bit of myself with others. 100 III

percent of the people I know have fathers, even if they have never met them or have a relationship with them. My father and I did not always see eye to eye and he was not always readily available, but I am fortunate to say that it was never due to a lack of love. With his force of personality and bear-like build, he was larger than life to me. So instead of...