That, is someone I would have liked to have met! Texans never forget where their real home is. Under the Lone Star.
(and he spoke Latin too.............you realize how rare that is? )
Thank you for sharing those moments, and please continue to do so.
You are welcome! And thanks! He really was 1 of a kind. He was the eldest kid of an only child (his dad), so his dad's parents spoiled him! In some bad ways... but in lots of good ones too.
By being "old fashioned " I meant that they strongly believed in a classical education which meant you had to be fluent in Latin, French, and have a smattering of Greek. But because they were Texian, you had to be an excellent shot, and know about horses and cattle and such and memorize all important Texas dates.
My dad never did well with his French (probably why he forgave me failing Latin), but he got his Latin learned, and a smattering of Greek. My parents would always good naturedly argue about Latin pronunciation. My mom also knew Latin... but my mom had been taught Church Latin, and my dad Classical Latin.
Growing up my dad spent a great deal of time with his grandmother (his dad's mom). She was fluent in French, German, English, Latin, and Greek. She would read all sorts of things to him for hours at a time. But only educational things. My dad took an interest in astronomy at one point, so she read to him every astronomy book that she could find. He remembered so well what she read, that in second grade he was asked to give an astronomy lecture to the 5th grade. And he was NOT a good reader in 2nd grade. He was very slow to learn to read, and at first read very slowly. That was a big reason why his grandmother read to him. But they kept telling him that he was brilliant, and often brilliant people just mature more slowly, so he shouldn't worry, it would come with time. And it did. By the time he was in high school he was an excellent reader.
My dad never did become a good speller. He wrote many books and articles and lectures... but he always dictated to a secretary or my mom. I have no idea who wrote his papers for him in high school and college.

Maybe he just managed to muddle through, or maybe he dictated then too!