He Did Windows

“He Did Windows”
James Delbert ‘Jim’ Porter
April 24, 1921-December 25, 2010

Jim Porter, or Delbert as his family knew him, was a father of one of my best friends since college, J.D. Porter. Jim was one of those guys that you would refer to as the salt of the earth. There was not a flashy bone in his body. I do not ever remember seeing him in anything but overalls or the uniform that he wore as an auto glass specialist when he worked at Gene Burk Auto Glass. He lost his wife, Ada Porter, about 14 years ago and they were the kind of people who would give you the shirt off their back. I have used this space many times to write about and honor people who were much more high profile or who might have made huge marks on the world. But, taking a minute to remember a man like Jim Porter is a lot like getting off the main highway when you take a trip. It is a whole lot like seeing America from the back roads because that is where the real people live, on those back roads.

I remember hanging out with J.D. in college and when it came time for me to do my student teaching, I was needing somewhere to live for eight weeks and did not really have the money to rent anything. J.D.’s mother and dad came to the rescue and we cleaned up an old 22 foot camper trailer that they had on their place that had probably been used more for storage in those days than ever for camping. It did have a heater and a roof, and they would not take any money. It was a lot like a bunk house but I had a warm place to sleep and it didn’t rain on me so it got me through. It was simple, just like Jim Porter, one of the regular people that make this country what it is, part of the fiber of rural America.

Jim was a World War II veteran. He served his country during World War II and as J.D. said so eloquently at the funeral, he was honored to do it. I was around Mr. Porter almost everyday for the last six months, as he lived in the veteran’s center and was neighbors with my dad on the Red Wing. I remember a couple of months ago, J.D., who now lives in Lexington, Oklahoma, had come to see his dad just to spend some time. He loaded him up in the pickup to go to Wayne’s Drive-In just to sit and have a Coke. He had lived with J.D. and Jannie for 11 years until he moved into the Vet Center and had lived there for around three years. A very simple man with very simple ways who lived his life with no glitz, no glamour. He loved stock car racing, he raised hogs, hunted coyotes with greyhound dogs, and just lived. He was not a member of the country club or the president of a chamber of commerce, but he was one of the best glass men in the business. Yes, Jim Porter did windows, car windows, and made it look easy. To see Jim Porter you had to get off the main highway. I still drive by the old Porter place pretty often in Western Comanche County on Deyo Mission Road. There is not much left there. The old house is gone. But, I have some pretty special memories of an old couple who helped me along in my journey in a very small way but at the time, that little kindness was very much needed by their son’s college buddy. They were just that kind of people and would do anything they could to help a neighbor or a friend. Jim’s final resting place is Pecan Cemetery just about a mile from my house in Western Comanche County where he spent almost his entire life and probably chased a few coyotes. Rest in peace, Delbert and thank ya.

As I wrote this piece about Mr. Porter, it served as a reminder that our World War II vets are gradually leaving this earth and we must remember the sacrifice that countless Americans made in that era. One of the things that is being done is a really great cause called “Honor Flights”. Honor Flights is a way to allow WWII vets to go see the National Memorial in Washington, D.C. If you or someone you know is interested in the Oklahoma Honor Flights Program, visit the website at: http://oklahomahonorflights.org/ or contact my office and I will make sure you get in touch with the right people.

If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.

And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:

“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” –Scott Adams