By Morris Libson, Jr.Just recently I was saddened upon learning that Mr. William Masters had passed away. Mr. Masters was the father of my high school classmate, Richard Masters as well as the rest of the Masters clan most of which I know personally and have been my friends for many years as my family and I have lived and made countless memories in this our hometown of Eagle Pass. But I have to admit that the most important reason why I was so saddened is that I remember so very vividly and fondly of how Mr. Masters was my scoutmaster when as a young boy. I was a member of Boy Scout Troop 292.
I certainly was not one of the outstanding Boy Scouts, but becoming a member of Troop 292 was at that time in my life an experience that provided a great amount of pride and character development. It was the first organization that I joined as a young man. Mr. Masters was our Scoutmaster, he was that man that we looked up to and admired. How he could walk forever on those hikes that the Troop made under his leadership!!! Most astonishing was that he seemed to be able to never tire despite the fact that he was a postman and probably walked miles and miles everyday delivering the mail throughout the entire community of Eagle Pass.
Instead of coming home and longing to get a good rest, he came home almost daily to his Scouts; to teach them how to tie knots, to prepare them to earn merit badges, and , most importantly, to teach all of those in his Troop to become better citizens. During those afternoons in his backyard we also found time to ride the donkey he had in his back yard! I now realize how he laid the groundwork for many of us to become what we are today. As we grow older, we began to bring back those cherished memories of all those people that had an impact on our lives. I unfortunately did not get to see Mr. Masters during the last months before his death, but I fondly remember that every time that I ran into him after I had reached adulthood he always had time to say hello and greeted me with a smile. I somehow feel that with that gleam in his eyes he still saw me as that kid in a Scout's uniform just as I still saw him as that young Scoutmaster of Troop 292 that I admired and most of all respected.
You see that is what so many of the adults of today fail to understand: You may teach a child many things, but you have really done something for a child when you earn his respect and his admiration! There are men that touch our lives in a way we will always remember. And as time passes, the Lord sees fit to take these men and bestows upon them eternal rest. Mr. Masters holds a special place in my memories and in my heart, may he rest in peace for he has left his mark among the many of us still living: If we can unselfishly learn to give of ourselves and our time for the betterment of our youth then surely his legacy will live on!!
