When I was 14, my father, who was also named Heber Taylor, was in the local newspaper. He’d spent his life writing for and editing newspapers. He wasn’t used to being the subject of stories.
He was a tenured professor, and a university regent wanted to fire him. My father was the faculty adviser for the student newspaper. Students were protesting the Vietnam War. The regent didn’t want to see any anti-war commentary in the university newspaper. My father replied that the students had a right to publish their views. He also said the regents did not have legal standing to act as censors.
One regent did what he could to make life miserable for anyone who was not susceptible to bullying.
I asked my father what qualities you needed to bear up when people are after you.
He replied: “Equanimity and magnanimity.”
That was the conversation.
My father died Monday. He was 97.
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