The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1919-01-30
DALE BICGERs DIED AT
HOME OF HIS PARENTS

HOME OF HIS PARENTS
The following article is taken from
the Oil Belt News, published in East
land Texas. by Don X Biggers,
father of the young man whose death
occurred. and who is well known in
this town
Dale X. Biggers
The message received from Steph-
enville Monday evening merely an
nounced that he had died at that
place at six O'Clock He had been in
the service for more than five years
for the past few months being second
in charge Of the entire pack train
service on the Mexican border He
was waiting the signing Of the peace
treaty TO automatically receive his
discharge. He had his practical
plans for returning TO civil life. and
one of them was 20 always be with
or near his mother To see her, for
the first time in more than five years
he came TO Stephenville during the
holidays on furlough Together
with his younger brother, Clyde. in
the aviation branch Of the navy. he
made a short visit to his father and
the family Of his uncle. Ed r. Cox.
He was sick but few hours with
the dread plague, influenza.
He was man in all that term i'm
plies. He never knowingly varied
from the truth from the time he
could prattle until he spoke his last
word. He was a man in physique and
man in principle His courage was
adamant; his heart as tender as any
that ever pulsated in the purest WON
ans bosom He idolized his mother
and loved his dad. and mother and
dad in turn loved and idolized him
have gone 10 his funeral 10 do
what ! can 10 console a broken heart
ed wife and mother Business cnres
and affairs are Of no concern 90 me
now, and before this is in print my
heart will be in the grave with my
boy My once big, brave, tender
hearted. mild hammered boy
He commanded no martial hosts ,
he swayed no great multitudes with
his eloquence; he sent no written
messages to the world nor did he
shine as a manipulator Of finance and
politics And yet he was great
Great because he was courageous I,
great because he was truthful and
honest: great because he was master
of himself and square with his fellow
man; but greater still because he
never spoke nm unkind word 10 the
lmother he idolized
He was great because II all man
, kind was of his character and kind
there would be no prisons, no aims
houses, no asylums, for there would
F, be no unfortunates or delinquents to
/ fiji them II all men were Of his
character and kind there would be
no poor and oppressed and none with
hearts steeed TO commit oppression.
He was one of the many millions
marked by destiny for great purpose
but not for great distinction, for his
was the manhood and moral worth
that comprises the one and only real
fabric Of society's strength
Since the above was written ! have
attended to funeral of my boy. Those
who were with him during his last
hours tell me that through what must
have been awful agony he never muir
INJURED or complained. never once
cried out with pain. and died with a
smile on his face. Wehn looked up
on him in his casket the imprint Of
that smile was still on his placid
countenance.
II takes a man TO suffer without
complaining and die smiling.
We have lost a son. society has los,
an asset.