memories of senator sam ervin in my late teens prior to joining the navy i had ambitions that exceeded my financial means i wanted to be a lawyer fate would provide a different path in my life but in those days i used to go to the courthouse in morganton nc when i had a chancejust to watch the lawyers argue cases i dreamed about someday being able to present cases like many of them did once in a while the presiding judge would stop everything and recognize senator ervin who would show up in the court to watch the proceedings once recognized the senator would usually stand up and give some folksy always humorous anecdotal speech that made everyone smile even the guilty of course this was usually in traffic or small claims court a lifelong republican i have to admit that i retain a great admiration for the intelligence wit and the man the senator ervin a democrat was al briggs