Son of a Preacher Man: Growing up in the Seventies and Eighties

By Rodney Jetton

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. Rodney Jetton grew up in the Seventies and Eighties as the son of a Southern Baptist preacher. Being a pastor’s son can be challenging, and his autobiography does a great job of providing us with a candid and sometimes humorous look at what goes on after the Sunday sermon. In this heartwarming narrative, you will get to know the extended Jetton family and share in both the good times and hard times. While this book was written for his children, and is full of touching stories, educational illustrations and commonsense advice it will provide the reader with a unique glimpse into the consequences of good and bad choices. The first few chapters introduce the family members and are filled with childhood memories of Rodney’s years growing up, and then he takes us through his high school and college years. Rodney shares intimate details about his failure to follow his parent’s teachings and God’s commandments, all while showing how God forgave a prodigal son. Rodney’s testimony of God’s amazing grace during the first 20 years of his life will provide comfort and guidance to today’s parents trying to raise teenagers in a Christian home, and teenagers will benefit from these frank and easy to read stories on the temptations they need to overcome in today’s fast paced world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rodney Jetton
• Release date: Feb 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9780991312603

Rodney Jetton

Rodney Jetton is a former Speaker of the Missouri House and a skilled communicator who has candidly shared his personal story of success, failure and forgiveness with elected officials, Christian men’s groups, student assemblies and church audiences all across America. He currently owns Targeted Communications, a content marketing company helping businesses build better relationships with their customers. He is also a partner in Second Act Strategies, a bipartisan group of former public servants who share their stories of overcoming crisis with corporations, elected officials and not-for-profit organizations. Rodney served as the marketing director for Schultz Surveying and Engineering Inc. from 2010 to 2013 where he helped double the company's revenues allowing SSE to make the Inc. 500/5000 list in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Rodney was recognized by the Springfield Business Journal as the top Marketing Director in Southwest Missouri in 2011. He founded The Missouri Times; Missouri's top newspaper covering public policy and politics. He most recently finished Son of a Preacher Man about his life growing up in the home of a Baptist preacher and he co-authored a book on crisis management- The Recovering Politician's Twelve Step Program to Survive Crisis. Rodney served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, and enjoys outdoor activities such as running, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing. He is a member of Gideons International and attends the Sanctuary of Hope Church in Branson, Missouri. Rod is also the father of three wonderful children Callie, Emily and Will. To learn more about him, go to www.rodjetton.com.

Book preview

Son of a Preacher Man

Growing up in the Seventies and Eighties

By Rodney Jetton

Published by The Recovering Politician

http://therecoveringpolitician.com

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Also by Rodney Jetton

The Recovering Politician’s Twelve Step Program to Survive Crisis (edited by Jonathan Miller)

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SON OF A PREACHER MAN

Growing up in the Seventies and Eighties

Copyright © 2013 by The Recovering Politician’s

By Rodney Jetton

While the publisher has registered a copyright for this book, please consider this publication to be in the public domain. Any part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods.

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While the publisher has registered a copyright for this book, please consider this publication to be in the public domain. Any part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods.

The Recovering Politician’s

250 West Main Suite 2800

Lexington, KY 40507

www.recoveringpolitician.com

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by churches, associations, or individuals. For details, contact the publisher at the address above.

Or contact the author at [e-mail] or visit www.rodjetton.com

Scripture taken from the King James Bible and the HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSIONR NIVR. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission of Biblica, Inc. TM. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture references are from the King James Version of the Bible. Any part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods, as long as the work is attributed to the author and with prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

The Recovering Politician’s

250 West Main Suite 2800

Lexington, KY 40507

www.recoveringpolitician.com

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by churches, associations, or individuals. For details, contact the publisher at the address above.

Or contact the author at [e-mail]

Visit www.rodjetton.com

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSIONR NIVR. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission of Biblica, Inc. TM. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-0-9913126-0-3

Cover design by Jaymie Mitchell

Manufactured in the United States of America

December 2013

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Richard and Mary Gans

Introduction by Daniel L. Hail

Preface by Rodney Jetton

Chapter 1: Family Life – The First 20 Years

Chapter 2: Falling in Love

Chapter 3: Bill Jetton

Chapter 4: Judy Jetton

Chapter 5: Siblings

Chapter 6: Grandparents

Chapter 7: Uncles and Aunts

Chapter 8: Family Fiends

Chapter 9: DeSoto, MO – 1967

Chapter 10: Artesia, NM –1971

Chapter 11: Sedalia, MO – 1972

Chapter 12: Roswell, NM – Blue Trimmed House – 1973

Chapter 13: Roswell, NM – Cedar Street – 1973

Chapter 14: Plainview, TX – 1976

Chapter 15: Roswell, NM – Small House – 1976

Chapter 16: Roswell, NM – Circle Drive – 1977

Chapter 17: Petersburg, TX – 1978

Chapter 18: Levelland, TX – 1978

Chapter 19: Gordonville, MO – 1979

Chapter 20: Fruitland, MO – 1979

Chapter 21: Cape Girardeau, MO – Green Acres – 1979-1980

Chapter 22: Cape Girardeau, MO – Carter Street – 1981-1982

Chapter 23: Charleston, MO – 1982-1986

Chapter 24: Bertrand, MO – 1986

Chapter 25: Marble Hill, MO – 1986

Chapter 26: Sheri Adank

Chapter 27: SBU – 1986-1988

Chapter 28: Pride

Chapter 29: Conclusion

Chapter 30: Friends Don’t Let Friends Miss Heaven

Chapter 31: Books to Read

Chapter 32: 25 Years

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DEDICATION

Dedicated to Callie, Emily and Will, the best kids a dad could ever ask for.

I meant to finish this fourteen years ago and hoped that learning about my early triumphs and failures might help you through your teenage years…

Sorry, I’m a bit behind schedule.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Even though this is just a story about the first years of my life, and I am only writing it for you, my children, I do want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank a few people.

First, my parents. Everything that is positive in the following pages, and in my life as a whole, is because of their advice and direction. The mistakes you’ll read about were all a result of my drifting away from their advice and teaching. Never did a son have parents who lived what they taught in their public and private lives more than I did.

Then, my brother and sisters. We played, fought, built, destroyed, climbed to the top of trees, dug holes to the bottom of China and had about the most fun playing together as any kids could have. Each of them, and especially Lottie since she was oldest, shaped the person I am today.

Also, my teachers at church and school. They all pushed, begged, beat or patiently nudged me in the direction I needed to go. Because of their time and interest in me, my life turned out much better than it could have.

Finally, to a few people who took time to shape my life. Uncle John, Gary Hill, Coach Fitzwater, Mrs. Blaylock, Lee Kanakis, Charlie Miller, Paula Bogart, Stan Reihn, Bill Berry, Bob Ingold, Paul Casey, Coach Dixon, and Coach DeClue, all took time to offer me help and advice. They were not my parents or teachers but they took an interest and helped me with big decisions in life. They deserve none of the responsibility for my mistakes and much of the credit for my successes.

This book would never have been printed if not for the advice and help of an editor like Rob Bignell. He checked my spelling, improved my grammar and guided me through the formatting and printing processes. He was great to work with, and it turned out he was also a Green Bay Packers fan!

I also want to thank Nanda Olney for reading and editing the manuscript. Her ability to fix my many spelling and grammatical errors will make turning the pages of these memories much easier for the reader. Stacy Dohogne Lane did a wonderful job of interpreting my hard to read draft that was written on ship. Her ability to decipher those rough notes gave me a wonderful first copy to work from.

I decided to write this book back in 1993 while reading Ben Franklin’s autobiography and trying to write a book about my dad. Dr. Franklin wrote a book for his children so they could learn some lessons about life and avoid his mistakes. I’m not Ben Franklin, but I hope this helps you as well.

Rodney Jetton

2013

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FOREWORD

Our friendship with Bill and Judy Jetton really grew during our high school years. We lived in the same community, attended the same high school and the same church. We were very involved in our church youth group, sang in the church choir and high school concert choir together. We double dated and spent a lot of time at each other’s homes.

We are thankful to have had great parents who took us to church. Our pastor, Milton Elmore, played a major role in molding our spiritual lives while growing up. Our youth leaders and the young married class leaders were also important in pointing us in the right direction.

Bill and Judy moved far away from DeSoto shortly after marrying and even though we have always been separated by distance our relationship has endured. Christianity has always been a strong bond that held us together. We never moved from Festus, but God allowed us to travel to most of the places Bill and Judy have lived. We have been able to see them many times over the years. Once Judy laughed because we were one of the few people in her address book that still had the same address and phone number.

They have encouraged us and we have encouraged them. Bill is gifted in music, Bible teaching, and church growth. He is very approachable, cares for others, and is good at building relationships. Judy is truly a Proverbs 31 woman. She is faithful to God and a true help meet for her husband. Their children have been a reward for their diligence in teaching them the real meaning of a Christian life. Rod, Lottie, Ruth, and Courts have been and are being mightily used by God.

Thank you, Rod, for this insight into your life and that of your family’s. Admitting your failures as well as your good choices takes courage. We pray as you continue to grow in the Lord, that He will use you and your testimony of God’s faithfulness to each of us. We are blessed and honored to call you and your family our family and friends.

Richard and Mary Gans

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INTRODUCTION

A few weeks ago, I received a message from Rod Jetton (a young man I have always admired) that made a simple statement, followed by one of the most daunting challenges I have ever had in my life. He said, I am writing a book about dad and mom. I'm giving their life story. I was looking for someone to write the Introduction of the book and needed someone who has known dad and mom for quite some time. I was talking to dad and he suggested you. Immediately, my mind started wandering and wondering, Why in the world me? I'm not a writer. Bill must be afraid to let anyone else loose to write it. Boy, do I have a lot of things I would like to say. Then, I realized how huge a responsibility his request was. It would be like me setting up a reader for the final words on a person's life. More than that, I would be setting up the final words on the lives of two people I love and admire. After thought and prayer, I said, YES!

When you pick up this book and read its title, you will probably ask yourself, Why would I want to read this? Well, I have known the Jetton family since the late 1970s. During that time I have been blessed by their dedication, drive and determination. I have watched them serve on church staffs, associational staffs and the international mission field. I feel confident that most people who read this book will identify with the storyline as told by their oldest child – Rod. A few things in this story I am just now being privy to. However, the closeness of our two families has allowed me to know more than most people.

Rod has done a fantastic job of writing about the lives of two people who are favorites of so many throughout the world – William Willy Bill (my nickname) and Judith Ann (Bill's words when he wants to silence Judy) Jetton. If you are like me, you get only as big a glimpse of a person's life as they will let you have. You dare not delve too deeply into their past. WHY? For fear you will discover something that will spoil your image of them. Or, they may close themselves off even more with an attitude of, It's none of your business. Well, Bill and Judy are about as transparent as the water on upper Black River on a cool, crisp December morning. Bill and I know exactly how transparent that is. They have always opened themselves up to the people around them, and have encouraged them to do the same.

Bill and Judy amaze people with their willingness (not just their ability) to live on whatever God has given to them at that moment in time. They never beg, borrow nor complain. They will literally give you the shirt off their backs if needed. I've never seen a more committed couple to the Scriptural imperative, By this shall all men know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. The pages of this book are filled with just such a witness to those who read it. It is part of the spirit Rod has tried to capture. Bill and Judy are also people of prayer. Many have been the recipients of their prayers (knowingly or unknowingly).

Rod has tried to emphasize one thing to the readers of this book. Listen to the Spiritual advice of those Spiritual leaders around us. At the moment, it may seem like they are wasting our time. But, in the end, it will save us a lot of trouble. I believe, once you pick up this book you will have difficulty putting it down. You will want to know more and more of this couple who so many of us love and appreciate.

There, I've done it. I've put my final touches on the lives of Bill and Judy Jetton. May their Godly wisdom and demeanor be followed by young and old alike. And all their friends said, Yea, verily!

Daniel L. Hale

Pastor First Baptist Church Millersville

October 2013

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PREFACE

This book started out as a biography about my dad. But Dad is a lot like his mother and was not very helpful in supplying details about his life and ministry. So I could really only write about my memories of him, and that’s how this book came into being. The more I wrote, the more I realized I needed to write these words for you, my children. I wanted you to see how great my mom and dad are, and learn some lessons from my own life.

I wrote the first draft in 1993 on a ship somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean while in the Marines. I kept it all these years and always meant to have it ready for you each to read before you went to high school. But, I got so busy with my career and paying bills that I never got around to completing the project.

I’m sorry I didn’t do it sooner, but I hope you enjoy these stories and memories from my early life regardless of their lack of timeliness. When you were little, you used to beg me (and my mom) to tell you stories about when I was a little boy. I did tell you a lot of stories, and you might even remember some of the fantasy ones about how I saved the town (or Lottie, or my family) from Indians, Monsters or Bad Things in general. While many of those stories were entertaining, this book will be more factual—but hopefully no less enjoyable.

In the Seventies and Eighties, life was different than it is today. Many of the inventions we have today were not around when I was growing up. Nobody had a computer and there were only three channels on TV. Air conditioning was not in every house or car and only rich people had microwaves. Some of the basic things that you’ve always had were not even invented when I was a kid. Cell phones, MP3 players, VCR’s, CD’s, remote controls, weed-eaters and riding lawnmowers have all changed life for kids today.

While it may be hard to believe, life without air conditioning, a microwave and no cable or satellite TV was still fun. As kids, we had more time to play outside with each other. We had nothing else to do and the heat in the summertime made us want to go outside. Without a microwave you couldn’t just warm something up to snack on. You had to wait for dinner to eat and, because we were poor, Mom didn’t have anything like Star Crunches around. With only three channels on TV, there wasn’t a lot to watch, and TV’s were expensive with most families having only one. Back then, you actually had to watch what your parents wanted to watch.

As a kid, the only way I ever played a video game was by using my lawn mowing money at the arcade or going over to a rich kid’s house that had an Atari (I only knew one kid who ever had one.) Nobody knew what a song playlist or a CD was back then. Those who could afford cassette tape players in the eighties would record songs from different records or off of the radio and put our favorite songs together from different groups on a mixed tape. The only way to buy one song when I was a kid was to buy a little 45 rpm record. I don’t even think they make those anymore.

Most of the things you have today all save time and give people more choices. Just think about how that makes things different. My parents experienced a lot of changes in their life-times too. They grew up when there was no indoor plumbing, washing machines, dryers, vacuums, air conditioning or many of the other things I, in my own childhood, could never imagine living without.

My mom can remember when their house did not have in-door plumbing. She tells how my Grandpa won their first TV in a contest and how no family had more than one car. Everyday life in the fifties and sixties was different for them compared to me just as this new century has been different for you. Some people say it’s better now, but older people say it was better back then. Personally, I like computers, AC, iPod’s and ESPN! I agree that the new inventions keep us inside and in front of a TV or computer more, and we don’t play with our friends outside as much, but I still like the new stuff.

In the old days, we all watched the same TV program, we all rode in the same car, and we all listened to the same radio station, but we also all ate at the same time, which allowed families and friends to spend more time together. Today we all have our own TV, we all have our own car, and we cook our own dinner. Occasionally on long trips we all ride in the same car, but each person has their own iPod and playlist or DVD and headphones. These things do make life more about the self and less about family, and that is probably one of the things that is not as good as the old days.

The other thing to remember as you read this story is that we were not rich. I don’t know that we were poor, but there were times when we had very little extra money. When you were growing up, we were poor when Callie was little, but you probably don’t remember that. So, while you did not grow up rich, you definitely grew up in a house were we could afford good vacations and nicer things. That wasn’t the case for my own childhood, but man did we have FUN!

Hopefully you will have fun reading these stories as well, and learn some new things about my parents and Lottie, Ruth and Courts. You will also learn some new things about me. Some of it I am not proud of, but I hope it will help you avoid the mistakes I have made.

I really didn’t want to include many of the negative stories that are in this book. The poem below (with a few of my edits) sums up why I chose to include them. It would be much easier to slide into the last half of my life with many of these secrets hidden, but I know there are others that I love who may follow in my path and this book is my attempt to build a bridge, for them, over the troubled waters I fell into.

The Builder

An old man, going a lone highway,

Came at the evening, cold and gray,

To a chasm vast and deep and wide,

Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;

The sullen stream had no fear for almost ended him;

But he turned when safe on the other side,

And built a bridge to span the tide.

Old man, said a fellow pilgrim near

"You’re wasting your strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the close of day,

You will never again pass this way;

You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build you this bridge at the evening tide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head,

Good friend, in the path I’ve come, he said,

"There followed after me today,

A youth, whose feet must pass this way;

This chasm that has been as naught to almost destroyed me,

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;

He too, must cross in the twilight dim—

Good friend, I’m building this bridge for him."

Author - Will Allen Dromgoole

CHAPTER 1

FAMILY LIFE –

THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS

It is not how much you know about life but how you live your life that counts. Those who can avoid mistakes by observing the mistakes of others are most apt to keep free from sorrow. In a world full of uncertainties, the record of what has gone before – human experience – is as sure and reliable as anything of which we know. – Ray Lyman Wilbur

The wise man learns from someone else’s mistakes, the smart man learns from his own, and the stupid one never learns. –Russian Saying

I was born to God-fearing Christian parents, which accounts for all of the success I’ve ever enjoyed in life. Before we start on our journey down memory lane, I want to tell you about the main characters in my early life. My parents, Bill and Judy Jetton, and siblings, Lottie, Ruth and Courts, will be involved in many of these stories. I want to start with a few of my thoughts and insights about them as well as my grandparents, with a few quick thoughts about other family members thrown in.

CHAPTER 2

FALLING IN LOVE

Bill Jetton and Judy Lewis both grew up in DeSoto, Missouri. Bill was two years older than Judy, who first noticed the young Bill Jetton when her friend Rose Cawvey started dating him. Rose, however, didn’t like Bill romantically, but was only dating him because her mother was pressuring her to. He had a good reputation and Mrs. Cawvey thought he was a good boy. Judy liked Bill and wanted more than this for him. She decided she would get him interested in her instead.

Judy was good friends with Bill’s sister, Mary Lou, who was about her age and she would go over to their house for bunking parties with her friend. Unfortunately, Bill didn’t pay much attention to her until he started attending First Baptist Church and got saved one Easter Sunday morning. First Baptist church had a very large and active youth group, which attracted him away from the Christian church.

Bill’s buddy Keith Barnhart was going out with Judy’s best friend, Kathy Elmore and Kathy made sure that Bill learned of Judy’s interest in him. Suddenly, he paid more attention.