By Dean W. Berry Jr
There is much to be learned when you hear someone’s story. The Could Be The Start Of Something Big! is the story (or collected stories) of my father-in-law’s first seventeen years. It is enlightening and entertaining . . . and educational.
Dean traces growing up in poverty to being lost in New York City (at 9) to his love for music (23 first place finishes in trumpet/coronet performance, his love for sports, his friends, his family , business, and his bigger love for and gratitude for Christ’s work in his life.
Takeaways:
Reasons to start a business: (1) You know the business inside and out, (2) You have an insatiable desire to work, (3) You have your own finances and do not have to borrow money. 45
He was the only 8th grader playing trumpet/coronet in the 4000 student-body Ben Davis HIGH SCHOOL band. 52
His fascination with trains probably came from listening to his Grandfather Edwin Berry’s stories of working for the New York Central Railroad. NOTE: Grandparents/Parents - the stories you tell matter.
Dean’s appreciation for the people who marked his life; among them Bud Edison (Sandy’s brother), Older cousin Ralph Kessler (taught him to work hard and at speed); Dick and Martha Hays (friends and High School Sunday School teachers who invested in his and Sandy’s life)
God’s protective providence throughout his life.
Dean’s diligence in finding and applying himself to work (paper routes, shoe sales, J.C. Penny, Drive-In Theater) — much of this without personal transportation (he took the bus or walked).
Excellence: He played the National Anthem as a solo for most of his time at Ben Davis High School before every varsity basketball game, including playing at Hinkle Field house (until 1950, the largest basketball field house in the United States; place of the HS finals, and where Milan High School (think Hoosiers) won the State Championship.
Insight: “Sandy was getting a lot of pressure from her Mother to break up with and date other guys. Her Mother had a goal for Sandy to attend Milligan Christian College, meet and marry someone that would become a pastor.” (82) Sorry, Grandma Allen, that would have to wait until your granddaughter fulfilled that desire :).
Little events that have lasting impact: Getting pelted with a tomato, throwing up after eating an onion-rich burger — never touched either for decades.
Passion: “I had a burning desire to always win.” 85
Something (among many things) I didn’t know: Uncle Scotty had a Cushman Motor Scooter. 88
The importance of discipline (in academics too). Dean won a full scholarship (music) to Butler University, but could not attend because his grades were not strong enough. 91-2
Take responsibility for your own decisions: Mr. Chandler (HS band instructor) asked Dean to buy a Coronet (which cost a lot of money, especially for a poor boy) and then wanted him to shift to trumpet a few years later, and then moved him from first to sixth chair because Dean would not (could not actually) buy the trumpet.
Punctuality: Story of HS football awards. Dean Sr was late — too late — and that event sealed the importance of teaching punctuality to his kids. 93
Initiative: Pursuing sports teams, taking trips at a young age, chasing job opportunities, starting his own band.
In individual sports such as track, tennis and wrestling there is no subjectivity involved. It is man against man and whoever wins is the best. That is why I enjoyed the trumpet at the solo and ensemble competition. Even though there can be some subjectivity involved if an individual practiced more than anyone else the results would be a perfect performance. No one can take that away from you. That is why I was attracted to straight commission sales jobs – no one can keep you from achieving. The more you sell the more income you earn. There were so many times up to this point in my life that I was not allowed the opportunity to succeed. I now look forward to having the shackles removed. If I had applied myself to academic endeavors in the same manner as music, athletics, and sales it would certainly have prepared me better for future challenges. No one can hold you back on achieving and/or anything attaining intellect. 97
Dean’s final thoughts:
Overall the most important aspect of my life, that has resulted in what many would consider success was, one period the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ and accept him as my Lord and Savior at a young age. Two period the blessing of being able to find Bible believing, Bible teaching churches to learn the truth about life and how to experience it abundantly.
I am grateful Dean is my father-in-law. I’ve learned much from him, but especially appreciated his recognition of God’s providential care during his life, his appreciation for friends, his quickness in giving others credit, and his incredible initiative.
