Carl T. Shepherd, the author's son, moved to Center, Missouri at the age of fourteen, where he graduated from the Mark Twain High School. He attended the United States Army Heavy Equipment School at Fort Leonard Wood, where he graduated first in his company.

Mr. Shepherd was known to his closest friends and family as Butch and Carl T. He was a Licensed Crane Operator and was a proud member of the Operating Engineers Union, Local 513, in St. Louis for over 32 years.

During his career as a heavy equipment operator he worked on several well-known Missouri projects. Among those projects were the St. Louis Archway, the Bagnel Dam, and most recently the new Hannibal-Quincy Bridge. He continues to hold the unofficial world record for setting the biggest water tower in two pieces, a task usually done in several sections.

Over the years Mr. Shepherd became actively involved in local Ralls County politics. He served for nearly two years on the Center, Missouri City Council and once made an unsuccessful bid for Presiding Commissioner of Ralls County. He was committed to the people of his community and worked diligently toward its improvement.

He was a well-known, well-loved conversationalist and storyteller with a hearty, infectious laugh. He was a fun-loving prankster -- a trait he always claimed he inherited directly from Ultra-Violet.