Weldon Holcomb and his Baptist Cigars

A couple of years ago, Tyler lost a local icon when attorney Weldon Holcomb died.  Weldon was a former Smith County District Attorney... former judge... a fixture in the community... but probably best known by many in the downtown area as the "Candy Cane Man".  Weldon always carried a hand full of candy canes in his coat pocket and you could approach him almost anywhere and ask for one.  Weldon would smile and say something like... "Why sure... here you go", shake your hand or pat you on the shoulder.  He was tall, somewhat lanky build with slicked-back hair tucked under a cowboy hat.

One day I stopped in the McDonalds on Beckham Street on the way to work to grab breakfast.  I noticed Weldon Holcomb sitting in a booth in the corner of the dining room.  A little boy... probably six or seven years old was standing nearby with a gentleman who was finishing up his breakfast.  The little boy had lots of energy and everytime he took a bite of eggs, he walked in a circle around some of the nearby tables. 

Probably the third or fourth time the little boy circled the tables, Weldon reached into his pocket and addressed the young lad, saying... "Young man... ask your Deddy (Daddy) if you can have one of these here candy canes."  The little boy stopped dead in his tracks and turned toward Weldon, saying... "Oh... that's not my Daddy.. he's my uncle... my Daddy is in Heaven with Jesus." 

I could tell this caught a typically never speechless Weldon Holcomb by suprise.  He paused and his eyes seemed to well up a little.  As Weldon spoke I could hear a little bit of a crack in his voice... "Well... I'm sure you miss your Daddy, but being there with Jesus... well... that's the best place anybody can be."

The little boy's uncle gave a nod of approval for him to receive a candy cane.  As Weldon handed it to the little boy, he smiled and said... "Now young man, that's a Baptist See-gar (Cigar)... and you can smoke it anywhere"  (gesturing with his hand by pointing toward the sky, as if it were approved in Heaven).

In a world full of hustle and bustle we need more Weldon Holcombs handing out gestures of kindness to the people that cross our paths.  We can also find comfort in Weldon's words, because they are true... "... being there with Jesus... well... that's the best place anybody can be".