Honorable Mention - Bo

Bo, The Practical Optimist

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did."~Newt Gingrich

26 Tidbits:

Master fisherman

Country Music (and singing along in the car)

Garth Brooks

Wakeboarding

Steak and BBQ

Carl Edwards (and everything NASCAR)

To say he loves Coca-Cola is an understatement

Driving the boat at Wedowee

Auburn Football

Major golfer

Sporting Clays

The Wash House Restaurant

Epitome of a Southern Gentleman

Quick-witted

Loves to give surprises

Loves to be the host (and is a very talented chef!)

Allergies (sorry I had to put it in...it's part of what makes you, you)

Big Disney Fan

Karaoke star

Knows how to cut a rug

Everything in government

Road-trips (especially to away games)

Auburn Football

Family time

The Office

Smiles all the time (Always makes everyone feel comfortable)

ELABORATION:

I chose the quote at the top for Bo, not only because of his love for politics, but also because I feel like it describes him so well. He does every job to the maximum degree. He works as hard as anyone I have ever met in my life, and he wouldn't have it any other way. He is the kind of person that would sacrifice every bit of his own happiness so that someone else is happy. Don't get me wrong, he stands his ground, but he makes it a point to make sure others are content and comfortable. He is a decision maker, but has the amazing ability to quickly make decisions that somehow appease the whole group. Everyone loves to be around him. His personality is contagious, along with his smile and laugh. He can relate to anyone anywhere, and quickly makes newcomers feel welcome. When he asks how you are, he is the type that listens intently with sincerity. He treats every person he meets with the equal compassion and congeniality. He is a true Southern gentleman in every sense of the word. He's hysterically funny. His dry-witted sense of humor is accented with perfect comedic timing. I would say he's a pretty likable guy...

CLASSIC STORY:

I really got to know Bo the summer after our junior year of college. I always knew who he was, but I didn't really know him. On this afternoon, I was returning something to him at his house. He invited me to go and sit under the tree by his house and have a Coke, something Bo practically considers part of his family. We hadn't known each other very long, but we just got started talking. He made conversation go by so easily, and before I knew it we had been sitting for about two hours. After we finished our Coke and there was a break in conversation, he asked if I wanted to throw the frisbee. Sounded like a great idea to me! We threw the frisbee back and forth a good bit, and chatted in the afternoon. He also has a pretty good reputation for being pretty smooth, but on this day he lost his footing for just a second. I threw the frisbee, and somehow it slid right through his hands and hit him in the face. He quickly shook it off, laughed at himself, and we continued to throw the frisbee. He thinks that it was a slip on his part and that he lost "cool points," but I don't think he realized how impressed I was at his ability to laugh at himself and joke and have fun with it. I will never forget that! Some of you might be wondering why I didnt include the Magnolia Ball (Round 1) story here...I think that story deserves a blog post of it's own.

This story just goes to show what a genuine person Bo is. He makes every effort to be congenial and friendly, and to make people feel comfortable. Like I said before, people, obviously including me, just can't help but like him!