HE WAS A CHILD OF THE WILDERNESS. THE WILDERNESS OF THE EAST TEXAS PINEY WOODS. HE GREW UP IN THE 30'S AND 40'S. BACK IN THE DARK AGES. THEY WERE DARK BECAUSE HIS FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY TO START WITH.

BUT AS TIME WENT BY HE BEGAN TO REALIZE SOME OF HIS POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS. HE WAS ALLOWED TO ROAM FREE OF ADULT SUPERVISION FROM THE TIME HE WAS SIX OR SEVEN YEARS OLD. HE HAD ROAMED THE PINEY WOODS WILDERNESS FOR TWO OR THREE MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION AROUND HIS HOME.

WHEN LOREN WAS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD HE ROAMED THE WOODS AROUND HIS HOME LIKE SOME LITTLE WILD CREATURE. HIS FAMILY LIVED IN EAST TEXAS DURING THE OIL BOOM. HIS DAD WORKED FOR CITIES SERVICE PIPELINE COMPANY AND THEY LIVED IN THE CITIES SERVICE OIL COMPANY CAMP BETWEEN GLADEWATER AND LONGVIEW. THE CAMP WAS ON 20 ACRES OF LAND OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND HAD ABOUT 25 FAMILIES LIVING IN IT. THERE WERE LOTS OF WOODS AND WILD PLACES ALL AROUND THEM.

DURING THE SUMMER TIME WHEN THERE WAS NO SCHOOL LOREN WAS FREE TO DO PRETTY MUCH AS HE PLEASED. HE WAS SUPPOSE TO STAY INSIDE THE FENCE AROUND THE 20 ACRES OF THE CAMP, BUT UNLIKE COWS, A BARBED WIRE FENCE NEVER STOPPED HIM. ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE CAMP WAS A STRETCH OF WOODS FOR SEVERAL MILES. THERE WERE TWO SMALL LAKES IN THESE WOODS AND SEVERAL CREEKS. THE WOODS WERE FULL OF RABBITS AND SQUIRRELS, COONS AND POSSUMS, AND ALL KINDS OF BIRDS. THE TWO LAKES WERE FULL OF FISH. IT WAS A PARADISE FOR A BOY WITH A 22 RIFLE, A FISHING LINE, AND ITCHY FEET.

WHEN HE WOULD LEAVE HOME OF A MORNING, LOREN WOULD TAKE A SANDWICH AND A CANTEEN OF WATER AND GO EXPLORING. HE WOULD LEAVE HOME EARLY IN THE DAY WITH HIS TRUSTY 22 RIFLE AND BE GONE ALL DAY. HE WAS ALWAYS CAREFUL TO BE HOME BEFORE HIS DAD GOT HOME FROM WORK. HE WAS NOT SURE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED ALL THAT FREEDOM IF HIS DAD KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.

TO BE CONTINUED