Fred Hatfield and I did not become friends until later in his life. I had the “Coffee Break” TV show and he was a scout for Gene Autry and the Los Angeles Angels.

Autry being my cowboy idol, I asked Fred if he had met Gene and when he said he had, I knew he would be my friend. On many occasions we would meet at Hardee's in Tallassee; Bobby Ellis, Bobby Stalnaker and others always met each day in our corner of Hardee's, where we ruled the roost.