John Avery Lomax, Jr.
I was elected President of The Houston Folklore Society in November 1971, and was President for 3 years. John Lomax, Jr. was still the head of the club. Along about August 1971, John had a cerebral stroke, while playing handball at the downtown Houston YMCA. He survived and recovered, but he lost the part of his brain that holds onto new input. He could recall all his life up to the moment of stroke, but after that what you said to him one moment was gone the next. He couldn't remember a thing that happened to him or what he said 2 minutes ago.
I had the privilege of caring for John. I moved into the garage apartment in back of the Lomax house on Vanderbilt, in West University. John didn't need a nurse. John needed a companion. Someone who knew music, who could help occupy his day. We ate together, we played cards together, we sang together, and we went to the zoo together. This happened from May, 1972- May, 1973.
One of the many wonderful things about my time with John was meeting very famous people. My absolute favorite was the chance to meet Mance Lipscomb, The Texas blues songster, better known as Navasota Mance Lipscomb.
I didn't much think about this at the time, but the years have made me reflect, and realize that John and Mance were a real gift to me.
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