Well here we are again, on the cusp of another football and broadcast season. Unfortunately, the Auburn family and Auburn Network will be minus one of their most ardent followers. Boyd Lee Cates passed away Thursday, July 20. He was just a few weeks shy of his 88th birthday.

"PePaw" is how everyone knew him in Valley, Alabama. A name he picked up when his youngest grandson started calling grandma "MeMaw" when he was a little boy. Quickly he became known as "PePaw". At first I don't think he cared for it, but he grew to appreciate and love the fact that everyone else started calling him the same thing.

"PePaw" was born in Burlington, North Carolina in 1918. He was one of four children. He did not finish high school, but instead went into textiles. It would be the business in which he stayed until he retired about 15 years ago. "PePaw" traveled quite a bit in his career. His final stop would be Langdale (now part of Valley), Alabama.

He married early in life and had four children of his own, three sons and one daughter. The daughter was the youngest and the one that was taking care of him in his final days. "PePaw" had four grandchildren, two boys and two girls, and four great-grandchildren, three girls and a boy.

"PePaw" loved the Auburn Tigers. However, like one of his grandsons, he was a Georgia fan for many years. It wasn't until the mid to late 80's that his allegiances switched totally to the Tigers. He listened to every radio broadcast if at all possible. And when I say every radio broadcast, I'm not talking about just football. He also listened to basketball, baseball, and Tiger Talk. He was a devoted listener.

Now you may ask why I chose to right about this particular person in this my first column of the new season. Well you see…that youngest daughter who was taking care of this man in his final days is my mom and "PePaw" was my granddaddy. One thing is for sure, without him I would not be where I am today.

He introduced me to sports. He took me to my first college football game, my first Braves game, my first Falcons game, my first Atlanta Hawks game, and my first PGA Tour event. From the time I was a small child up into my college days he was the one I wanted to sit down and watch a big game with. Since becoming a so-called responsible adult we hadn't been able to do that very often. I missed it.

He introduced me to the infernal game of golf. He gave me my first set of golf clubs Christmas of 1978. We were out on the links the very next day and I haven't stopped playing since.

He made sure I got into Auburn University. It the summer of 1984 and a scholarship to Samford University had unexpectedly fallen through. At that time Auburn was my second choice, so it was next in line. Unfortunately the admissions date had passed. "PePaw" made a few calls to the Textile Engineering School. They still had some openings for students majoring in Textile Engineering. He pulled some strings and I was in. Sometimes I wonder where I would be right now if he hadn't used his influence to get me on the Plains. I certainly wouldn't have what I consider to be the greatest job in the world right now.

The words in this column can never adequately sum up what "PePaw" meant to me. I never got a chance to tell him either, however, I'm sure he knew. Since his death I've had several people tell me how proud "PePaw" was of me. At the funeral I was told by a second cousin that the first time CBS used my play-by-play on one of their television broadcasts he apparently immediately called to tell him. I never knew that…I'm glad I do now.

So when I strap on the headsets for the first time this season I'll be thinking of "PePaw". And while I'm thinking of him, I know he'll be listening like always, but this time in a better place with "MeMaw" beside him. I miss you both so very much.

Until next time, War Eagle and so long everybody!

Rod

In 2006, Rod Bramblett enters his fourth season as the play-by-play voice for Tiger football and men's basketball. In 1998, Rod Bramblett began serving as the host for the Auburn Network's weekly call-in show Tiger Talk. In addition, Bramblett has been the voice of Auburn baseball since 1993. The Valley, Ala. native also serves as co-host on the Auburn Football Preview Show & host on the Auburn Football Review and the Auburn Basketball Review show. An Auburn graduate, Bramblett is Director of Broadcast Services for the Auburn Network, where he is responsible for coordination of the network's affiliate relations and audio production.

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