"My dad and I had what I thought was a really good relationship. But it turns out we had a great relationship. He taught me to be a man.

"The reason I stayed (in Hawaii) is that he listened to every game on the radio. We talked after every game. And he would want me to be here. He wouldn't want me to sit at home and be sad. He would want me to be here and continue to do my work. That's what he would say all the time. 'Do your work.'"

Hester Sr. was a glutton for work. Born July 2, 1944, he grew up in East Saint Louis. "They wore orange & black, like I did at Manual. He wore #40, so I wore #40."

Rob McColley