Published: August 20, 2008 09:34 pm      

Book search leads to Corsicana

Michele Vacek Carpenter recalls that growing up in Corsicana, her parents, Jerome and Dorothy Vacek, introduced her to a book penned by local author W.D. “Hank” Wyatt titled “The Hard Job.”

Alas, the books seem to be in short supply.

“I have four young adult children, now gone from home, who read the book with me as teenagers, and now I am looking for copies for each of them, as I feel it is a very valuable book, especially in these times,” Carpenter said. “I have found three copies on Amazon.com and I have searched several other large used book Web sites, but without success.”

Since Carpenter resides in Vancouver, Wash., her father called Wyatt to see if he had any extra copies, or knew where to get any. He did not, on either count.

“We home schooled, so we always had a book going that we read together,” Carpenter said. “I do find the life lessons good advice for growing kids. The fact that there is humor both makes the book palatable to all, especially the young, and demonstrates the value of viewing life with a sense of humor.”

Concerned about an apparent lack of motivation in one of her children, Carpenter asked her father about helping her find more copies of the book.

“I was trying to convey or demonstrate to the kids that we should all find and develop a sense of purpose in life and follow it,” she said. “This requires work but it is worthwhile. Everyone of value in life — work vocation, avocation, marriage, parenthood — whatever, requires work if it is to be successful, but it is worth the effort.”

Now 94, Wyatt wrote the book in the mid-’90s, and it was published in 1996.

“The book included incidents he knew about from his hometown growing up, which was Hugo, Okla.,” said Lila Wyatt, Hank’s wife. “Then he included some tales about us, too. He wrote it over a period of two years — and wrote it out long-hand!”

Lila said her husband went with her to her writer’s club, and the different writing assignments he received got him interested in writing a book.

“The class stimulated my writing,” Wyatt said. “We had this woman instructor who had taught writing at TCU, and she was a motivator! She could get you to do things.

“‘The Hard Job’ is about life,” he said. “My father was the oldest of six boys, and he took the hard jobs because he was the oldest boy. He taught us how the hard job prepared you for life. The book is about preparing you for life, and the hard jobs that come up.”

The book is full of amusing anecdotes and stories, including many about the banking industry, which Wyatt was in for several decades. One excerpt is from a portion of the book addressing failing banks.

“After the FDIC examination, one of the directors came to me complaining about a $125,000 note belonging to him which the examiners had criticized. I let him know right away that there were two simple ways to correct the matter. I told him, ‘Pay the loan off or secure it!’

“This particular man’s statement showed a net worth of $10 million, but it was equity. He could not pay or secure a $125,000 note. He also had a $150,000 note with the bank which was secured by an airplane.

“In a board meeting he expressed his feelings about the examiners being so unfair. He said, as he pointed toward my office, ‘I think I’ll just fly the plan in the window upstairs!’

‘If you do, be sure it’s insured,’ I stated calmly.

A section of the book on advice has Wyatt’s “Top Eleven” pieces of advice he’s gleaned over the years, and includes one which states, “Never kill a skunk on your own front steps.”

His number one piece of advice, and the basis of the book, was from his father, William David Wyatt, and was “Take the hard job. You’ll know more, you’ll be recognized, and you will probably be the boss.”

If you happen to have an extra copy of Wyatt’s book that you would sell or give to Carpenter, please contact the Corsicana Daily Sun at (903) 872-3931.

“I do recall being immensely impressed by his overall outlook of facing life with all of its challenges squarely, without much ado,” Carpenter said. “Not hesitating to pursue a goal despite difficulty, and yes, appreciating the humor along the way.”

—————

Deanna Brown may be contacted via e-mail at deanna@corsicanadailysun.com