General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRemember this - 90 yr. Old Struggles to Feet to Shake Pres.'s Hand
Obama told him he didn't have to stand. Archie said, "You're the President" and rose to shake his hand
The man's name is Archie Hackney. He was born in Newton on Sept. 18, 1921, the youngest of nine children. At 19 he hitchhiked to Davenport to help assemble military equipment for Rock Island Arsenal. He received his draft notice in August 1942, and went on to serve three years in the United States Army, including 13 months as part of a bomb disposal unit on Bougainville Island.
After returning home, he worked for 35 years in a machine shop in Newton, and then two years for a window factory after the machine shop closed down. As a boy, he was an accomplished boxer; in 1938, at the age of 16, he was invited to take part in the first Golden Gloves event ever held in Iowa. In his retirement, he was an avid coin collector and wood carver; his favorite past time, however, was coaching little league baseball.
He married Margery Hallam in 1946, with whom he had one daughter.
Sadly, Archie Hackney passed away in January 2014, at the age of 92. President Obama was the first sitting President he had the chance to meet.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)Godspeed, Archie.
Tanuki
(14,930 posts)sprinkleeninow
(20,268 posts)sarge43
(28,946 posts)Someone posted awhile back, "Ma'am, you are Black History."
progressoid
(50,013 posts)uponit7771
(90,371 posts)Skittles
(153,298 posts)Tanuki
(14,930 posts)Skittles
(153,298 posts)I've taken a couple of falls that made me think: I would have busted my ASS if I wasn't in shape.....yes indeed
3catwoman3
(24,109 posts)Her enthusiasm was irresistible.
sprinkleeninow
(20,268 posts)PearliePoo2
(7,768 posts)Rest in peace, honorable Sir!
You're a fine man and true patriot. I salute you
whathehell
(29,103 posts)enough
(13,270 posts)his fellow citizens, and fellow human beings!
Zantar
(7 posts)This photo speaks volumes about President Obama and the mutual respect both men have for each other. It also makes me sad to see how far as a country we've fallen and if we can ever recover from trump. Rest In Peace Mr. Hackney on a life well lived.
calimary
(81,594 posts)Such a touching photo. The grace and dignity that Barack Obama brought to the Office of the President... it made me want to stand up straight and feel great pride.
THIS - that we've got at present? From the sublime, then, to the inane and ridiculous and utterly disgraceful now.
Zantar
(7 posts)I've been around for a long time just recently started posting. It's my go to place for info and lately for comfort, especially in these trying times. It's nice to be surrounded by such thoughtful and sincere folks.
sandensea
(21,713 posts)are money launderers, John Birchers, Duke brother-types (as in Trading Places), and of course Nazi escapees.
lebkr
(39 posts)you can bet there would be no evidence of compassion expressed in body language like the Obamas demonstrate in these photos.
Some despots have a polite, even gentle side - not so our friend Cheeto. The man treats everyone like he treats his wives (or tries to, anyway).
calimary
(81,594 posts)It just serves to make me feel even MORE proud of my vote in 2008, and in 2012, and last year, too. Because I voted for Hillary. And all of us who did can feel justly proud that we weren't fooled, or taken in, or sold a load of snake oil, or waltzed down the garden path to Hell.
dalton99a
(81,700 posts)Raster
(20,998 posts)...NONE of which can be said for his successor.
dalton99a
(81,700 posts)Raster
(20,998 posts)...in one shiesty election of ill repute.
fierywoman
(7,705 posts)there's a whole huge life and world outside the things we all obsess about here. And NO I'm not saying we shouldn't obsess about these things; but by what you put up you give us a strength to deal with these things.
Vinca
(50,326 posts)MLAA
(17,369 posts)We all have our favorites. This one of Archie is right up there. For me, my all time favorite is the one where President Obama bends down to let the little boy touch his hair. Glorious pictures that capture his pure decency and caring with children, the elderly, the physically challenged, all races and genders.
And not a single one of the Resident that captures a drop of decency. Not a single one.
That says it all.
SunSeeker
(51,797 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Brings tears to my eyes.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)trocar
(244 posts)oppressedproletarian
(243 posts)DesertRat
(27,995 posts)leftstreet
(36,119 posts)Blue_Roses
(12,894 posts)Stellar
(5,644 posts)Thank you for sharing!
dchill
(38,610 posts)A LOT!
Doug the Dem
(1,297 posts)Not a dimwitted electoral fluke like Trump.
Trueblue Texan
(2,451 posts)Ya can't look at that and not get emotional. Both men are missed.