Randy was a very good friend. I was in school between Randy and his sister Trudy. I love them both and will never forget times at West Jr. High and Norman High School. I had not seen Randy, regretfully, in several years. I have always believed that death ends a life but not a relationship. We will forever keep him in our memories and heart. God Bless!

Dearest Randy,
I just learned of your passing today. You have always been such a great friend in my heart and mind. Your creativity, zest for pure and natural existence, are traits that set you apart from the crowd. These endearing aspects of your life live on through your daughter. I am so happy our paths crossed. I still have the bubble waffle shirt you made for me many years ago. I have always treasured it, as I treasure the chance to be a guest turned friend. I love you!

Although our lives are peppered with many cherished memories of Randy, I will never forget when we first moved into our house, before tall trees grew by the pond out back, Randy taught me the serenity to be found in fly fishing: casting a rod…rhythm slow and deliberate, steady and wide, like watching the wind. Thanks, Randy.

What started out as me being interested in a cute bartender at Othello’s ended up with me having a life long friend. Randy was back in Norman to get his MFA and I was working an evening shift at a hospital lab, so our schedules fit. I remember having so much fun watching Star Trek on the big screen TV on Sunday nights at Othello’s and occasionally getting to watch Corey while Randy was working. I had just gotten out of a long term relationship, and Randy was the door to my new life. 

Through Randy, I met so many new friends, including the man I ended up married to. It started one night when Randy said that he played drums, and would I want to come out to James Wilson’s place, when he got off work, and hear them play music? It was 2:00am, and I was tired, but was I glad I did! I never thought the music would amount to much. I figured it was just a couple of guys goofing off, but boy, was I surprised! They sounded great!

In a couple of years, I found myself learning the drums and playing in a band with James and Lewis. Those were the best of times, and Randy was always so encouraging. 

As the years and decades went by, and Randy had long ago moved back to Wyoming, he would always come to Norman to visit family. Rarely did he ever come to Oklahoma without stopping by our house with Corey. So I had the pleasure of seeing her grow up. And it was so perfect to get to go to her wedding celebration. Randy was always so proud of Corey. Each conversation we had always started out with Corey’s newest accomplishments.

Randy was the best at being a long distance friend. The world shifted for me the day he left this world. I will always miss him. It just won’t be the same. But he will always be our angel.

We were so lucky to have been able to become his friend. He was always so kind and one could always feel joy emanating from his soul. We will miss his visits in person to the Stronghold but his spirit will always be felt.

As we are all doing now, I was thinking back of my earliest memories for my long friendship with Randy. I was looking thru an old photo album. l saw a picture of myself holding my first electric guitar. then I remembered my first jam / garage band experience began in Randy’s garage. I think it was the summer of 1965, between 5th and 6th grade. as I recall, Randy and his family lived about a block to the west of our elementary Jackson school. small house, 1 car garage , like most houses in for this neighborhood. I just got my first electric guitar and amp. Gibson SG Jr, one pick up, red, and a Gibson Maestro 1-12 amp. I took a few lessons from an older guy up in okc, but all he would teach was funky tunes like Old Calcutta. I was into the bealtes, the stones, rock n roll!. so I quit lessons, learned by ear, listening to records. well, Randy must have invited me over and of course we set up in the garage! where else, right ? an older kid stopped by to hear what was going on. I am sure my guitar playing at that time was basic if not just bad. like the song Secret Agent Man, one note at a time skill level. this older kid, as it was explained to me, was a real guitar player who knew all the chords and so on. he said he would show me, so I handed my electric guitar to him. as in all garage’s the floor was concrete. I think the kid was barefoot and when I handed him the guitar, he was shocked and dropped it. the neck broke off. I am sure I was in shock too. my dreams of being a rock n roller gone. end of story, Jenkins Music in okc, where my folks bought the guitar, gave a loaner guitar, Gibson melody Maker, and sent mine to Gibson factory, 3 mths later I had it back. By 7th grade we all moved up from grade school to West Jr High. Randy ( drums), formed a band with fellow classmates James Cecil, Rusty Meyers, Shane Corrotto – they were “The Uncalled Four”. I formed a band along with other Westies , Doyle Gill, Mike Lambert, Paul Jaqua called “Paraphernalia”. One day both bands squared off in the West Jr High gym for kind of battle of the bands during a school function. Randys band played a song or two, I think maybe “Keep Me Hanging On ” Vanilla Fudge, ?? not sure, that was like 1967. My band played at least one song “The Pusher Man” by Steppenwolf. now we thought of our band as a bit on the edgy side, not too main stream. so Doyle said let’s do this song. now if you don’t know or recall, this song has the repeated curse words G.. D.. in it. great song ! but maybe a bit too much for a daytime school assembly battle of the bands. well, Doyle said, I don’t care, “Screw..em if they can’t take a joke ” as that was one of our common sayings back at that time. We played the song, I noticed the teachers, staff and principal stared in disbelief as Doyle sang over and over the chorus line GD The Pusher Man. and it’s a long song!, like 4-5 mins. We never heard one word after the show from one teacher, the principal, not a!. Randy and I have continued our friendship onward since. that first jam – band experience in Randy’s garage was the first of all my musical experiences for 51 years. today, I have music a business producing blues records, music consulting and mgt for 4 touring artists. I still get together with music buddies and mutual friends of Randy – David Steely, Paul Schmidt, Mark Levy. Every Tuesday night we write, arrange and record our own songs at Steely’s in his music room. Randy helped start this songwriting group in about 2008. Steely, Mark levy, myself, all on guitars. We put a gallon plastic bucket on the living room floor, dropped a towel over it, used my son’s drum sticks, and Randy played it like a snare drum. We all took turns introducing and creating new music together. that writing group would later include Walker too, as he stopped in a few times and added his wonderful and energetic personality into the songs. I had plenty of recording equipment in my home office, so we began recording the sessions with a single microphone for reference. And now, in 2017 we are still writing and recording together every Tuesday night at Steely’s house. When Randy came into town about once year, he played drums and recorded at least one song this past year. I will miss you buddy. our shared experience, along with all our mutual friends together, is one that I will cherish every day and that will sustain me as we will all go forward.

 

Randy was always so funny in high school and so kind. He was that person that you would always remember from high school. My love and prayers to the family I know he will be missed.

Still my favorite drummer. I will miss the holiday get togethers of the Uncalled Four “trio”. They were great, but never enough.

I don’t remember Randy but he is a cousin, his father Hack was my grandmother’s sister (Robbie) she would be my great aunt, my mother Linda Thorne is also Randy’s cousin and I think the last time i have seen him was within the past 15 years, when he came to visit my mother. May Randy and his father Hack R.I.P, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family

Loved your cymbal crashes in “You Keep Me Hanging On” and just hanging out with the gang. You made Jr High and High School fun!

I always loved Randy…..so sweet & handsome! I remember his football days at NHS, his MG converti, and his kind & gentle manner.

Well, it’s been a long strang trip on the magical mystery tour with my best friend and soulmate, father of my child. I was blessed to be with him and our daughter as he made his transition from body to pure soul. And he has a pure soul

Coral is an amazingly strong and confident women who was willing to be present while he takes his final steps.

I love you Normanites! It would have been much more difficult without the tribe here to support us, many who have known and loved Randy much longer that I. I truly thank you all.