These are the heartwarming stories and personal insights of a country boy whose earliest ambition was to shovel ashes because he wanted to improve country roads and people's lives. From a two-room schoolhouse in Poplar Grove, Pennsylvania, through high school in Connellsville and on to college, Shearer completed degrees at three seminaries and master's and doctoral degrees at Columbia University. Instead of serving as missionaries in the Philippines, Richard and his high-school-sweetheart, now wife, Ruth, became the president and first lady of Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia. Join Dr. Shearer as he reminisces about adventures as a singer, church pastor, cattle baron, educator, and pilot flying across North America. He tells of meeting and establishing friendships with such dignitaries as Senators Robert Byrd and Jennings Randolph, Terry Bradshaw, Marian Anderson, and baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson. His family, faith, and dedication to Christian higher education were always-and still remain-the center of his life and the source of his wisdom.