March 6, 2025 • 23 mins
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brother Ricky Lewis as he shares his remarkable story of resilience and unwavering commitment to service. From growing up in Pensacola, Florida, to thriving in the aerospace industry for over four decades, Brother Lewis reveals the invaluable lessons his parents imparted to him—hard work, discipline, and the importance of faith paired with action.
Through reflective anecdotes, he illustrates how his father's relentless work ethic and his mother's steadfast guidance shaped his identity and approach to life. The journey of adapting to new environments, from a close-knit community to the bustling streets of Los Angeles, emphasizes the fourth dimension of perseverance and the power of a supportive community.
Brother Lewis's message resonates deeply: challenges are merely stepping stones to success if faced with determination and faith. His insights invite you to consider your own triumphs and resilience. Whether through his professional experiences or personal reflections, you'll walk away inspired to never give up and strive for excellence in your own life.
Tune in to glean invaluable wisdom and encouragement from Brother Lewis's life lessons and engage with our growing community. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help inspire others!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm T Wood, and this is Triumph in Moments where I
highlight significant moments inlife beyond the surface to
inform, encourage and inspirepeople to triumph over their
life's challenges With me.
Today, I can't even say myguest, because he is family
Brother Ricky Lewis is thecurrent national president of
(00:21):
the Omega Psi Phi FraternityIncorporated.
He was born in Pensacola,florida, and raised in Los
Angeles, california.
He holds a degree from theUniversity of the Pacific and
has been employed in theaerospace industry for 40 years.
He is married with two sonsexcuse me, two adult sons.
There's a tremendous number ofaccolades now that I can
(00:44):
honestly go over with BrotherLewis.
However, what stands out to methe most is his unwavering
dedication to service and theway that he consistently uplifts
others through his leadershipand vision.
Brother Lewis embodies thespirit of brotherhood,
commitment and resilience,making a powerful impact not
(01:07):
only in Omega Psi Phi FraternityIncorporated, but also within
the community of abroad.
My brother, welcome, welcome,welcome.
How you feeling, t Wood?
What's good, man, how you been?
Oh, my goodness, taking thisthing one day at a time.
I appreciate you taking outtime in your very busy schedule
to come out here and providesomething positive for the
(01:29):
people.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, man, I appreciate you giving me this
opportunity.
Right, we all got busyschedules.
You're a family man, I'm afamily man, you work, I work and
I just appreciate your patience.
I know we've been moving thiscalendar around man and we made
it work, and to God be the glorybrother, Right, right, right.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So I'll tell you what .
Just to jump right onto it,just to kind of get it started
here, give us an idea of whatwould you say is a morning
routine that you do consistentlyPush-ups, yoga, prayer, what.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, man, I get up about 4.30 every morning.
I've been doing it for 40 yearssince I've been in the
aerospace industry and my momused to say as soon as my feet
hit the ground, I thank the Lord.
As soon as my feet hit theground, I thank the Lord.
I get up.
I walk through the house justto make sure the house is good.
I'm not a coffee drinker, I'mnot a tea drinker.
I try to be as quiet as I canbecause my wife is generally
(02:19):
asleep and I come in, I lookoutside, see if the sun is up.
Generally it's not.
Watch a little news, check myemails, prepare myself to get
off to work man and head on towork.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
That's a bet.
That's a bet, consistently,regardless of the schedule.
So tell me this here how wouldyou describe, just in your words
, how would you describe, lifegrowing up in your household?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
As you said earlier, born in Pensacola, my dad was a
disciplinarian.
My mama was a disciplinarian.
Both born in Alabama, we grewup in Pensacola, florida.
My daddy was a military man inthe Army.
He served our country.
He worked at the Pensacola Navybase for 36 years.
My mama was a laborer man.
She pressed clothes.
She worked at the PensacolaNavy Base for 36 years.
My mama was a laborer man.
She pressed clothes.
She worked at a dry cleaning.
(03:08):
She pressed clothes all herlife.
Mom and daddy had seven children, man, so they have a lot of
time for conversation.
When they say do something,that means do it.
It wasn't no second time.
They don't have time for thatright.
And it was a respectful home.
It was a God-fearing home.
We were a church-going familyand my mom and daddy was not
formally educated man.
(03:28):
My daddy went to high schooland my mama stopped school in
the 10th grade.
So it was important for us todo what we're supposed to do had
chores, everybody had chores,and you had to do the chores and
it was important we done thechores, but it was a loving
household.
I was fortunate enough to havea father all the way, man, till
my daddy died when I was 55years old, so I saw a role model
(03:50):
in my home every day, got up,went to work for 36 years, loved
my mother, loved his wife andtook care of his seven children.
Man, so I was just fortunateman to be in that situation.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
I tell you what it's funny because you kind of
already harped on it when yousay what you noticed about your
father, like certain behaviors,certain habits that he did
consistently and the level ofresponsibility that he held for
your whole household.
So tell me this Can you talkabout who influenced you the
(04:23):
most in your, in your childhood?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Who would you say?
Yeah, man, I'd say my father.
Right, my mama was the nurturerman.
She made sure everything wasgood at home.
She gave us some loving advice.
But, man, me, I am who I ambecause of my father and I just
I'm going to try not to getemotional man, because he is my
everything.
Right, Because I saw him work,I saw him grind man.
He never complained, T Wood.
I mean never complained man, hejust got up and got it done,
(04:50):
Worked two jobs.
So he worked at the Navy base,came home and checked on the
family and then went to a secondjob.
Man just trying to provide forhis family, Never made excuses.
All he asked for was anopportunity man, he had an
opportunity to raise his family,have four of his children go
off to college Right, my mom anddad never had a chance to go to
college.
So my father man has alwaysbeen my role model.
(05:11):
I don't even do anything nowwithout thinking like damn, I
wonder what my dad would thinkabout this.
And he's been gone, man, nowfor nine years, Right, but I
think what my dad think.
So that foundation, that coreof me, has been a man, been a
(05:31):
father, been a husband for 30years, all because of the
foundation man I watch my daddydo every day.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I tell you what.
Now I know that they sometimessay it's an unspoken rule, but
they say the oldest child istechnically the boss.
So would you say that's?
That was the case.
You know, growing up the oldestwas automatically the boss.
(05:53):
You know the kind of led theway amongst the siblings.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Well, it's ironic you say that, right, mom dad has
seven children.
I'm the fifth child.
Right, I'm the youngest boy,but the fifth child.
So there's two daughters underboy, but the fifth child.
So there's two daughters underme, two sisters under me.
My oldest was a brother, thenthe second was a girl, and then
mama had three boys right afterthat, boy, boy, boy and then two
girls.
(06:18):
So our oldest, he's going to bewith the Lord now, but our
oldest man was the baby He'dalways called.
He had to lay the land.
I was mama's first child and Icame along as the last boy and I
tease them all, man, hey, whenmama and daddy saw me as a boy,
they weren't no more boys.
I was it, I was, I was it, Iwas done.
(06:40):
And the mama had two girlsafter me, man, so it's total of
seven of us, and the oldestchild is a boy as well, man.
But yeah, my mom and daddy justdid what they had to do to
raise their family.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah, my mom and daddy man just did what they had
to do to raise their family.
I tell you what, what would yousay, piqued your interest of
working in the field ofaerospace.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
What would you say, piqued your interest?
So who did somebody lead youinto that direction?
Yeah, good question.
I would say Merrill Price,white teacher of mine, chemistry
teacher, and I was always goodin math, man, I don't know how,
I was always good in math, goodin chemistry, and he put me in
this program called MESA, mathEngineering, science Achievement
.
I'm in the ninth grade, I didn'tknow nothing.
(07:24):
I guess he saw something in me,man, that I didn't see in
myself and I excelled in math,excelled in science, got an
opportunity to go to college andwent to college and I was good
in math and science and got adegree and then came home and,
you know, got a job in theaerospace industry, where it's
math and science and technologyand glory be to God, man.
(07:45):
I've been working for 40consecutive years in the
aerospace industry, justproviding for my wife,
consecutive years in theaerospace industry, just
providing for my wife, providingfor my wife, providing for my
two boys, just being able toprovide.
Man, that's what we do as men,right?
So just him motivating me as aninth grader, me not being
afraid of math and science, wenton to college, built a new
(08:09):
foundation after college,graduated and got a job.
I graduated in May of 1984 andgot a job in August of 1984 and
been working ever since, brother, for the last 40 years.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
When you, when you initially graduated, would you
say this for all my collegefolks out there?
Would you say that you werenervous like that.
Ok, how long is this processgoing to take till I actually
start using this, because a lotof our college students they
struggle with like man.
How long is it going to taketill I use this degree?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, yeah, it was a struggle, right, and the
aerospace industry is a veryconservative white environment.
Now you can imagine what it was40 years ago.
Right, you can imagine what itwas 40 years ago, right, but we
(09:01):
had some, some older gentlemen,african-american gentlemen, who
kind of helped me close to thevest, kind of pointed me in the
right direction.
And I find myself doing thatnow.
When I see young brotherswhether it's sisters or brothers
coming into the business, Ifind myself gravitating toward
them to give back a little bitas well like was given back to
me, or them to give back alittle bit as well like was
given back to me.
So, yeah, it took me a minute,man, to kind of get my bearings.
First time, really, in aprofessional corporate
environment, back then, man, wehad to wear a coat and tie every
day.
Right Now it's a lot morerelaxed with a polo and khakis,
(09:23):
but back then everybody wore acoat and tie.
So that's what I wore every day, which was an adjustment coming
from college, man, we used tothrow on some jeans and throw on
a t-shirt, throw on asweatshirt.
But it was a good environmentfor me, allowed me to really
build up my conversation skills,allowed me to be a critical
thinker, allowed me to get infront of a group and present.
(09:44):
And again, man, for 40 years,man, we've been doing it and
grinding in the aerospaceindustry.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
So tell me this as we get older, we begin to learn
what habits or ways of thinkingis like, what particular parent
right, what habit would you say?
What habit or something thatyou do or the way that you think
(10:10):
is contributed towards yourmother and which one is
contributed more towards yourfather?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Yeah, that's a good, I'd say, the discipline piece
for dad.
You know, eight o'clock waseight o'clock.
My daddy told you it's time togo eight o'clock and you got out
there eight or one, he was gone, bro.
It wasn't no asking you twicewhat time are you going to be
ready, he was gone.
So, waking up early in themorning.
But also on the mama side, man,I'm very particular about where
(10:37):
things are in the house.
Where things are, as my momused to say forks go in the
kitchen, toothbrush go in thebathroom, right, so I'm, shoes
go in the closet.
So I'm very particular aboutwhere things should be.
So I got that from mom.
But I think the disciplinepiece, doing what you say you're
going to do, be a man of yourword, being nice and kind to
(11:02):
people.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I got that from my dad.
So my mother told me and thisis something that just always
stays with me is that you know,son, as long as you're blessed
to keep breathing, moving,wherever it may be living,
you're going to face challenges.
When you think about just theentirety of your life to this
(11:24):
point, is there any particularmoment that you could think of
that might have been challengedfor you to overcome and you had
to really find a way to getthrough it, whether it be
mentally, emotionally, just justanything that stands out for
you.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, I would say too One you know we moved from
Pensacola to Los Angeles when Iwas 13.
Right, so we move from a smallsouthern white conservative town
, beautiful network of blackfamilies supporting each other.
Beautiful network of blackfamilies supporting each other.
All of my friends and trip thisone out All of my friends had a
(12:03):
mom and a daddy in the house.
I repeat, every one of myfriends had a mama and a daddy
in the house and daddy worked.
So imagine, growing up in acommunity that everybody had a
daddy.
It ain't like you went down toJoseph's house and his daddy
wasn't there.
Everybody had a daddy.
So at 7 or 8 o'clock they sawall the black men leave and 3 or
(12:26):
4 o'clock all the black mencame back home and we all kind
of cohabitated with each other,right.
So, moving from that environmentto big old Los Angeles,
freeways and cars and people andneighbors not speaking, I
remember vividly, man, when Iwas a little boy I used to speak
to everybody hey, good morning,hey.
And people used to look at mestrange like what the hell is
(12:46):
this little boy doing?
He don't even know me.
What are you speaking for?
Right?
So that was an adjustment.
And then the other piece as Isettled here in Los Angeles in a
primarily urban AfricanAmerican community, I went back
to college in another, all white, conservative community.
So I come out here in big LA,then I leave big LA to go to a
small private white college inStockton.
(13:10):
So back to the adjustment again.
Hey, t Wood, I had an afro man,so I had to find somebody to
flat my hair.
Hey, man, I'm used to soul food.
I had to find a soul food spotright.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
So hey, man, it was just an adjustment.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
So I would just think a 13-year-old with an
adjustment coming to LA and then, as an 18-year-old adjustment,
leaving LA, going to smallStockton.
But you know I laugh about itnow, man, but back then, brother
, it was a struggle, man,because I had to make the
adjustment.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Man, that's a challenge going back and forth
like that.
It's constant adjustment ateach point that you go to.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And you had to adjust right.
So you had to really kind offind yourself on your own, find
a network, a village to help youout, village your own, find a
network, a village to help youout.
And fortunately, man, when wewent to college we found this
village, that little Divine Ninevillage, with the Alphas on
(14:05):
campus, the AKs were on campusand the Deltas on campus and, of
course, my line, we brought theQs on campus.
So we had that little D9village and we all supported
each other right.
So it was a challenge, man, butwe all helped each other get
through and we all supportedeach other Right.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
So it was a challenge , man, but we all helped each
other get through.
Is it safe to say that that didsomething?
Is there a positive that youcould take away from that that
you might have gained, whetherit be a skill set, a way of
thinking, a mindset, what wouldyou say?
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Yeah, I would say the way of thinking, right, you
particularly going to college,right, that's a big adjustment,
because now you're 18.
You're quote unquote legal,you're left home from the nest
where mom and dad is, and nowyou are in this big old world
called college on your own.
There's nobody, there's noalarms waking you up, there's no
professor telling you when thewhen the class is.
(14:51):
There's no professor tell youwhen to teach it, when the test
is, they give you a syllabus andyou've got to study on your own
right.
So that was a big adjustmentfor me, but it really.
It really allowed me to go backto the core, back to that
discipline again we talked aboutright.
It allowed me to go back to thatcore that my daddy developed
Get up, grind, don't makeexcuses.
(15:13):
All you want is an opportunityand the expectation that you're
going to be successful.
So I went back to the core,what I've developed.
But it was a challenge, becauseI was 18, 19 years old Now, on
my own.
But it was fun though, bro, I'msmiling when I look back on it,
man, it was fun.
But it was a challenge when ithappened, but it was fun now.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
I tell you what I want to step to the side and
kind of point the direction here, knowing how Just and kind of
point the direction here,knowing how just from the
perspective of what youexpressed about your father.
Okay, if you could kind ofpaint the picture right now for
us, your father standing infront of you right now, oh man,
(15:54):
I wonder, oh man, I wonder whathe would say looking at you
standing in front of you, right?
Speaker 2 (16:01):
now you gonna make my eyes get wet.
I would just hope he would sayman, you've been a good father,
you've been a good husband.
My father was a good husband tomy mother.
She was his priority and mywife, v Vicky, is my priority.
These boys are now grown Right,so I just hope he can say man,
(16:23):
you know what?
I thought you wasn't payingattention when you was a little
boy.
But like you was payingattention.
You know, t Woods, sometimesyour mamas and daddies talk to
you, man, they don't.
They don't know if you listenor not, right?
And they never said payattention.
They said pay attention.
I didn't know you were payingattention, right.
(16:43):
So I think my daddy would sayboy, look at you.
Now you turned out to be allright, you're a good father and
you're a good husband.
If my daddy could say that tome, man, I'd throw my hands up
to the Lord.
I think if he was standingbefore me, I hope that's what he
would say to me Wow, it'ssomething else.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
There's something I created called Encouragement for
Food.
All right, I love that.
I love that I want you to thankme.
I want you to.
You need to copyright that, bro.
You know what I'm serious man.
I'm going to keep that in theair as soon as you do, air,
immediately, follow thisinterview and say don't try it,
nobody.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Don't try it.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Yeah, I like that, but I want you to take a second
to think about everything thatyou've experienced in your life.
You've heard some quotes.
You've had life lessons fromyour mother, from your father.
You've probably even had someexperiences that you've learned
(17:40):
from your siblings.
So what is some encouragementfor free that you could provide
to all the listeners right now,whether it be a quote or just a
creed or something that you liveby?
What would it be and why?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah, yeah I would say, and it's really, and I got
several.
But, boy, this one right herejust really hit home Faith
without works is dead.
My mom used to say, man, youcan get on your knees and pray,
and boy, she was a praying woman.
But you got to get up, you gotto go work, you got to pray with
your feet.
She used to say that all thetime you got to pray with your
(18:12):
feet, pray with your hands, andI would say faith without works
is dead.
Boy, I'm a God-fearing man.
My wife is a God-fearing woman.
I'm from a God-fearing mom anddaddy.
Boy, I saw my mom and daddy getup and go get it right, they
prayed on it, went to churchevery Sunday Bible study in the
(18:32):
morning, sunday school Church.
They eat and go back to churchin the evening, right.
But boy, they went up and gotwork and put work in.
So I said faith without worksis dead.
You can pray on it, and Godplease pray on it, let's go to
the Lord.
But, boy, you got to get up andgo get it.
So I would say that to youfaith without works is dead
(18:53):
Express to us.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
When you have those moments to where, physically,
you're tired, you can haveemotionally you can be tired
Mentally.
You can have your moments whereyou're tired but you still find
a way to press forward.
What would you say has been akey ingredient.
Come on 40 years, at anyinstitution, at anything,
(19:14):
whether it be a relationship isbig time, at anything, whether
it be a relationship is big time.
What would you say thosemoments to where you felt
literally tired and you stillfound a way to keep pressing
forward?
What would you say, just likecooking food, what would be that
key ingredient for you, myupbringing.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Me and my wife.
Man, just me and her.
We got three cars in thedriveway.
Two people, three cars.
My mom and daddy had one car.
Come on, one car and sevenchildren.
Now most people in thisaudience are going to say how in
the hell, one car and both ofthem work and seven children?
(19:50):
Hey, and got it done right.
So when I get these moments,like man, it's rough.
I just reflect like wow, and TWood, a two bedroom, one bath
house.
Let me drop that one on you.
Nine people, nine people, twobedroom, one bath house, one
house and one car.
(20:11):
And guess what Never wanted fora thing?
Clean clothes.
What Never wanted for a thing?
Clean clothes.
Mama cooked every day.
We went to school every day.
Daddy and mama never missed awork.
One car, two beds, one bath.
I'm going to drop one more onyou and I'm going to really drop
it at this one Just a bathtub.
(20:32):
We didn't have a shower.
Come on now.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Y'all want to know what perseverance sounds like.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
So after everybody took a bath, you had to let the
water run out, run it again.
My sister take a bath, let thewater run out, run it again for
my other sister.
She finished taking the bath,let the water run out, put it
back in for my brother.
That happened every night, bro.
So if it get rough for me, itreally ain't rough right, when
(21:01):
you really think about it.
So when I get those moments toyour point, I just reflect and
say, boy, god is good, but forthe grace of God, god is good.
And I just get up and keepgoing.
I mean literally that's whatmotivates me, bro.
I just get up and keep going.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Just in case y'all listeners don't understand.
I'm going to just do this Justin case y'all don't understand.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Yes, sir, friendship is essential to the soul all day
long.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yes, sir, brother Lewis, I can't tell you enough.
I know that that is going tomove someone to.
Whoever may receive thismessage.
I hope you receive it in thebest way.
That's best for you to get youthrough.
You can overcome it.
We all go through somechallenges.
(21:48):
Perseverance is key.
Brother Lewis, I thank you foryour time, matter of fact, is
there anything else that youwanted to express?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Man, I appreciate you .
You're an awesome questionasker.
You're an awesome host man.
Keep up the great work you'redoing.
May God continue to bless you.
I just hope this little30-minute conversation was
helpful for somebody.
Come on, and you know we ain'tgoing to save them all, but if
we can help one person, man,come on.
What that Ricky Lewis dude said, man, that was pretty, you know
(22:18):
what.
I got a different perspective.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
And that means.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
that's this.
30 minutes weren't in vain.
I love you, man.
I appreciate you continue totake care of your family.
Thank you for the service toour fraternity.
What we do for free, man, we dothis work for free, it's
volunteer work, and I appreciateyou, t Wood, and what you do,
man, and thank you for thisopportunity.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Absolutely.
I've said it before and I'llsay it again Sometimes in life
you must fail in order tosucceed.
But one thing must remaincertain Under no circumstances
do you ever, ever, ever, give up.
I'm with my big brother,Brother Lewis.
I'm your man, T Wood.
Thank y'all for your time you.
I'm T Wood, and this is Triumph in Moments where I
highlight significant moments inlife beyond the surface to
inform, encourage and inspirepeople to triumph over their
life's challenges With me.
Today, I can't even say myguest, because he is family
Brother Ricky Lewis is thecurrent national president of
(00:21):
the Omega Psi Phi FraternityIncorporated.
He was born in Pensacola,florida, and raised in Los
Angeles, california.
He holds a degree from theUniversity of the Pacific and
has been employed in theaerospace industry for 40 years.
He is married with two sonsexcuse me, two adult sons.
There's a tremendous number ofaccolades now that I can
(00:44):
honestly go over with BrotherLewis.
However, what stands out to methe most is his unwavering
dedication to service and theway that he consistently uplifts
others through his leadershipand vision.
Brother Lewis embodies thespirit of brotherhood,
commitment and resilience,making a powerful impact not
(01:07):
only in Omega Psi Phi FraternityIncorporated, but also within
the community of abroad.
My brother, welcome, welcome,welcome.
How you feeling, t Wood?
What's good, man, how you been?
Oh, my goodness, taking thisthing one day at a time.
I appreciate you taking outtime in your very busy schedule
to come out here and providesomething positive for the
(01:29):
people.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, man, I appreciate you giving me this
opportunity.
Right, we all got busyschedules.
You're a family man, I'm afamily man, you work, I work and
I just appreciate your patience.
I know we've been moving thiscalendar around man and we made
it work, and to God be the glorybrother, Right, right, right.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So I'll tell you what .
Just to jump right onto it,just to kind of get it started
here, give us an idea of whatwould you say is a morning
routine that you do consistentlyPush-ups, yoga, prayer, what.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, man, I get up about 4.30 every morning.
I've been doing it for 40 yearssince I've been in the
aerospace industry and my momused to say as soon as my feet
hit the ground, I thank the Lord.
As soon as my feet hit theground, I thank the Lord.
I get up.
I walk through the house justto make sure the house is good.
I'm not a coffee drinker, I'mnot a tea drinker.
I try to be as quiet as I canbecause my wife is generally
(02:19):
asleep and I come in, I lookoutside, see if the sun is up.
Generally it's not.
Watch a little news, check myemails, prepare myself to get
off to work man and head on towork.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
That's a bet.
That's a bet, consistently,regardless of the schedule.
So tell me this here how wouldyou describe, just in your words
, how would you describe, lifegrowing up in your household?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
As you said earlier, born in Pensacola, my dad was a
disciplinarian.
My mama was a disciplinarian.
Both born in Alabama, we grewup in Pensacola, florida.
My daddy was a military man inthe Army.
He served our country.
He worked at the Pensacola Navybase for 36 years.
My mama was a laborer man.
She pressed clothes.
She worked at the PensacolaNavy Base for 36 years.
My mama was a laborer man.
She pressed clothes.
She worked at a dry cleaning.
(03:08):
She pressed clothes all herlife.
Mom and daddy had seven children, man, so they have a lot of
time for conversation.
When they say do something,that means do it.
It wasn't no second time.
They don't have time for thatright.
And it was a respectful home.
It was a God-fearing home.
We were a church-going familyand my mom and daddy was not
formally educated man.
(03:28):
My daddy went to high schooland my mama stopped school in
the 10th grade.
So it was important for us todo what we're supposed to do had
chores, everybody had chores,and you had to do the chores and
it was important we done thechores, but it was a loving
household.
I was fortunate enough to havea father all the way, man, till
my daddy died when I was 55years old, so I saw a role model
(03:50):
in my home every day, got up,went to work for 36 years, loved
my mother, loved his wife andtook care of his seven children.
Man, so I was just fortunateman to be in that situation.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
I tell you what it's funny because you kind of
already harped on it when yousay what you noticed about your
father, like certain behaviors,certain habits that he did
consistently and the level ofresponsibility that he held for
your whole household.
So tell me this Can you talkabout who influenced you the
(04:23):
most in your, in your childhood?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Who would you say?
Yeah, man, I'd say my father.
Right, my mama was the nurturerman.
She made sure everything wasgood at home.
She gave us some loving advice.
But, man, me, I am who I ambecause of my father and I just
I'm going to try not to getemotional man, because he is my
everything.
Right, Because I saw him work,I saw him grind man.
He never complained, T Wood.
I mean never complained man, hejust got up and got it done,
(04:50):
Worked two jobs.
So he worked at the Navy base,came home and checked on the
family and then went to a secondjob.
Man just trying to provide forhis family, Never made excuses.
All he asked for was anopportunity man, he had an
opportunity to raise his family,have four of his children go
off to college Right, my mom anddad never had a chance to go to
college.
So my father man has alwaysbeen my role model.
(05:11):
I don't even do anything nowwithout thinking like damn, I
wonder what my dad would thinkabout this.
And he's been gone, man, nowfor nine years, Right, but I
think what my dad think.
So that foundation, that coreof me, has been a man, been a
(05:31):
father, been a husband for 30years, all because of the
foundation man I watch my daddydo every day.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I tell you what.
Now I know that they sometimessay it's an unspoken rule, but
they say the oldest child istechnically the boss.
So would you say that's?
That was the case.
You know, growing up the oldestwas automatically the boss.
(05:53):
You know the kind of led theway amongst the siblings.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Well, it's ironic you say that, right, mom dad has
seven children.
I'm the fifth child.
Right, I'm the youngest boy,but the fifth child.
So there's two daughters underboy, but the fifth child.
So there's two daughters underme, two sisters under me.
My oldest was a brother, thenthe second was a girl, and then
mama had three boys right afterthat, boy, boy, boy and then two
girls.
(06:18):
So our oldest, he's going to bewith the Lord now, but our
oldest man was the baby He'dalways called.
He had to lay the land.
I was mama's first child and Icame along as the last boy and I
tease them all, man, hey, whenmama and daddy saw me as a boy,
they weren't no more boys.
I was it, I was, I was it, Iwas done.
(06:40):
And the mama had two girlsafter me, man, so it's total of
seven of us, and the oldestchild is a boy as well, man.
But yeah, my mom and daddy justdid what they had to do to
raise their family.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah, my mom and daddy man just did what they had
to do to raise their family.
I tell you what, what would yousay, piqued your interest of
working in the field ofaerospace.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
What would you say, piqued your interest?
So who did somebody lead youinto that direction?
Yeah, good question.
I would say Merrill Price,white teacher of mine, chemistry
teacher, and I was always goodin math, man, I don't know how,
I was always good in math, goodin chemistry, and he put me in
this program called MESA, mathEngineering, science Achievement
.
I'm in the ninth grade, I didn'tknow nothing.
(07:24):
I guess he saw something in me,man, that I didn't see in
myself and I excelled in math,excelled in science, got an
opportunity to go to college andwent to college and I was good
in math and science and got adegree and then came home and,
you know, got a job in theaerospace industry, where it's
math and science and technologyand glory be to God, man.
(07:45):
I've been working for 40consecutive years in the
aerospace industry, justproviding for my wife,
consecutive years in theaerospace industry, just
providing for my wife, providingfor my wife, providing for my
two boys, just being able toprovide.
Man, that's what we do as men,right?
So just him motivating me as aninth grader, me not being
afraid of math and science, wenton to college, built a new
(08:09):
foundation after college,graduated and got a job.
I graduated in May of 1984 andgot a job in August of 1984 and
been working ever since, brother, for the last 40 years.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
When you, when you initially graduated, would you
say this for all my collegefolks out there?
Would you say that you werenervous like that.
Ok, how long is this processgoing to take till I actually
start using this, because a lotof our college students they
struggle with like man.
How long is it going to taketill I use this degree?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, yeah, it was a struggle, right, and the
aerospace industry is a veryconservative white environment.
Now you can imagine what it was40 years ago.
Right, you can imagine what itwas 40 years ago, right, but we
(09:01):
had some, some older gentlemen,african-american gentlemen, who
kind of helped me close to thevest, kind of pointed me in the
right direction.
And I find myself doing thatnow.
When I see young brotherswhether it's sisters or brothers
coming into the business, Ifind myself gravitating toward
them to give back a little bitas well like was given back to
me, or them to give back alittle bit as well like was
given back to me.
So, yeah, it took me a minute,man, to kind of get my bearings.
First time, really, in aprofessional corporate
environment, back then, man, wehad to wear a coat and tie every
day.
Right Now it's a lot morerelaxed with a polo and khakis,
(09:23):
but back then everybody wore acoat and tie.
So that's what I wore every day, which was an adjustment coming
from college, man, we used tothrow on some jeans and throw on
a t-shirt, throw on asweatshirt.
But it was a good environmentfor me, allowed me to really
build up my conversation skills,allowed me to be a critical
thinker, allowed me to get infront of a group and present.
(09:44):
And again, man, for 40 years,man, we've been doing it and
grinding in the aerospaceindustry.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
So tell me this as we get older, we begin to learn
what habits or ways of thinkingis like, what particular parent
right, what habit would you say?
What habit or something thatyou do or the way that you think
(10:10):
is contributed towards yourmother and which one is
contributed more towards yourfather?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Yeah, that's a good, I'd say, the discipline piece
for dad.
You know, eight o'clock waseight o'clock.
My daddy told you it's time togo eight o'clock and you got out
there eight or one, he was gone, bro.
It wasn't no asking you twicewhat time are you going to be
ready, he was gone.
So, waking up early in themorning.
But also on the mama side, man,I'm very particular about where
(10:37):
things are in the house.
Where things are, as my momused to say forks go in the
kitchen, toothbrush go in thebathroom, right, so I'm, shoes
go in the closet.
So I'm very particular aboutwhere things should be.
So I got that from mom.
But I think the disciplinepiece, doing what you say you're
going to do, be a man of yourword, being nice and kind to
(11:02):
people.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I got that from my dad.
So my mother told me and thisis something that just always
stays with me is that you know,son, as long as you're blessed
to keep breathing, moving,wherever it may be living,
you're going to face challenges.
When you think about just theentirety of your life to this
(11:24):
point, is there any particularmoment that you could think of
that might have been challengedfor you to overcome and you had
to really find a way to getthrough it, whether it be
mentally, emotionally, just justanything that stands out for
you.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, I would say too One you know we moved from
Pensacola to Los Angeles when Iwas 13.
Right, so we move from a smallsouthern white conservative town
, beautiful network of blackfamilies supporting each other.
Beautiful network of blackfamilies supporting each other.
All of my friends and trip thisone out All of my friends had a
(12:03):
mom and a daddy in the house.
I repeat, every one of myfriends had a mama and a daddy
in the house and daddy worked.
So imagine, growing up in acommunity that everybody had a
daddy.
It ain't like you went down toJoseph's house and his daddy
wasn't there.
Everybody had a daddy.
So at 7 or 8 o'clock they sawall the black men leave and 3 or
(12:26):
4 o'clock all the black mencame back home and we all kind
of cohabitated with each other,right.
So, moving from that environmentto big old Los Angeles,
freeways and cars and people andneighbors not speaking, I
remember vividly, man, when Iwas a little boy I used to speak
to everybody hey, good morning,hey.
And people used to look at mestrange like what the hell is
(12:46):
this little boy doing?
He don't even know me.
What are you speaking for?
Right?
So that was an adjustment.
And then the other piece as Isettled here in Los Angeles in a
primarily urban AfricanAmerican community, I went back
to college in another, all white, conservative community.
So I come out here in big LA,then I leave big LA to go to a
small private white college inStockton.
(13:10):
So back to the adjustment again.
Hey, t Wood, I had an afro man,so I had to find somebody to
flat my hair.
Hey, man, I'm used to soul food.
I had to find a soul food spotright.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
So hey, man, it was just an adjustment.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
So I would just think a 13-year-old with an
adjustment coming to LA and then, as an 18-year-old adjustment,
leaving LA, going to smallStockton.
But you know I laugh about itnow, man, but back then, brother
, it was a struggle, man,because I had to make the
adjustment.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Man, that's a challenge going back and forth
like that.
It's constant adjustment ateach point that you go to.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And you had to adjust right.
So you had to really kind offind yourself on your own, find
a network, a village to help youout, village your own, find a
network, a village to help youout.
And fortunately, man, when wewent to college we found this
village, that little Divine Ninevillage, with the Alphas on
(14:05):
campus, the AKs were on campusand the Deltas on campus and, of
course, my line, we brought theQs on campus.
So we had that little D9village and we all supported
each other right.
So it was a challenge, man, butwe all helped each other get
through and we all supportedeach other Right.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
So it was a challenge , man, but we all helped each
other get through.
Is it safe to say that that didsomething?
Is there a positive that youcould take away from that that
you might have gained, whetherit be a skill set, a way of
thinking, a mindset, what wouldyou say?
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Yeah, I would say the way of thinking, right, you
particularly going to college,right, that's a big adjustment,
because now you're 18.
You're quote unquote legal,you're left home from the nest
where mom and dad is, and nowyou are in this big old world
called college on your own.
There's nobody, there's noalarms waking you up, there's no
professor telling you when thewhen the class is.
(14:51):
There's no professor tell youwhen to teach it, when the test
is, they give you a syllabus andyou've got to study on your own
right.
So that was a big adjustmentfor me, but it really.
It really allowed me to go backto the core, back to that
discipline again we talked aboutright.
It allowed me to go back to thatcore that my daddy developed
Get up, grind, don't makeexcuses.
(15:13):
All you want is an opportunityand the expectation that you're
going to be successful.
So I went back to the core,what I've developed.
But it was a challenge, becauseI was 18, 19 years old Now, on
my own.
But it was fun though, bro, I'msmiling when I look back on it,
man, it was fun.
But it was a challenge when ithappened, but it was fun now.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
I tell you what I want to step to the side and
kind of point the direction here, knowing how Just and kind of
point the direction here,knowing how just from the
perspective of what youexpressed about your father.
Okay, if you could kind ofpaint the picture right now for
us, your father standing infront of you right now, oh man,
(15:54):
I wonder, oh man, I wonder whathe would say looking at you
standing in front of you, right?
Speaker 2 (16:01):
now you gonna make my eyes get wet.
I would just hope he would sayman, you've been a good father,
you've been a good husband.
My father was a good husband tomy mother.
She was his priority and mywife, v Vicky, is my priority.
These boys are now grown Right,so I just hope he can say man,
(16:23):
you know what?
I thought you wasn't payingattention when you was a little
boy.
But like you was payingattention.
You know, t Woods, sometimesyour mamas and daddies talk to
you, man, they don't.
They don't know if you listenor not, right?
And they never said payattention.
They said pay attention.
I didn't know you were payingattention, right.
(16:43):
So I think my daddy would sayboy, look at you.
Now you turned out to be allright, you're a good father and
you're a good husband.
If my daddy could say that tome, man, I'd throw my hands up
to the Lord.
I think if he was standingbefore me, I hope that's what he
would say to me Wow, it'ssomething else.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
There's something I created called Encouragement for
Food.
All right, I love that.
I love that I want you to thankme.
I want you to.
You need to copyright that, bro.
You know what I'm serious man.
I'm going to keep that in theair as soon as you do, air,
immediately, follow thisinterview and say don't try it,
nobody.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Don't try it.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Yeah, I like that, but I want you to take a second
to think about everything thatyou've experienced in your life.
You've heard some quotes.
You've had life lessons fromyour mother, from your father.
You've probably even had someexperiences that you've learned
(17:40):
from your siblings.
So what is some encouragementfor free that you could provide
to all the listeners right now,whether it be a quote or just a
creed or something that you liveby?
What would it be and why?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah, yeah I would say, and it's really, and I got
several.
But, boy, this one right herejust really hit home Faith
without works is dead.
My mom used to say, man, youcan get on your knees and pray,
and boy, she was a praying woman.
But you got to get up, you gotto go work, you got to pray with
your feet.
She used to say that all thetime you got to pray with your
(18:12):
feet, pray with your hands, andI would say faith without works
is dead.
Boy, I'm a God-fearing man.
My wife is a God-fearing woman.
I'm from a God-fearing mom anddaddy.
Boy, I saw my mom and daddy getup and go get it right, they
prayed on it, went to churchevery Sunday Bible study in the
(18:32):
morning, sunday school Church.
They eat and go back to churchin the evening, right.
But boy, they went up and gotwork and put work in.
So I said faith without worksis dead.
You can pray on it, and Godplease pray on it, let's go to
the Lord.
But, boy, you got to get up andgo get it.
So I would say that to youfaith without works is dead
(18:53):
Express to us.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
When you have those moments to where, physically,
you're tired, you can haveemotionally you can be tired
Mentally.
You can have your moments whereyou're tired but you still find
a way to press forward.
What would you say has been akey ingredient.
Come on 40 years, at anyinstitution, at anything,
(19:14):
whether it be a relationship isbig time, at anything, whether
it be a relationship is big time.
What would you say thosemoments to where you felt
literally tired and you stillfound a way to keep pressing
forward?
What would you say, just likecooking food, what would be that
key ingredient for you, myupbringing.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Me and my wife.
Man, just me and her.
We got three cars in thedriveway.
Two people, three cars.
My mom and daddy had one car.
Come on, one car and sevenchildren.
Now most people in thisaudience are going to say how in
the hell, one car and both ofthem work and seven children?
(19:50):
Hey, and got it done right.
So when I get these moments,like man, it's rough.
I just reflect like wow, and TWood, a two bedroom, one bath
house.
Let me drop that one on you.
Nine people, nine people, twobedroom, one bath house, one
house and one car.
(20:11):
And guess what Never wanted fora thing?
Clean clothes.
What Never wanted for a thing?
Clean clothes.
Mama cooked every day.
We went to school every day.
Daddy and mama never missed awork.
One car, two beds, one bath.
I'm going to drop one more onyou and I'm going to really drop
it at this one Just a bathtub.
(20:32):
We didn't have a shower.
Come on now.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Y'all want to know what perseverance sounds like.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
So after everybody took a bath, you had to let the
water run out, run it again.
My sister take a bath, let thewater run out, run it again for
my other sister.
She finished taking the bath,let the water run out, put it
back in for my brother.
That happened every night, bro.
So if it get rough for me, itreally ain't rough right, when
(21:01):
you really think about it.
So when I get those moments toyour point, I just reflect and
say, boy, god is good, but forthe grace of God, god is good.
And I just get up and keepgoing.
I mean literally that's whatmotivates me, bro.
I just get up and keep going.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Just in case y'all listeners don't understand.
I'm going to just do this Justin case y'all don't understand.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Yes, sir, friendship is essential to the soul all day
long.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yes, sir, brother Lewis, I can't tell you enough.
I know that that is going tomove someone to.
Whoever may receive thismessage.
I hope you receive it in thebest way.
That's best for you to get youthrough.
You can overcome it.
We all go through somechallenges.
(21:48):
Perseverance is key.
Brother Lewis, I thank you foryour time, matter of fact, is
there anything else that youwanted to express?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Man, I appreciate you .
You're an awesome questionasker.
You're an awesome host man.
Keep up the great work you'redoing.
May God continue to bless you.
I just hope this little30-minute conversation was
helpful for somebody.
Come on, and you know we ain'tgoing to save them all, but if
we can help one person, man,come on.
What that Ricky Lewis dude said, man, that was pretty, you know
(22:18):
what.
I got a different perspective.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
And that means.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
that's this.
30 minutes weren't in vain.
I love you, man.
I appreciate you continue totake care of your family.
Thank you for the service toour fraternity.
What we do for free, man, we dothis work for free, it's
volunteer work, and I appreciateyou, t Wood, and what you do,
man, and thank you for thisopportunity.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Absolutely.
I've said it before and I'llsay it again Sometimes in life
you must fail in order tosucceed.
But one thing must remaincertain Under no circumstances
do you ever, ever, ever, give up.
I'm with my big brother,Brother Lewis.
I'm your man, T Wood.
Thank y'all for your time you.
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