I knew both Jerry (“Fats”) and Bobby (“Ling”) very well from when we were caddies at the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club starting in the summer of 1953. Included in their family at that time was Chuck Bootier (“Boots”) who both caddied and had the shoe shine concession at the Gideon in the month of August in addition to caddying. In 1955/56 Bobby was a senior wrestler in the 103 lb. class at Saratoga High School while I was in the 112 lb. class as a freshman. So I used to have to “wrestle off” with Bobby before each match. Coach Tibbits would have each wrestler go against someone who was in the same weight class or in the closest to your class. In Ling's and my case, we were the only two in those weight classes. He was three years senior to me and a more experienced wrestler, so he would always prevail in these contests. But my benefit was in learning a few things from him. He used to always say I was going to be a West Pointer and I probably would have been if I'd had my druthers but I never achieved the required level of political status to get an appointment to Annapolis or The Point.
Bobby graduated in 1956 and I didn't see him again until I was a freshman in college and was hitchhiking home for spring vacation in 1960. I was around the Latham traffic circle where I'd been dropped off from a previous ride and he stopped and picked me up. He recognized me and couldn't have been more friendly He had a good job as a produce manager in an Albany based supermarket (which I now know from his obituary was Price Chopper) but worked in the Latham store. We had a great conversation and that's the last time I ever saw him. He was a good person – I'm sorry to see another of my high school upperclassmen friends pass on.
Ralph L. Carter
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Email: r.carter7679@sbcglobal.net