A Tribute to a Cousin, a Friend and a Remarkable boy! Bruce “Brucey” Thomas Cox (1952 – 1966) Today, would have been Bruce Thomas Cox “Brucey’s” 61st birthday. Brucey was tragically struck and killed while riding on a small motor scooter, on June 5, 1966, in front of his home on Asbury Avenue. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. It is like it is imprinted in my mind. The weather, the time, the Green Chevrolet, the red scooter, the white van that was the ambulance that picked Bruce up and transported him to the hospital, and everyone involved that day. I was 12 years old, and on my way to his house, walking down the sidewalk, I was in front of Ruth Elaine Landon’s house when I witnessed the accident. I could not believe what had happen, and as a 12 year old, it scared me so bad that I took off running as fast as I could to my grandmother’s house on Main Street Extended. Brucey was not only a cousin of mine, but one of my best friends. We did not really know how we were related at the time, and it was many years later that I learned his grandfather Weldon and my grandfather Percy were brothers. He was a couple of years older than I, but I was at his house almost every day. During those days, we played in the wooded area behind our houses, building forts, some were made of the greatest collection of old pieces of wood, old coal stoves, old chairs, just about anything we could find. Behind his house there was a large pile of dirt, and we played extensively building huts, and forts to play Army. Brucey’s house was high off the ground and had sort of a tunnel that you could run, hide and play. The tunnel was under the left side that went from the back of the house then to the front of the house. We would play there quite often, hiding behind the lattice which surrounded it. Under there we would have some great conversation of various subjects…..On the other side was the basement where Mr. Arthur had his tools and lots of model airplane parts…..I can see them so vividly I can almost reach out and touch them. Over the next couple of years Bruce was able to master mind many great things, kid’s things, but to me they were spectacular. He was very imaginative with his creations, but they always impressed me. He could build anything, and we worked on bicycle at the side entrance of his basement many, many days, and yes, we got into mischief quite often. Day after day he would come up with ideas, making go carts, wagons, one time we put together a haunted house in his basement, and afterwards would go upstairs to his bedroom where he had the most impressive train board with several trains, and as a 12 year old boy were fun to play with. This was not just an ordinary train, for it had trolley cars, and a second train as well….. Brucey’s mother, Miss Nancy, worked at the Crisfield Police Department and his father, Mr. Arthur, was from what I remember at Mrs. Paul’s. During those times in Crisfield, parents would leave you home, for there would be no worries about anyone living in the neighborhood being of a bad character. Our neighborhood on Asbury, were very nice people. Mr. and Mrs. Lester Crockett, Doc, and Miss Polly, Mr. Tom Marshall, Miss Lois Evans, etc. Other childhood friends in the neighborhood that were close to us were Billy Lohmeyer, and Charley Horsey, although there were many more boys our age, it seemed for a couple of years it was us three. Brucey was a very intelligent and inquisitive boy and not only did he have these qualities, he was able to make them a reality. The last time I remember being with him was at my house, for we ended up in the attic, all the way up in the rafters, just playing and talking…..after that day he was gone…… Brucey died on June 5th of 1966, and I lost my best child hood friend, and at that age, it was something that I really did not understand, and that fall, September of 1966, I entered Military School. While in Military School, I wrote journals about Bruce, and his death, quite vivid journals at that, until the instructors started questioning my content and subject material. They even sent these journals to my father to read…..for I had been silent, keeping all of his death built up inside, and this was my way of dealing with his death and to this day, I have never forgotten him. When my father died, Miss Nancy would come by the house and I would never mention his name, and I do not remember her talking about him, and one day, I brought his name up in a conversation with her and I thought she was going to cry for her comment was “I thought no one remembered him”, and I quickly told her that I had never forgotten him, and thought of him all of the time. We talked some more, and it was a little bit of a final closure for me, and I knew she must have been glad to hear those words, for I can only imagine the struggle she, Mr. Arthur and Susie had dealt with for so many years. Bruce would be 61 today, and I wish he were here to celebrate, because I know he would have succeeded in whatever profession that he had chosen in life, he would have mastered it at an early age, because I believe he could have been anything he wanted. To you Bruce, I can truthfully say, I have never forgotten you, and I have talked about you so many times in my lifetime. I wish we could have grown up together, for I know you would have been a success, and I can bet you would still have that smile on your face still thinking of another idea! Happy Birthday Bruce!
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 12:08:29 +0000
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