Dabbs Greer Tribute - May 2007

This is a tribute to Dabbs Greer I created when he passed away in 2007. If I recall correctly, Susan McCray read part of this during her Dabbs Greer Memorial in May 2007 on her radio show, "Getting to Know You with Susan McCray."

 

Kind, understanding and full of wisdom, Reverend Alden embodied all that we laypeople might seek in a spiritual leader. Remember the time he thanked the children for getting him a box to carry his Bible in. Mary and Laura had taken the Sunday School money and bought patent medicine with it so that they could get him a better gift, but it didn't turn out the way they had planned, and the only thing they had left was the box that held the medicine.

Another great Reverend Alden memory was when he spoke to Charles about Mary right before she went blind. He admitted that his human mind could not comprehend why God was allowing this to happen to Mary, but that he was sure God had chosen her for a very special purpose. Charles could not accept that at the time, but Reverend Alden was right--Mary helped Adam open up a new blind school in Dakota Territory.

The scene in "The Last Farewell" where his character walks around the blown up town of Walnut Grove crying at the destruction gets me every time. If I live to be 100, I'll never get the pain-filled face of Reverend Alden out of my mind as he looks upon the demolished town he has called home for so many years.

Dabbs Greer brought Reverend Alden to life for me. While he was talented in so many other shows and films, my fondest memories will be from his role as the spiritual minister of Walnut Grove.