Joe died of skin cancer in 2005.

Billy Tinker wrote:

Joe and I were in ROTC together and worked at Goolsby's Texaco station on Victory Drive. He helped me get on there pumping gas and cleaning winshields but he told me "Old man Goolsby is tough to work for"; he was right. After only one week I wasn't paying attention and one of Goolsby's cronies drove himself into the ROBOWASH (old car washes that had no walls around them), started it up unattended and watched it crunch in the doors of his car. Texaco career over; but Joe was more mature than me and worked there a long time.

Tommy Raxter wrote:

JOE AND I WERE BUDDIES IN ROTC! LAST TIME I TALKED TO HIM WAS AT A GAS STATION AT THE OLD TRAFFIC CIRCLE! YOU ARE MISSED JOE, GOD BLESS YOU!

Kenneth Hull wrote:

Joe and I met and went to school in Augsburg, Germany, in 1968. Joe's dad had orders to leave Germany in early 1970 and I didn't know where he went. My dad had orders for Ft. Benning in late 1970. We were at Ft. Benning for about two months staying in guest quarters on Sand Hill. We went riding around looking at housing areas on Ft. Benning trying to find a certain street. Of course, we couldn't find it, so we asked a lady planting flowers in her front yard. When the lady stood up, it was Joe's mom!! Wow!!

Joe and I reconncected and did everything (well, just about everything) together. I don't know how many of you remember me, but I'm the legally blind guy. So Joe drove and I rode. We had great fun together.

Joe went with (and later married) Pam Franklin. Didn't see much of Joe after that. Heard he moved to Alabama. One day out of the blue he called me and wanted to come over. He was divorced from Pam and needed a friend. But he came to me instead (just kidding). We helped each other through some tough times back then.

Then he disappeared again. Came back a few years later---married---again. I was getting mail one day at my work and heard a voice saying, "Well, Ken Hull". I knew that voice instantly. He was renewing his Taxi Cab driving license. Yep, Joe driving and dispatching cabs for Vince Middlebrook. He had been battling the skin cancer for a few years. There was no cure and nothing helped. Sadly, the cancer got the better of him.

I still think about my friend, and miss him. When I come to the BHS73 site, I check out the "In Memory" tag and look at his picture. I can't help but wonder, what if. Those of you who knew Joe and were around him knew he loved a joke and to have fun.

Maybe we'll see him again some day. Miss ya, Joe.