Before he went with the FBI, my cousin John Burton ("Buddy" to the family) was a Florida deputy sheriff. When I was a little girl, I loved playing with his handcuffs. He'd put them on me, and I'd spend hours trying to get out of them!
I always loved visiting my Aunt Ruth & Uncle Pete because I loved their sons, Herby & Bud ... my favorite cousins.
Bud was as out-going as Herby was quiet. He had a personality that just attracted people. I remember Papaw once saying that even a drive into Leesburg with him took forever because he was always hanging out the window waving to people who yelled "hello" as they drove by.
Herby & Buddy ... and Buddy in grade school
Bud & Herby sharing some ice cream with our Grandparents
The Burton Family: Bud, Peggy, Herby, Ruth & Pete
I remember Bud playing with me a lot when I was a little girl, and
then at night, he'd disappear because he ALWAYS had a date lined up!
He was so popular, and all the girls just loved him. But he found
his soul-mate when he went to Washington, D.C. for training ... and
we all love Peggy so much!
Bud hasn't changed in all these years. He's still the nicest guy around. And my feelings haven't changed either ... he's still my favorite!
I've always felt very "protected" by Bud, but never more so than during the difficult time when our Grandfather died. He was sort of my "escort" for the funeral services and afterwards, when someone told me I shouldn't be crying because my Grandfather would be so ashamed of me if he could see me, Bud just looked the woman straight in the eye and said, "I'm going to say this as nicely as I can, but I'm only going to say it once ... stay out of her face!" I never appreciated him any more than I did at that moment!
We share many interests ... fishing, boating and of course, cheering
on our Florida Gators!!!
We had a GREAT time not long ago at a Gators game in Gainesville. Bud took Steve & I on a tailgate party, complete with Popeye's Chicken and boiled peanuts! It doesn't get much better than that!
And of course, he and Steve share a love for fishing, and they enjoy lake fishing together. I was so happy that they became such fast friends so quickly.
(And for those who have read Beyond Murder: The Inside Account of the Gainesville Student Murders (by John Philpin & John Donnelly), the John Burton referred to in the book as "the legendary law enforcement office" ... that's my cousin Bud!)
Bud's sons: Jimmy, with wife Cathy & son Jimmy -- Johnny with wife Carla
Jimmy, Cathy, Jimmy & Kaitlin
Jim and Nancy
