Ohio University when I was there. His daughter was my first roommate in college and I was very
lucky that I got to meet him. At the beginning of the quarter, maybe even before classes had started, he was driving us back to our dorm from somewhere and he made funny comments about the students. "Look at em! Look at em! All they care about is sex!" He was of course kidding and I giggled like an idiot. Back then, I didn't know he was a famous writer, he was just my roommate's dad and one of our professors. When I found out he had written "The Hustler", I was so impressed, and of course, as I always did back then, told 400 of my closest friends. He gave a signed copy of the book to me to give to my parents and unfortunately, I have no idea what happened to it. He had written the book, "The Man Who Fell To Earth", and it was already made or going to be made into a movie with David Bowie. People in our dormitory teased my roommate that she would probably go to go to the premiere and get to sit next to Mr. Bowie. We figured they would soon be a couple. This went on for a long time but I don't remember if the family ever got to the premiere. One time he stopped over on a Saturday looking for his daughter. The place was a mess and I was in my leotards and tights doing whatever exercises they had us do in our movement class. I was a theatre major, and it seemed theatre majors were always in their leotards and tights. (Just the girls) The expression on his face when he saw the room was priceless but he didn't say a word about it.
As was told in the documentary, Walter had a drinking problem, but I never saw any of that. I did hear from some of his students about what a fantastic teacher he was. I met one of his students that summer here in Cleveland when I was a cashier at Gold Circle. She couldn't say enough about him as a teacher. He left around my third year at O.U. and later I had wished I had taken a class from him. His daughter and I had many laughs and she was very quick witted and worked hard. One of her funny expressions was, "Shitfire!" I recall reading one of her papers for an English class. She seemed to have that great gift of writing where you laugh and cry at the same time. My second year, I saw him and he said that he wished I was still living with his daughter. I don't think she felt the same way he did. I never put anything away in our room and would turn on the light late at night to study. It drove her crazy.
On Mother's Day weekend, Mrs. Tevis, my mother, my roommate and I went out to dinner and as I recall, we had a very nice evening. I did get in touch with Walter's daughter about 12 years ago. We haven't really stayed in touch that much. Watching her talk about her father with more enthusiasm than when she was 18 made me very happy. So, since the documentary, we connected and even though we are in different cities, we will try and see each other very soon
Right before Christmas break, Walter took his daughter and I out to lunch. I just recall his humor and kindness.
