The Last 880-Yard Runner

About the Book

A memoir of a boy born into a life of family failures, violence, death, poverty and continual displacement and disappointments. Along with physical and emotional abuse his resulting feeling of low self worth haunt him until his first year in high school, when by accident he finds that he can actually be not just good, but actually better, even if at just one thing, than his classmates. The magic word "potential" written on the school's athletic bulletin board catches his imagination and as he tries out with other "potential 880-yard runners" for the lone position left on the track squad. By unexpectedly winning this race, he finds that he does have potential indeed, not only in running this race, but in other areas of his life.

The story unfolds the emerging abilities he discovers, and the resulting confidence, first in track and other sports and later in school and then in life in general. This one event becomes an epiphany, and opens doors previously unimagined by this young man.

From failing the first grade and the resulting feeling of being inadequate, he finds the courage, determination and even eventually his above average intelligence to work his way through college graduating with high grades and multiple job offers.

He takes the lessons he learns in both winning and losing the 880-yard run into his life and business career. His destiny is changed from a victim of circumstance to success in one business career after another as well as his personal life.

About the Author

Tom Meinecke is a fifth generation Texan. He is a graduate of San Antonio College, The University of Texas in Austin, and The Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Tom's successful business careers includes - Manager of a telephone company, Human Resources Director of an oil company and two billion dollar banks. During his 20 year banking career he also was President and CEO of two national banks and Managing Agent for the Resolution Trust Corporation.

For the past fifteen years Tom has worked as a registered Financial Consultant. He is a past president of the Houston Human Resources Association and holds lifetime certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM).

In 1998, Tom Meinecke was appointed as a Colonel in the Texas Army by the Governor of the State of Texas. Tom lives with his wife Sandy in Sugar Land, Texas.