Page 72 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2024 - Online Magazine
P. 72
Bobby Havens A Lifetime of Music-
Making
by Kristin Carol, Good Day Lubbock Anchor
WWII Navy veteran, coming to
the door at the precise moment
he happened to be cleaning his
shotgun. Bobby married the
daughter of the intimidating
George Bullard four years later.
Bobby had to leave music
behind for a time. The draft
forced him into service in 1969,
which was the beginning of
Bobby Dan Havens was a series of long, exhausting
born in Baird, TX in months. Bobby had a humorous
1948, one of five children start to his time in Vietnam. The
born to Bill and Rita temporary bunk unit they were
Havens. Baird is just east assigned to left the new recruits
of Abilene, not far from without weapons. In the middle
where Texas historians of the night, the men heard
say the West begins. heavy gunfire right outside and
Bobby's parents moved went into a panic. One recruit
their family to Lubbock decided to take matters into his
when he was just a small own hands and tore off a leg
child, and while his from his cot to use as a weapon,
he name Bobby Havens adventures took him all while everyone else ran down the
might bring up thoughts over the world, he calls Lubbock hall to the sergeant's room. After
Tof country music or gospel home. explaining that the sounds of
teachings, but there's much more warfare were routine detonations
to this man behind the music. Bobby was just 11 when he to deter an ambush, he yelled at
The leader of the local band, started playing the sweet sounds the men to calm down and rolled
Country Company, served in of country music. One of his first over to go back to sleep.
the United States Regular Army gigs, at just 15, led him to his
and found himself in the humid, future bride. Bobby had a
war-torn jungle of Vietnam for band with some buddies,
an exhausting 14 months. His and they were asked to
time in the service isn't the only play at a birthday party.
experience that shaped who When I asked Bobby how
he is today. Bobby later played he zeroed in on one in a
alongside artists like Waylon roomful of several young
Jennings, Alabama, and so many girls, his eyes lit up, and
others who collaborated with he said, "I saw Treva, and
greats like Buddy Holly and she just really stood out
Merle Haggard at the tender to me." After some phone
beginnings of rock and roll. He conversations between
never stopped playing guitar, the two young teens,
even while raising a family, and Bobby came to Treva's
is now the seasoned artist known house to pick her up for
well by many senior Lubbockites a date. He laughed at the
as they dance the night away. memory of her father, a
72 Lubbock Senior Link
