In this day and age of unrest, I often think back to the time I met two men who unknowingly became role models for racial harmony.
On a spring morning in 2008, Rob Robinson, a white firefighter from Mississippi, knocked on the door of an old farmhouse in northwest Kansas to ask for permission to hunt.
He was greeted by Gil Alexander, a black man who farmed 1,400 acres near Nicodemus, Kan., a community that was settled by African-Americans following the Civil War.
Robinson traveled almost 1,000 miles to hunt the Rio Grande turkeys that roamed western Kansas. And he knew that Alexander’s land was in a prime location.
Alexander sized up his visitor and said, “As long as you respect my land, you can hunt.”
Robinson was directed to a patch of land that was special, and he enjoyed a hunt for the ages.
“Within 15 minutes, I had my turkey,” he said. “It was unbelievable.”
So began a special relationship—between a southern white man and an African-American living on the plains of Kansas.
The two communicated regularly and got together whenever possible. But that friendship was never stronger than in 2012 when Robinson learned that Alexander would need a kidney transplant to survive.
Robinson immediately volunteered to be tested and found that he was a perfect match. He didn’t hesitate in donating one of his kidneys to Alexander.
“It was just the right thing to do,” Robinson said. “Gil was always there for me.”
I met Robinson and Alexander in a hospital room in the University of Kansas hospital shortly after the operation. I was immediately impressed by both men, and the power of a friendship forged by a hunter and a landowner.
“Rob is my hero,” Alexander told me. “He’s my living angel.
“I never asked him to do this. He heard about the troubles I was having and he just stepped up.
“I’m calling my kidney Mississippi in honor of him.”
I did a story on that special friendship, and it hit the national wires. Robinson and Alexander later reported that they heard from admirers from coast to coast and that my article spawned other magazine and newspaper articles.
What happened thereafter was almost as newsworthy. Robinson and Alexander got together and hunted and fished at least several times a year. Robinson formed Forever Outdoors, a non-profit organization dedicated to organ donors and recipients and the healing power of the outdoors.
That’s why I was saddened when I learned that Alexander passed away at the age of 60 on Sept. 8. But I couldn’t help but think that Robinson’s kidney had given him an extra five years.
Robinson also reflected on his friendship with Alexander. Four years ago, he and others had their first Forever Outdoors hunt on Alexander’s land in Nicodemus, Kan. It was an experience that Robinson will never forget.
“Here we were, all of us white guys, and we’re in Gil’s all-black church,” Robinson said. “But I don’t think anybody thought anything of it. We were all just people.
“We didn’t look at color. We just got along.”
Robinson traveled back to Nicodemus to take part in Alexander’s memorial service. He helped arrange for a helicopter to hover over Alexander’s land and scatter his ashes over the fields that were so dear to him.
“Gil is in a better place now .No more suffering for him,“ he said. “I’ll miss him. When he died, I lost a part of me. But a part of me is in heaven right now, too.”
What an awesome story. Sorry to hear about Gil.
Beautiful story about life as it should be, pure and simple. Here’s to friendship! May we all be blessed with a taste of it.
Beautiful story. I will miss my cousin, but I am blessed to have spent many happy times with him, and I have beautiful, memories I my mind and heart. This story should be a inspirational movie
It would make an inspirational movie for sure! I wish they would make one also
This is true. I believe this is how God wants us all to live.
Denise-your cousin and Mr. Robinson both sound like men I want my grandsons to grow up to be. I agree it would make a marvelous movie!
Thank you for this wonderful article i not only lost a friend but a brother we were life long friends and classmates a part of me died with him and a big thank you to Robinson for those blessings
If Rob and his friends still want to hunt that same land I am sure he can because Lateef Dowdell , is taking care of the land for Gil now. Lateef is m
our son inlaw and Gil’s nephew. Lateef and his wife Carrie are making plans to move to Nicodemus soon and run the farm with the help of their neighbors.
Sorry to hear my HIs soul rest in peace.
I did not know either of the men in this article, but I know several folks from Nicodemus and have preached in the church there several times. We have many fond memories of those days and the wonderful folks there. Mother Sweitzer was always a blessing and we hope to see her again in Heaven.
What a special article. I liked the quote,”We didn’t look at color. We were just people.” That is the way it should be. Let us keep striving because of stories like these.
Truly a wonderful story of two men who share an amazing story that will be and should be recognized as what this country should stand for love everybody. You never know what one will do for you. This is a true story that can never be denied for two people who never cared about color. They cared about helping one another. Gil was a cousin of mine and i love talking about turkey hunting with him which is something we both loved to do. This country can use a story like this.
This could not be published on Facebook at a better time than now. Especially with the racist statements from the President of the United States. I am proud to be from Kansas, and have spent more than 20 years as a Navy wife traveling the country and never have I let color of skin make a difference in my life and my friends.
I’m so thankful a friend shared this story with me… Kindness!