Phil,
Two of my most favorite articles were written by turf scribes that begin whinning about the their workload and the endless correspondence and absurd requests from readers that would take an eternity to fullfil.
As the articles progress, the scribes share with us the passing of a very close friend and we have insight into the emotion of their very sad loss.
One such article by Ken McCarr from March 1976 Hoof Beats:
http://www.***/publct/postbg.html
Hervey wrote a couple of these, however it appears I don't have any online.
My condolences for the loss of your friend.
One of my most memorable recollections is of a Michigan man (Jay T. Fuller) that attended the races most nights of the year and hardly every wagered.
Jay was a very thoughful and kind person and always spoke good of everybody.
He passed a young man, however in his last few years he and his brother-in-law shared ownership in a horse (Gratiot Gal). The mare didn't do that well, however it hepled to put a smile on Jay's face and added zeal to his tedious journey.
Jay passed a young man by most standards, with a disease that plagues many people today of which in the end there is an absence of medical relief of the pain. Such a terrible injustice could not have more wrongly burdend on a kinder humanbeing.
