LETTERS FROM THE FAMILY
A NOTE FROM ALAN
Out of the many memorable lines and quotes I have heard from my dad through the years, the one that always seems to stand out the most is “Son, don’t ever tell people how good or great you are at something; let them tell you.” For a man who has achieved his own level of greatness in the eyes of so many, those words were both prophetic and wise. To be the best at anything, one has to have a lot of confidence and a certain amount of ego and drive. But one must also have humility to make a life-changing impact on people. I realize now that that is what Dad was teaching me all those years ago. Of course, to become a legend, one that other people admire and want to emulate, you also have to add faith and dedication to what you love. A good woman doesn’t hurt either.
My mom has always been Dad’s biggest cheerleader, from when he was a high school quarterback to when he became a Christian to when he faithfully plunged into this dream that is now known as Duck Commander. Her humility and dedication held them together when he was not the man he needed to be, and now she keeps him humble as his right hand and soul mate. Believe me, there would be no Duck Commander legend without Miss Kay!
What I respect most about my dad is that he allowed and continues to allow God to guide him. He offered himself to the Creator and humbly accepted a path that has now led to fame, recognition, and greatness, but has led mostly to glory to God and a life change for thousands of people. What I respect most about my mom is that she never gave up on him. Through her love for God and us boys, she led Dad to his relationship with God and changed all of our destinies. Their motive for Duck Commander has always been Kingdom first.
From my perch as the oldest son, I have had the opportunity to see the longest and greatest impact Dad’s life change and legacy have had on our earthly family, our forever family, and the world we live in. I have also personally experienced his love and support throughout my days here on Earth, even when some of those days were dark and I didn’t want to listen to him or Mom. I have grown and flourished as a man and as a man of God because of the influence of my parents, and I am forever grateful for them.
I thank my mom for her tenacity, long suffering, and close friendship. She taught me how to forgive and see potential goodness in people that others cannot see. She taught me that hope is one of God’s greatest virtues when things seem dark and difficult. I thank my dad for his guidance, commitment to God, and visionary faith. He saw what we couldn’t, and he has taught me to appreciate what can be done when others say it cannot be done. He taught me how to work hard and achieve your dreams. He taught me to appreciate God’s creation through a love of the outdoors and the simple beauty in the smallest things. From a smartweed stalk to a crawfish hill to a buttonwillow thicket, Dad has always seen the hand of God in the nature that surrounds us. He also taught me that people are worth loving because God made us to be loved and to share a message of love and redemption.
My dad would follow his own advice and never tell you how great he is, but I don’t mind telling you at all.
A NOTE FROM JASE
I’m the second son of Phil and Kay Robertson. Si (Phil’s youngest brother) named me on the riverbank. Si went to the river to tell Phil that Kay was having a baby. I’ve always heard that Phil’s response was something to the effect of, “What do you want me to do about it?” Si asked him, “What do you want to name him?” Phil replied, “Name him after you.” So I was given the name Jason Silas Robertson. Maybe that’s why Si and I love to argue so much. My dad called me “Jase” about half the time, and somewhere through the years the name stuck.
I was five or six when I noticed a change in my dad’s life. I was probably eight when I realized this change was going to be permanent and for the better. Up until that time, my life was filled with a lot of fear. I remember seeing scary-looking people and a lot of fistfights, usually ending with the flashing lights of police cars. I just tried to stay out of the way and survive. This all seemed to culminate one night with my most vivid memory as a child. I remember being awakened in the middle of the night and having to move out with my mom and brothers at the direction of my dad.
We moved to West Monroe, Louisiana, and it seemed like an eternity before I saw my dad again. It was a few months, and I remember my dad pulling up in a cool-looking Jeep. I could tell something had happened—he was a new creation.
It was not until I was fourteen that I figured out what happened. I had gone to a Bible study and had gotten “stirred up” about this one called Jesus. I asked my dad about it, and he told me that’s the same message he’d heard. Not long after that conversation, Phil and I waded into the Ouachita River and he baptized me. I then realized why he was a new creation.
The years we spent on the river were some of my fondest memories. We commercial-fished together, hunted everything, and spent a lot of time around the table, eating what we caught and playing dominoes. I think what made it so special was that we were a reconciled family and brothers in our faith. Through this we became really good friends. He taught me how to blow a duck call and how to skin a catfish. Most importantly, he taught me how to be a godly man.
I remember countless gospel studies with all kinds of people and lots of river baptisms. I learned how to be hospitable and to value people no matter what their skin color or whether they were rich or poor. Most important for me, I learned that as a follower of Christ you could have a lot of fun. It was not so much what we were doing around the riverbank but whom we were with on the riverbank. Thanks, Dad!
A NOTE FROM WILLIE
I’m happy I get to write about my dad when I’m older in life. The older I get, the more I’m starting to realize how great he really is. Not great because of all of his many accomplishments, but because of who he is and how he has lived his life. I know he has not always been what he wanted to be in life, but all of us have made mistakes; it’s how we deal with them that makes us great or not. Dad spent much of his younger years searching for something. When he found it, he sold out for what it gave him—peace and hope. He lived his early life with neither, and I would have to say I would have done the same if I didn’t know Jesus. He lived his life without peace, and he in turn gave no peace. He lived his life without hope, so he gave none as well. He lived only by what he saw. But after he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior, he learned to live by what he couldn’t see. And that is what he taught me after he found it.
I find myself living more and more like my dad as I get older. It’s probably because we were somewhat in the same birth order. I am the third in four children and he was the fifth in seven. We shared the same type of childhood. We both had nothing when we were young but never wanted any help and were self-made men. We had to really stand out to “stand out.” Neither of us ever feared failure, and if we did, we surely wouldn’t admit it. Each of us decided we would never live our lives in the trap of some man-made structure or like caged birds doing what we are supposed to do. Both of us knew at early ages that we needed a great partner to help us in life. We both put our spouses through trying times to make them prove to us that they really loved us for who we really were. And both women saw something in us that we did not see in ourselves, something that could be great with a little help and patience.
I would love to give all the credit to our gals, but without the Lord, it would have been impossible. We will bow to no man, but we bow to something bigger than us. God is the only thing that can tame the wild horse in both of us. It is as simple as that. It just makes sense to have hope beyond our lives on Earth. If the only thing we can rest on is how good life is here on Earth, then it may be comprehensible to think life ain’t so bad. But I have to wonder, what if I were born somewhere else on the planet? Somewhere that wasn’t so good? What if we couldn’t hunt, prosper, be happy, and have such a good family? It wouldn’t seem fair, would it? That is why we put our hope in something else. God’s way is better.
My father went through all the bad to teach me not to do it, and
I didn’t. I don’t have to testify about how bad I used to be. Yes, I made and continue to make bad decisions, and I am in no way perfect. I also have done many things the right way and have been a positive influence on many people. I have brought many people to the Lord and counseled teens, college kids, and married people. I have worked for the church, gone to seminary, and completed mission work. And I did most of it when I was still only a teen. I don’t deserve any glory. I simply followed the examples my parents showed me and did what my heavenly Father told me to do. The byproduct was I knew my dad would be pleased with what I was doing with my life.
My dad taught me to be a salesman, hard worker, good man, visionary, entrepreneur, problem solver, good husband, good father, and great hunter. He taught me to be independent, confident, and fearless, but most of all godly. I never remember him talking about his accomplishments on the ball field, and he never was big on homework, ball practice, or how we looked. He did, however, do what my wife said many years ago, which was to “hot-wire us to God.” Not so we would make him happy, but so we would make Him happy. I always tried to do what was right not only because it would make my dad happy, but because it would make the Lord happy.
As I sit here in my recliner, watching The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, literally turning into my dad, my hope is that I really do turn out to be somewhat like him. I am totally confident that we will live forever and continue to be together in the after-realm. That is the hope we share. That is why we live together without fighting and arguing, and that is why we continue to work together as friends. We are happy as a family—we share in joys, work through our problems, deal with sorrows, care for each other, and always look to the bigger picture. Yes, my dad has taught me a lot. I can only try to make him happy by putting all the things he has taught me into practice. I see no bad in him, only the good. I see no mistakes, only the achievements.
My biggest achievement was to bring him some of the glory he deserved in this life. He did so much for hunting, so much for his family, and so much for so many people. My biggest fear was that people would not know how much he accomplished. I have worked hard to make the right business moves so my father would receive the recognition he deserves. I am so glad to show America that there are still families that do the right things and care for people but can still succeed in this mean ol’ world. My mom tells me all the time that I am just like my dad, and she usually says it after some of my lesser moments. But I still smile and think that those are the things that were passed to me by him. My dad has passed on to his boys the essence of what he is. And it will take all four of us to show it. None of us alone can embody who he is. He is remarkable and noble. My father is a truly great man.
A NOTE FROM JEP
I guess growing up in the Robertson household was like growing up in a lot of American households. Since I was really young, we were skinning fish, cleaning squirrels, and picking dewberries. They were everyday events. Okay, so maybe my upbringing was a little atypical. I do think I had it a little easier than my older brothers, since Dad had repented by the time I was born. I remember getting up early in the summers and going with Dad to run the nets. He would even let me drive the boat every now and again. We would take our catch back to Mom, and then she and I would take off to the fish market to sell our catch. Something about the smell of those fish markets has always stayed with me. Those places had a stench that is beyond words. I would usually find something outside to do the rest of the day, whether it was fishing, shooting bows and arrows, or building forts.
On many nights, I remember folding boxes for the duck calls we were selling. To be honest, I don’t think I did nearly as many as my brothers. But I guess I chipped in here and there. My grandmother Granny would get me to go searching for night crawlers, so I could take her out perch fishing. Those were some great times, and she taught me a lot about being patient and about life in general.
As I grew to become a man, at some point I lost sight of all those life lessons my dad and grandmother taught me. At around nineteen years old, I went on a six-month drug-induced rampage that nearly cost me my life. My brother Willie knew what I was up to and got the family together to give an intervention. I’ll never forget how scared I was that day when I walked in Mom and Dad’s house with all my brothers sitting around. I still remember hearing my dad say, “I know you’ve been up to no good; how bad is it?” I broke down and told them everything. There were a lot of tears and hugs, and I’ve never felt the love of a family like I did that day. My dad put me on house arrest for three months, and it was probably the best time of my life. I learned how to reconnect with God and my family and get back with some true friends, who are my closest friends to this day.
I have since married the most beautiful, spiritual, wonderful woman on this planet, and we have four amazing kids. My dad has shown me through his life how to work hard to support your family, love God, and even fit in a little hunting. My dad has always been there for me in good times and bad, and I hope I can do the same for my children. I love you, Dad!
A NOTE FROM KAY
When people dream something as a child, it doesn’t always come true. But my childhood dream of what kind of man I would marry and spend the rest of my life with did come true.
I always knew my husband would be tall, dark, and handsome, but he also had to have a rugged look, as if he’d just walked out of the wilderness. He had to love the outdoors and be able to survive there if needed. I also wanted him to be able to take command of any situation when needed.
I wanted him to be a leader but with a sense of humor, too. I wanted him to work and make a living. I wanted him to be a man’s man, but with gentleness and love for me and his children, and be ready to defend us at all times. More than anything else, I wanted to feel loved and protected.
What I didn’t know when I found the man who filled my dreams was that I had found a diamond in the rough. It would take a lifetime to perfect that diamond on the long journey of life.
Phil and I have had many good years, some hard years, a few sad years, and a lot of struggling years to get where we are now. God put us in each other’s paths. It has always been a wonderful ride for me.
I have a husband who is my best buddy and friend, my lover, my Christian brother, my champion, and the person who will always be there through thick and thin.
There is no greater love than your love for God, but right under that is your love for your husband, your partner for life. One of the great tragedies I see is people not putting every effort into the foundation of their marriage. My grandmother told me that it’s one man and one woman for life and that your marriage is worth fighting for. We had a few hard and bumpy years, but prayer, patience, and some suffering and hope—plus remembering an old lady’s words—were what got me through the difficult times. We have given it our all for our marriage and family, and my dreams did come true. Phil is and will always be my hero!
Thanks to my oldest brother, Jimmy Frank, for his historical excellence, vivid memory, and storytelling. Thanks to Mark Schlabach for his insight, skill, and help with writing this book. Thanks to our old friend Philis Boultinghouse for her help in editing and mostly for not being anything like Denny. Thanks to John Howard for his help in making this project come together. I thank all of those who worked hard for little or no pay helping us get started almost forty years ago. I thank Gary Stephenson for his early work in bringing our hunting exploits to the screen and many others who have helped that process all of these years. I thank all of our Duck Commander employees for their hard work and dedication and all of our great customers and fans who have given rise to this ducky phenomenon. Thanks to the Outdoor Channel and A&E for bringing our family to the airwaves of this great country. Finally, a special thanks to all of the Robertson family, all of whom live the legacy set forward in this book. To Granny and Pa, who await the great resurrection, and to my brothers and sisters and their families and especially to my best friend and travel buddy, Miss Kay, and to my four sons and th
eir families. Most of all I thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, son of the Almighty God, for washing away my sins, teaching me a better way to live, and guaranteeing my eternal inheritance.
My parents James H. and Merritt Robertson
My third-grade picture
Playing baseball in my junior year at North Caddo High School, Vivian, Louisiana
During my playing days conferring with North Caddo coach Ed Sigrest
The Robertson men in the early 1970s in Gonzales, Louisiana. Left to right: James (Pa), Tommy, Jimmy Frank, Si, Harold, and me
Kay and me—high school sweethearts
Kay as a sophomore at North Caddo
Kay with her Papaw Carroway and miniature pony, Tony
My sophomore year at Louisiana Tech (1966). Pictured here are the backfield and receivers. Terry Bradshaw is number 12 and I am number 10, on the back row third from left.
My first year teaching English and PE in Junction City, Arkansas
Alan, Jase, Kay, and me in 1972
From left to right: Alan, Kay, Willie, and Jase, Christmas 1976
Al Bolen and me in the early 1970s
Me in front of Granny and Pa’s house in Luna, Louisiana, holding catfish caught on the Ouachita River
The boys—left to right: Willie, Jep, and Jase—waiting on me to return with the fish
Me at the lathe in the mid-1970s
Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander Page 16
