What follows should be an absolute disaster in that situation. Bobby Cleveland – Robert Hayes Cleveland Jr. was my younger brother by 21 month. Our dad, a former sports writer, used to tell us that we should get the news first. So I did. Bobby died on Thursday from injuries sustained in an auto accident. He was 67 years old and had lived each day to the fullest. He was a large man who had a great appetite for life. Bobby was bigger than me, even though I was older. He was my big brother, which I called him. He was a skilled fisherman, hunter, and gourmet chef. His gumbo was made with a lot seafood and lots of love. It was rich and spicy. He loved the Braves, the Saints, and Southern Miss. One quick story: When Sid Bream reached home plate to send Atlanta Braves into 1992 World Series, Bobby leapt from his chair and let loose a roar, and then a howl. For weeks, he wore a bandage covering his hand to protect the wound from the ceiling fan. I can also confirm that he never forgiven the officials who robbed him of the Saints’ Super Bowl. Bobby also loved his sweet Mama, sunrise, bloody Marys and anything John Prine wrote or sang. He loved pranks and The Big Lebowski. Bullies, racism, light beer and yard work were all things Bobby hated. He also disliked dress shoes, closing times, boring headlines, overcooked food, and long stories. Bobby was our younger brother, but he was named after our dad. He was Ace Cleveland made over, and that was fitting. Bobby looked more and more like his pop as he grew older. He was also a great actor. Ace was quick and devilishly witty. Bobby elevated that ability to a whole new level. Robert Hayes Clevelands and Bobby could appear smug to new acquaintances. But both had tender hearts. Both were intelligent enough to be successful in any field they chose. Both loved what they did. Both were charismatic personalities who could fill a room. Bobby’s amazing outdoor writing will be remembered by many Clarion Ledger long-time readers. Bobby’s column was on the back cover, while my column appeared on the sports section’s front page. People would often say that they enjoyed my columns, but always read Bobby’s first. He told stories as if he were telling them. They were full of wit and knowledge. He was often the one telling his jokes in fishing and hunting stories. Bobby once said to me that he believed by the time people reach the backpage of the sports section they have had enough of reading about wars and murders, and then reading about their team’s losses in the rest. They were ready to entertain me when they reached me. You can’t even count how many times I was told that people didn’t hunt or fish, but they read the words of Bobby. LISTEN: Crooked Letter Podcast With Bobby Cleveland. Many people didn’t realize that Bobby was for many years the editor and designer for the CL’s Sunday Sports Sections, which were annually voted the best in the country. Bobby created sports sections that rivaled those in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles during football seasons. Bobby was a natural page designer and was hands down the best headline writer I have ever worked with. Bobby left the CL to become a freelance outdoors writer. He worked for the Barnett Reservoir, Pearl River Supply District and did public relations work. He was particularly proud of the branding, “The Rez”. The handsome car tags that you see, The Rez, were his idea. Bobby was 27 years old when we thought we lost him. He almost died from a heart attack at 40. He was saved by a Widow Maker vein that became an artery. Bobby made changes in his cooking and eating habits. A vein was created that saved him. My 27-year-old brother was a good steward of that bonus. In a bait shop, he met Pam, his love, and they became best friends. We are grateful for their love and friendship. We are grateful for the way he loved his grandchildren and a niece, nephew and nephew who loved him as their second father. My best friend, my brother, has been my best friend for 67 years. We shared many hours of laughter, playing, cooking, and working together. *** Thursday morning, a memorial service will take place at Lakeshore Park at 10:30 am on the shores Of The Rez. Following the service, a reception will be held at Kathryn’s Steakhouse & Seafood Restaurant on Old Canton Road near Ridgeland. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Ace and Carrie Cleveland Endowment for Southern Miss (PO Box 5458, Hattiesburg MS) or the Barnett Reservoir Foundation. Box 2180 Ridgeland MS 39158), or to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum (1152 Lakeland Drive Jackson MS 39216).