Picture This Story in a Movie

Bob LaBrant recently sent in a joint bio for himself and his wife Sarah Emery LaBrant. The story is good enough to have its own movie...but until a producer comes along, here's a summary, using Bob's words:

Sarah and I started dating on Jan. 10, 1955 (Editor: We were all freshmen then) We went to the old Fourth Street Drive-In on a double-date with Bob Vannatta. To this day I can't remember who he was with.

Sarah became my soulmate. She was so easy to talk to and hasn't stopped since then. Sarah became a diligent housewife and I worked for Florida Power Corp. for 8 years, finally leaving as a lineman. We produced three lovely daughters during this time.

We went into the hospitality industry as innkeepers in Balsam, NC. With my parents, we operated the Balsam Mountain Inn Hotel for 21 years. (This was a large 60-room inn built in 1908.) Sarah and I also worked seasonally at Al Lang Field, where my uncle owned the concession rights. We did that for 32 years.

In 1990, we bought our own little bed and breakfast (The Friendship Lodge) in Black Mountain, NC. We still own it and operate it seasonally. For 15 years after being at Al Lang Field, we worked at Derby Lane seasonally.

Our three daughters met and married their spouses in North Carolina, and all three live there now. Each has two children. Probably the greatest accomplishment Sarah and I have achieved is our family and the love derived from it.

When asked what we could do if we could live our lives over again, we both agree: we would do it all over again.

For the last 39 years, we have lived at 3600 Poplar St. NE in St. Petersburg (33704) for six months, across from Crisp Park. The rest of the year we have lived at our NC location. Our Black Mountain address is P. O. Box 877, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

Editor's Note: The fact that this tribute to his happy marriage is written by the husband makes the story even more special. We females can easily become sentimental but Bob is one Class Act to share these thoughts about his relationship with Sarah. This would be a movie with a very happy ending.