Tom McCorkel
by Julie Dant
Title
Tom McCorkel
Artist
Julie Dant
Medium
Photograph - Prints From Digital Photograph
Description
My very first serious portrait. I was working a checkout at the place I worked one summer and this man came through my line. He had on a black felt hat with silver medallions circling it..and a crisp light blue dress shirt with blue jeans. He was by himself. He had a twinkle in his eye when he sort of plopped down a bottle of Brut Aftershave onto the counter..and as he was doing so..he looked me in the eye and announced, "I come ta git me some Lady Killer!!" Knowing he was expecting some response...I immediately held up my hand in a "STOP" motion..and said..."Well..what EVER you do..you wait to put that on when you get outside the building, 'cause I have this line of customers after you and I can't be swooning over you right at the moment!!" And he just LOVED that retort..and began laughing a hoarse, raspy guffaw, bent over and slapped his knees and then straightened back up with even MORE of a twinkle in his eye and promised me he'd wait...JUST for me!! ;0)) All the customers behind him were laughing also at this cute little old man who was only about 5 foot 5 and small boned. I'd never seen him before then, and on my break..I went outside to go to my car and saw that he was sitting out on the liar's bench in front of the store with two other elderly men. I went and got my camera, went up to the men and asked them all if I could take their photos. One of the men immediately said, "Naw..." and the other simply stood up and walked away! That left my "Lady Killer". I asked him what his name was and he announced with such pride and gusto, " My name's Tom McCorkle!" and then he wanted to know if this was going to be in the newspaper. I told him, "No...these are just for me...but one day they might be in a book of my photographs. Would that be ok with you?" to which he responded, "Well...I don't mind, I reckon." All the while he was smiling and I began taking quite a few shots asking him to look here...look there...etc...and he did all that I asked with such good humor. I shook his hand and told him thank you very much and then had to go back inside to work. I never saw him again and I've always wished I'd gotten his address so that I could have sent him a copy of his portrait. He would have gotten such a kick out of it. His name was Tom McCorkle...and he was a sweet man who loved to have fun. That's all I'll ever know about him.
Uploaded
August 16th, 2013
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Comments (29)
Priscilla Burgers
Wonderful image and story!
Julie Dant replied:
Hi Priscilla, I apologize for the delay in my thanks! I am happy that you liked Tom's image and my story. I will never forget him. And I just found out late last year that he'd passed away a couple of years ago. ;(
Mike Nahorniak
This picture has a lot of character, and the story is a pleasant bonus...nice job! v
Julie Dant replied:
Hello Mike! Thanks so much! Tom WAS a character if there ever was one..so it must show. ;0) Thanks for the Vote!
Ramon Martinez
Wonderful portrait Julie! His expression is unique and the image is worked with a very nice texture. Bravo! V&F
Julie Dant replied:
Hi Ramon! Thank you so very much! I appreciate your v/F and your kind comments! ;0)
Robert ONeil
Julie, I LOVE this portrait! Loved it before I read your description but after reading it WOW what an awesome story. Made me laugh & smile. I wish I knew Tom McCorkle, I'm sure he was a great man! V
Julie Dant replied:
Thank you Robert, for your enthusiastic comments! I am happy that everyone seems to have been so interested in my accompanying story, also! ;0) I am sure he was also, Robert. I've recently put his photo up on my FB page and in the surrounding communities' FB pages..in the hopes someone will recognize him! ;0) thanks again!
Douglas MooreZart
Julie this may be your first serious portrait but I have to tell you its perfect!
Julie Dant replied:
Hello Douglas! ;0) Thank you so much for such kind and encouraging words! That's really nice of you and thank you for looking!! ;0))
Maggie Vlazny
Just fantastic Julie!!! There is so much character and life story imprinted on the face of the elderly. I have always liked this quote: "At 50 everyone deserves the face that he has." Author unknown. NO I DON'T THINK 50 is elderly but you know what I mean. Anyway I found this on FB, liked and clicked thru. fave,v/twt,P
Julie Dant replied:
Hi Maggie! Thanks so much for the interesting comments! I am happy you enjoyed Tom. ;0) Thanks for all the "extras" at the end there also! ;0))
Julie Brugh Riffey
I loved your description of this wonderful photographic portrait. That adds to the portrait, knowing details about a moment in time. I've known some little old men like this in a past job (bank teller) as well, and it really gives you a "warm and fuzzy' feeling to connect with someone like this. Nice job on the photo and the write up about it.
Julie Dant replied:
Hello Julie! Thank you for the wonderful comments. It's nice to hear of other people who work with the public and their impressions, too. Thanks for taking the time to read my long story! ;0))
Bobbee Rickard
Revisiting; such great character showing in this; twted,fav, already voted on this great piece of art.
Julie Dant replied:
Hey Bobbee! Aww..thank you so much for coming back and leaving your thoughts a second time. How complimentary is that?!! ;0))
Robert Lacy
Thanks, Julie for posting the story to go with the portrait. I can see that you are also gifted as a wordsmith and you relate the meeting with Tom McCorkel beautifully. With your combination of photographic and writing skills, I can see that the book you spoke of to old Tom would be a good one.
Julie Dant replied:
How sweet of you, Robert! But I'm not surprised. You've always given me wonderful and kind critiques. Thanks so much for being a nice friend on here! And yeah...I am a writer/poet, too. lol If you ever want to read one or two..I'm simply "Julie" at gotpoetry.com . ;0)
Asuncion Purnell
Those wrinkles tell a lot! Great pic!
Julie Dant replied:
Thanks Asuncion! I agree! You can tell he's worked outside all of his life and he has a good sense of humor with those laugh-lines! ;0)
Christian Mattison
That face has a story all it's own. And the story you shared just adds to it. Great work! -v-
Julie Dant replied:
Thanks, Christian, for your comments and for letting me know you like Tom's portrait. I appreciate that very much! ;0)
Guy Whiteley
Julie, a super portrait and a fantastic story to go with it. Very well done. I want a copy of that book when you do it. V/F.
Julie Dant replied:
Guy...thank you!! And when I finally get one done...I'll be sure to let you know!! lol Thanks so much, again!
Bobbee Rickard
So wonderful; the face tells its own story; love it; fv
Julie Dant replied:
Hi Bobbee! Thanks...yes...I KNEW when I was taking his pictures that they had the potential to be good...I was crossing my fingers! lol
Faye Giblin
I love Tom McCorkel so muc I have just been Googling to see if I can find anything at all, but alas I couldn't (tried mccorkle spelling too). He has a wonderful face, such character. I hope his lady killer worked for him. Thank you for sharing this story Julie, it has cheered me up so much. Great, great great... ahhhhh.... where is Tom, I want to know too ;) x v/f/g+
Julie Dant replied:
Aww, Faye! What a compliment your comment is for me! ;0) Thank you for expressing such an interest in Tom's portrait. IF I ever find out anything more about him..I'll let you know...how bout that? ;0)) YOUR interest prompted ME to try my OWN search..but to no avail. Even tried telephone number look up. Nada. ;0( I keep thinking maybe some one who knew or knows him, will see the photo. I just now thought...I'll try on my Facebook page! Maybe a friend of a friend of a friend might recognize him! ;0)) THanks again, Faye!
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