A Father's Day Reflection – 2025
As Father’s Day 2025 approaches, I find myself reflecting on all the memories I had with my dad—especially the years we spent working side by side. Growing up, and later running a business together for a short time, I learned so much from him. He taught me how to treat people, how to conduct business the right way, and how to approach every situation with integrity.
“Relationships will build your business,” he used to tell me—and he was right.
Our family was in the trucking business for over 40 years. My dad ran it for just over 20 of those years. We worked together for two years, and then I carried it on for another 18 years after he passed. Truthfully, it was never quite the same without him around. My heart wasn’t fully in it, but I was blessed during that season with great friendships and a lot of life lessons.
Even while I was in trucking, I was always intrigued by real estate. I used to wonder if I could ever make a living doing something I truly enjoyed. My wife, Terra, prayed that one day I’d get the chance to do something I loved—and that it would be fun along the way. That’s how I got into real estate.
Funny enough, my first sale was my own house in South Carolina, sparked by nothing more than a simple postcard and a little bit of marketing. That small moment opened the door to something much bigger.
As I sit here thinking about this weekend and my dad, I can’t help but miss him deeply. Most people knew him as a kind, generous, and friendly man. I knew him as my dad—and for a few special years, as my boss.
I realized just how much he helped others after he passed. At his funeral, several people came up to me—people I had never met—and thanked me for what my dad had done for them. They told me stories of him quietly helping them get into rehab programs, recovery centers, or just being there during some of their darkest moments. Honestly, my family and I never knew. He never did it for recognition. He just did it out of the goodness of his heart.
That’s the kind of man he was. And I hope that one day, I can turn out to be that kind of man too—kind, giving, and always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. He taught me not to be hard on people. “Give them a chance,” he’d say.
Some of my favorite memories are the two of us watching NASCAR races together. I’m sad he never got to meet my kids, but I’m grateful that he did get to meet Terra while we were dating. I lost him in August of 1999. Terra and I got married just a month later, in September. He met her—and for that, I’ll always be thankful.
It’s hard to believe I’ve lived almost half my life without my dad in it. And I can only hope that if he were around today, he’d look at me and say, “Son, I’m proud of you.” I’ve tried to build my business the way he taught me—with integrity and by building real relationships with people. That lesson is always in the back of my mind.
The last Christmas that I spent with him was in 1998. There’s a picture from that holiday that means so much—it shows all the Kirby boys together, plus a close family friend who was like a brother to us. That photo captures one of the last moments we were all together, and it’s something I’ll always hold close.
But you know, when I lost one dad, God gave me another. When I married Terra, I gained more than a wife—I gained a father-in-law who’s been one of my best friends. There’s no telling where I’d be without Mr. Terry Fowler in my life. He’s treated me like his own son from the very beginning, and he’s been just like a dad to me in every way that counts.
He's also been a wonderful “Papa” to our boys. The Kirby boys have been truly blessed to call Mr. Terry their Papa—and I’ve been blessed to call him family.
Wishing all the fathers out there a meaningful Father’s Day. And to those who are missing theirs—I see you. I’m with you. And to those who stepped in when they didn’t have to—thank you. Your impact means more than words can say.
Wayne Kirby
