I Don't Know Why
AJ Swope was a friend of mine.
We met via Twitter.
He was a local guy that somehow found me and my 140 character messages to the world.
AJ appreciated my sense of humor.
He openly admired my talents as a writer.
Funny thing is it took quite a few months before I discovered he had exquisite talents of his own.
AJ was also a writer. A songwriter and singer and musician.
He had many more talents than I'll ever have.
We soon embarked on a project.
He was writing songs based on some of my short stories.
I was writing stories based on some of his songs.
I was also working on TWISTED ROADS and struggling to amend a character that just didn't feel right.
AJ and I met several times over beers.
From the first second we set down it was as if I'd known him my entire life.
An instant friendship born of common respect and admiration for he others ability to turn a phrase.
AJ inspired me.
He inspired Lucas Cahill the male protagonist, the replacement for that other character that didn't feel right in Twisted Roads.
AJ answered ten thousand questions about writing music, playing guitar, being a performer.
I promised AJ a steak and all the Shiner he could drink and if he would swing by my house to answer a few more questions.
And help me put the final tweaks on some lyrics I was working on for the book.
He said he'd be glad to but he couldn't make it until Tuesday.
He said he'd also been working on a melody to go with them.
I was driving home from work on that Tuesday with my son when my phone rang.
I didn't believe it.
I couldn't believe it.
I shed some tears just the same.
It had to been someone else.
A different AJ Swope maybe.
It wasn't.
He was a local guy that somehow found me and my 140 character messages to the world.
We met via Twitter.
AJ Swope was a friend of mine
Andrew Jared "AJ" Swope
Posted: January 17, 2013 - 1:00am
Andrew Jared "AJ" Swope: 1985-2013
Andrew Jared “AJ” Swope, 27, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.
Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at First
Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Murry Gossett and Dr. Roger Hubbard
officiating, arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home 4100 South
Georgia St.
AJ was born January 29, 1985 in Amarillo, TX, to Rick and Leslie
Swope of Pampa. He graduated from Pampa High School in 2003. AJ was a
2007 graduate of West Texas A&M University where he majored in
Broadcast Journalism. While there, he was very active in the broadcast
program. After graduation, he was employed by KVII-TV as an on-air
reporter, anchor, and assignments editor. AJ then went on to become the
Executive Director for Class 4 Winds. He was known for his intense love
for his family and his passion for music and song writing. He showcased
his musical talents throughout the panhandle with his band AJ Swope and
The Last Train Home. AJ most cherished his wife, Wendi, his family and
friends and his dog Simon the Dog.
AJ was the perfect husband and devoted son and brother. The love he
had for his wife and family was indescribable. Regardless of what AJ did
– whether work or play - he was passionate. He was also famous for his
adventurous demeanor and his quick sense of humor. His love of life
included learning how to surf, sail, snorkel and kayak. He loved the
outdoors and spent hours biking in Palo Duro Canyon and riding around
the neighborhood with Simon the Dog in a cart behind him. In his
abbreviated 27 years, AJ affected the lives of so many through various
speaking and musical events. Teaching himself to play the guitar,
mandolin, harp and harmonica, AJ believed in chasing his dreams. He
leaves a hole in the heart of all those who love and admire him.
He was preceded in death by a very special uncle, Dirk Wright.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Wendi of Amarillo; his proud
parents Rick and Leslie Swope of Pampa; a brother, Dirk Swope, wife
Valeria and niece, Peyton of Amarillo; Simon the Dog and Buster; Jud and
Jan Finney of Amarillo; Renita and Mark Mitchell of Lubbock.
Grandparents: Bob and Joyce Swope of Pampa; Carl and Linda Johnson of
Pampa, Virginia Freeman of Lubbock, John and Jettie Spotts of New Caney,
TX. Aunts & Uncles: David and Susan Boothe of Tuttle and cousins
Mandie Boothe Ollinger and Emily Boothe; Kenneth and Jana Ford of
Midland and cousins Mackenzie and Madison; Larry and Carol Johnson of
Mena, AR; Ann and Guerry Wright of Follett, TX; Randy and LauraLee Swope
of Whitewater, CO; Gale and Stacy Brewer of Amarillo; Cindy Barnard of
Amarillo; Leroy and Patty Freeman of New Deal, TX and countless friends
who loved him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the AJ
Swope Memorial Scholarship in care of the WTAMU Foundation-WTAMU, Box
60766, Canyon, TX 79016.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.schoolerfuneral.com .
Amarillo Globe-News, Jan. 17, 2013
We met via Twitter.
He was a local guy that somehow found me and my 140 character messages to the world.
AJ appreciated my sense of humor.
He openly admired my talents as a writer.
Funny thing is it took quite a few months before I discovered he had exquisite talents of his own.
AJ was also a writer. A songwriter and singer and musician.
He had many more talents than I'll ever have.
We soon embarked on a project.
He was writing songs based on some of my short stories.
I was writing stories based on some of his songs.
I was also working on TWISTED ROADS and struggling to amend a character that just didn't feel right.
AJ and I met several times over beers.
From the first second we set down it was as if I'd known him my entire life.
An instant friendship born of common respect and admiration for he others ability to turn a phrase.
AJ inspired me.
He inspired Lucas Cahill the male protagonist, the replacement for that other character that didn't feel right in Twisted Roads.
AJ answered ten thousand questions about writing music, playing guitar, being a performer.
I promised AJ a steak and all the Shiner he could drink and if he would swing by my house to answer a few more questions.
And help me put the final tweaks on some lyrics I was working on for the book.
He said he'd be glad to but he couldn't make it until Tuesday.
He said he'd also been working on a melody to go with them.
I was driving home from work on that Tuesday with my son when my phone rang.
I didn't believe it.
I couldn't believe it.
I shed some tears just the same.
It had to been someone else.
A different AJ Swope maybe.
It wasn't.
He was a local guy that somehow found me and my 140 character messages to the world.
We met via Twitter.
AJ Swope was a friend of mine
Andrew Jared "AJ" Swope
Posted: January 17, 2013 - 1:00am
Andrew Jared "AJ" Swope: 1985-2013
Andrew Jared “AJ” Swope, 27, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.
Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at First
Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Murry Gossett and Dr. Roger Hubbard
officiating, arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home 4100 South
Georgia St.
AJ was born January 29, 1985 in Amarillo, TX, to Rick and Leslie
Swope of Pampa. He graduated from Pampa High School in 2003. AJ was a
2007 graduate of West Texas A&M University where he majored in
Broadcast Journalism. While there, he was very active in the broadcast
program. After graduation, he was employed by KVII-TV as an on-air
reporter, anchor, and assignments editor. AJ then went on to become the
Executive Director for Class 4 Winds. He was known for his intense love
for his family and his passion for music and song writing. He showcased
his musical talents throughout the panhandle with his band AJ Swope and
The Last Train Home. AJ most cherished his wife, Wendi, his family and
friends and his dog Simon the Dog.
AJ was the perfect husband and devoted son and brother. The love he
had for his wife and family was indescribable. Regardless of what AJ did
– whether work or play - he was passionate. He was also famous for his
adventurous demeanor and his quick sense of humor. His love of life
included learning how to surf, sail, snorkel and kayak. He loved the
outdoors and spent hours biking in Palo Duro Canyon and riding around
the neighborhood with Simon the Dog in a cart behind him. In his
abbreviated 27 years, AJ affected the lives of so many through various
speaking and musical events. Teaching himself to play the guitar,
mandolin, harp and harmonica, AJ believed in chasing his dreams. He
leaves a hole in the heart of all those who love and admire him.
He was preceded in death by a very special uncle, Dirk Wright.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Wendi of Amarillo; his proud
parents Rick and Leslie Swope of Pampa; a brother, Dirk Swope, wife
Valeria and niece, Peyton of Amarillo; Simon the Dog and Buster; Jud and
Jan Finney of Amarillo; Renita and Mark Mitchell of Lubbock.
Grandparents: Bob and Joyce Swope of Pampa; Carl and Linda Johnson of
Pampa, Virginia Freeman of Lubbock, John and Jettie Spotts of New Caney,
TX. Aunts & Uncles: David and Susan Boothe of Tuttle and cousins
Mandie Boothe Ollinger and Emily Boothe; Kenneth and Jana Ford of
Midland and cousins Mackenzie and Madison; Larry and Carol Johnson of
Mena, AR; Ann and Guerry Wright of Follett, TX; Randy and LauraLee Swope
of Whitewater, CO; Gale and Stacy Brewer of Amarillo; Cindy Barnard of
Amarillo; Leroy and Patty Freeman of New Deal, TX and countless friends
who loved him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the AJ
Swope Memorial Scholarship in care of the WTAMU Foundation-WTAMU, Box
60766, Canyon, TX 79016.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.schoolerfuneral.com .
Amarillo Globe-News, Jan. 17, 2013
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