I would like to thank two of Meridian’s finest. That’s right: There are at least two heroes here in Meridian — in my eyes anyway.

Let me take you back to a summer day, way back in the late 1970s. A couple of buddies and I went swimming out at Dalewood Lake. Now I knew I couldn’t swim that well, so I didn’t venture out too far. So I thought. My friends swam out to a platform, which was in deeper water. I could swim as long as I knew I could touch the bottom. So I was just swimming along having a good time. Then I went to stand up and quickly found myself in trouble.

I panicked. Boy did I! I came up a couple of times gasping for a breath. If you have ever been in that situation, you really feel like you’re going to die. Well, my friends saw that I was in trouble. I was going down! The next thing I remember, I was on the beach gasping for air. I went on, got married, had a family, and now I am a proud grandparent. It’s all thanks to two brave individuals.

These guys do this for a living now. I want to believe I, as a teenager, said thanks to my rescuers. I can’t remember if I did. So now I want to thank them in public. When I look into my grandson’s eyes. I feel like the luckiest man alive, and it’s all thanks to a couple of friends.

Thank you, Derek Partridge and Thomas “Bubba” Boswell! For saving my life!

Terry Couch

Clinton