Husband, father, friend, scientist, mentor, teacher, disciple, soldier, horseman, marksman, rancher, historian, doctor, patient, lobbyist, leader, dreamer, artist, realist, apologist, and son - in one aspect or another, my dad was all these things to all of us. Now that a bookend has been put on the other side of his life, I, being Stanley Bynum, Junior, have the terrible duty and awesome privilege to tell you some things about him.

Let me tell you some accomplishments of his. As I understand it, 11 out of the 43 photos from one of the Apollo missions was shot through a lens that he crafted with his bare hands.

I heard two people on two different occasions (about eight years apart) call him the Father of Modern Nutrition. That's probably not a title that will be bestowed upon him until many years from now. But I can see clearly, even with the little understanding of science and nutrition that I have, why that would be true.

I can walk into random universities around the world and ask them about Stan Bynum and they will tell you what they remember about him. He earned himself the reputation for being able to speak about any subject at any depth to anyone on any level. I never got tired of watching him display that characteristic.

Let me tell you a story about how this "gentle man" was not always so gentle. We had a horse when we moved to Colorado, and this Apaloosa horse had the distinct name "Apple". We got him basically for free because the people across the street had abandoned him. He was a small horse, but he was a real tough, ornery horse. And one day, he got out of the fence (again!) and we jumped in an old rusty red and white pickup truck and sped across the "tundra". We saw the horse and Dad got out of the truck. He grabbed the horse's rope and locked his body in position until he was eye to eye with Apple and he said "Hold still!" as loud as he could. And that horse stopped, and I was terrified! I think I didn't misbehave for six months after that.

Let me tell you some of his famous quotes. One time, when I was really young and was asking him "Dad, why don't we have more money?", he said "Listen, son, I've been rich and I've been poor, and I've noticed there is not much difference between the two. Rich or poor, you still go through your share of problems." Another famous quote is "Why do they call it tourist season if you can't shoot them?" Another is "God is the only thing worth fearing". The man was not afraid of anything but God. Another is "There is only one incurable disease, and that is stupidity".

Five things that I respect most about him are (1) Integrity. He would never do anything to harm his integrity. Not because he was a prideful man, but because he feared God. When he spoke to people, his actions would match what he said. (2) Wisdom. A very wise man - I could never come up with anything that could stump him. (3) Unwillingness to compromise. Dad was the most excellent scientist, the most excellent executive, the most excellent father. (4) His respect for all people. He loved and respected everyone no matter who they were or where they came from. (5) His sense of humor. He told me once that sense of humor was a lot like the elastic on a good pair of pants. If the pants are not the exact size, the elastic allows a little bit of give. His sense of humor was never irreverent, but always fitting.

He and I shared a relationship where I had the unnameable honor of treating him as a hero of mine.