I was fortunate enough to know Lavard for the few years that I did. In that short amount of time I was able to see how much love one man could have for so many people. Not just his immediate children, which were 12 in total, but for all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren and those that he considered family.
He lost his battle with cancer this morning at the age of 77. I will always admire him and try to pass on his example of love to my children as he did for his.