by Larry Phillips
Larry Phillips was your average knockabout city kid. He came from a stable Catholic family, had loving parents and siblings, lots of friends, and a knack for getting into trouble. By the age of 16 he had been cautioned by the police for running a gambling venue and came precariously close to being falsely imprisoned for attempted rape. A stint in the Army saved him from a near certain prison sentence.
He proved to be a good soldier, serving as a Green Beret, but not a very good man. By his own admission he was a womanizer, a petty thief, and a cigar-smoking serial cheater who repeatedly vacillated between the pull of worldly temptations and doing the right thing to provide for his family.
His life turns around after a religious event at Madison Square Garden and his marriage to a woman who brings peace and contentment to his life. Despite being diagnosed with ALS and prostate cancer, he works tirelessly on behalf of homeless children, food panties, and soup kitchens.