Eldred Echols: Mr. African Missionary
May 25, 1920 - May 25, 2003
By: David Caskey

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The name, "Echols", as my Dad and Mother always referred to him was implanted in my vocabulary more than 60 years ago. He was a hero and early role model. I remember the excitement in 1949 when we moved to Africa to join "Echols" as missionaries. We spent many evenings in Birdville, (Ft. Worth) visiting with him and his sweet little mother in the home of Henry and Opal. (His sister).

I first saw him in Africa from the window of an old coal burning train. He was bearded and dressed in shorts, knee socks, velt shoes, bush jacket and flop brimmed hat. Over the next years he often lived in our home, or we shared a house. He had to bunk in my room and often my bed.

I remember: The patient way he would explain details to a young boy, the habits of an animal or the correct pronunciation of a word in some language; The long trips we made together in an old car, truck, or small plane, fishing for trout in the streams, hunting crocodiles in Wasangu; butchering pigs, building houses for someone else, picking mushrooms in the mountains; riding donkeys, repairing tires along the dusty roads, eating a milk shake that he had made for me out of a massive amount of ice cream in some isolated place; his passion for Truth, his love of an African sunrise or sunset; his persuasiveness in getting me to move back to Africa; his quest for information and knowledge, his writing with fabulous word pictures; and on and on.

He helped to mold my life and the direction I chose. He aided in instilling a passion for Christ, The Commission, and Concern for the lost.

I have been touched with mixed emotions since word of his death reached me in one of the Islands. Though I saw him seldom in recent years, I stayed up with his work and travels, and feel with others an empty spot in my heart. I am thankful for my recent visit with him.

I also rejoice in his last and greatest "Safari ". Kwa Heri Mzee, tu ta onana...

David Caskey

Bahamas