December 5, 1927 – September 6, 2013

🎂 Happy Birthday, Dad

Today we celebrate Robert E. Hargrove—a man who showed us that the greatest gifts aren’t found in stores, but on the banks of the Neches River.

Dad gave us something precious: a love of the outdoors and the simple joys of being together. Camp Hargrove was his classroom, and we were his eager students. We learned patience waiting for the channel cats and blue cats to bite. We felt the thrill when the ops latched onto the trotline bait and swam into view as we pulled the line from the depths. We waded through sandbars, filled minnow jars with bait, seined the shallows, and floated lazy afternoons in inner tubes, letting the river carry us.

We remember the ritual of it all—Dad pumping water from the river, later from the well he drilled with his own hands. The smell of bacon and scrambled eggs sizzling in cast iron. Biscuits that tasted like only the camp did. Coffee brewed strong in that old pot, grounds settling at the bottom, sipped slowly by the campfire as fog drifted across the water at dawn. The soft sounds of the river greeting us awake.

And every Fourth of July, Dad’s fishing became a gift to us all—fish fries for the extended family, gathered together, fed by what his hands and the river had provided.

In those moments—before the day rushed in, surrounded by sons, nephews, and grandchildren—Dad was teaching us how to live. How to slow down. How to appreciate what matters. How to pass love down through generations.

Those riverside mornings and summer days shaped who we became. Dad’s love for nature, his steady presence, his generosity of spirit—these are the catches we keep forever.

Happy Birthday, Dad. We’re still there by the river with you. 🐟🏕️💙

December 5, 1927 – September 6, 2013

ON THIS DAY

8 years ago

Glen Richbourg is feeling blessed with L.v. Hargrove and 2 others. wrote in 2013

September 6, 2013 • ©

Uncle Bob taught me the difference between a blue cat, channel cat and a mud cat. He could scull all the way around Mud Lake and not make a single splash. Made the best camp breakfasts ever and I’ve never had even a Starbucks that could match his river water coffee. Some of the best memories of my life were out in the Neches River bottom being a kid with the Hargrove boys and Uncle Bob. I learned life lessons from him about respecting the land, nature and fellow human beings that l’ve carried my entire life. He also raised the three best men you’ll ever meet. I will forever miss him.

Eighteen with 49 Years of Experience: Its been a Wild Ride

John Hargrove January 2025

Eighteen with 49 Years of Experience: Its been a Wild Ride

I have never felt completely sure of myself. But that never stopped me from trying things anyway. Life has been a mix of near-disasters, small victories, and the occasional moment of brilliance—sometimes all in the same day..

Looking back, I’ve built things, broken things (intentionally and otherwise), raised a family, started companies, rejoined companies, and somehow managed to survive a quarter horse with a mean streak. I’ve designed nuclear security systems, climbed radio towers, and watched Star Trek recover from its worst movie (looking at you, 1979). Through it all, I’ve realized that work was never just work—it was always fun. And somehow, I’m still here, still learning, still trying.

Along the way, I’ve designed electrical control systems for substations and regional grids, implemented one of the first utility fiber control systems (1982), and developed leading-edge cybersecurity systems for power plants and grid transmission.

All that said, I still feel like an 18-year-old with 49 years of experience.

The Best Times of My Life

(In Chronological Order, Because That’s How Time Works)

The Early Years: Learning, Surviving, Horses That Bite, and Learning Things the Hard Way

Age 11

Age 12 – Survived the mile swim. Earned a merit badge for not drowning.

• Age 13 – Earned Eagle Scout rank, proving I could navigate the woods, tie knots, and not set the camp on fire.

• Age 14 – Discovered Newton’s Laws the hard way by losing control of my quarter horse while riding bareback. As I rotated around to her neck, she decided to bite me while at full gallop—which seems like an unfair move in hindsight.

• Learned drafting from my grandfather, setting the stage for a lifelong appreciation of good engineering (and good erasers).

• Spent summers on the Neches River at my dad’s camp, developing a deep love for nature and mosquito repellant.

Graduated Buna ISD

The Family Years: Running From Kids, Finding Purpose, and Speaking in Public

• Pretended to run from my 3-year-old son, because making toddlers think they are faster than you is part of the Dad Code.

• Thirty-nine years later, repeated this with my grand-nephews and niece (ages 4 and up). Kids never get tired. I do.

• Got my BSEE from Lamar University (1981)—a degree that would later justify many of my wildest projects.

• Became a telecommunications engineer because my boss discovered I knew Morse code.

• Married Leisa, a moment of sheer brilliance on my part.

We had a Son – Joshua Blake Hargrove – a gift from God. 1984-2002

• Age 42 – Had the life-changing realization that Jesus loves me, this I know. That moment when you TRULY know it, and realize you were ignorant before. This alone saved me from what was to come in less than two years.

• 1994 – My wife twisted my arm into attending Toastmasters to learn public speaking. I physically got sick before my first talk. Turns out, you don’t actually die from it.

The Career Years: Work Was Never Just Work

• Started an internet company—because apparently, I like a challenge. During a pandemic…

• 1993-1995 Redesigned and oversaw a replacement and rebuild of a transcontinental microwave system from Houston to NYC, proving that yes, sometimes the right people DO get put in charge.

• 2010-2019 Designed cybersecurity systems for power plants and the grid—because keeping the lights on is kind of important.

• Put in one of the first utility fiber control systems in 1982, back when fiber optics were considered risky and cutting-edge.

• 2002 onward – Led Bible studies, where I saw the Word come alive in me and others.

The “Geezer Paradox” Years: Dancing, Trek, and Perspective

• Age 64 – Learned that I can dance like no one is watching and, more importantly, not care if anyone is. Look up the “Geezer Paradox”—it’s real.

• The Worst Times of My Life (Because Life Isn’t Always Fun and Star Trek)

• 2002 – The death of our son, Joshua. Until then, I did not know pain. Afterward, grief became a constant companion—one that never leaves, but you learn to live with.

• 1983 – The passing of my maternal grandfather at age 26. The first close relative I lost. I didn’t know how to process it.

• 2013 – The passing of my father at 85. He had a full life, but I wasn’t ready to let him go.

Final Thoughts: What I’ve Learned

No one ever feels truly complete. I’ve done a lot—some impressive, some just weird—but in the end, I’m just a guy who tried his best and constantly fell short in his own eyes. I’ve been a legal adult since 1976, but some days I still feel like a kid. Some days I act like one.

Sometimes I’m proud of what I do, sometimes I’m not.

But whether good or not-so-good, I rinse and repeat. Adjust. Keep going.

Looking back, I’ve been privileged to lead in both professional and personal areas. And yet, I still feel like I have so much left to do.

Family is huge, they made me who I am.

Each day, I try to be better and not be a burden to others.

I think I may finally be succeeding at life.

Final Words of Wisdom:

Have a great life. If I can, you can too.

Joshua painted this for me in 1999 The signature says from Paco to Dad.

My Maternal Grandfather when he was in his 20’s

Joshua Blake Hargrove

On Father’s Day

while many celebrate the loving and nurturing relationships they have with their earthly fathers, it’s important to acknowledge and embrace the reality that not everyone shares this experience. For those whose relationships with their fathers have been marked by absence, disappointment, or pain, the concept of fatherhood can evoke mixed emotions. However, within the Christian faith, there is a profound and comforting portrayal of God as the ultimate embodiment of fatherhood—offering unconditional love, boundless grace, and unfailing support to all His children.

The biblical depiction of God as a loving Father is a cornerstone that can provide immense comfort and strength. Scriptures like Psalm 68:5, which describes God as “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,” and Matthew 6:26, where Jesus reassures that God cares deeply for His creation, asserting that not even a sparrow falls to the ground outside the Father’s care, offer powerful reminders of His encompassing and protective nature.

In reflecting upon this divine fatherhood, we see a Father who is ever-present—not distant or disinterested. This is a Father who listens to prayers, who sees every tear, and who walks alongside His children through both the valleys and mountaintops of life. Unlike human relationships that may fail or falter, God’s love remains steadfast and unchanging.

For those who feel the absence of a paternal figure, God offers Himself as a sanctuary and guide. The reassurance found in Deuteronomy 31:8, where God promises never to leave nor forsake His people, can be incredibly comforting. It’s an assurance that you are not walking this journey alone, but are accompanied and loved by a Father whose commitment to His children is eternal and all-encompassing.

On this day, if the traditional celebrations of fatherhood don’t resonate with your experiences, you might find solace and hope in the relationship offered by God. In Him, you can find the qualities of the ideal father—compassion, protection, guidance, and an everlasting love that does not disappoint.

In the spirit of Avicii’s “Hey Brother,” the message that “there’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do” reflects not only the depths of human sibling bonds but can also be seen as a mirror of the divine love God extends. He is a Father who, in the person of Jesus, demonstrated that there truly is nothing He wouldn’t do for His children—even to the point of giving His own life.

Today, whether you are celebrating, reflecting, or finding a new understanding of fatherhood, may you feel the deep, unending love of the Father who calls each of us His own, who knows us by name, and who offers us a place in His eternal family.