but the kind of guy who would get in $75,000 and the same day transfer it to his bookie (on a smaller scale, mind you.)

This guy taught me everything I ever learned in the business of claims and personal injury. He was my mentor. But, more than that, he was my second father who led me on a path of despicable (but fun) things my real Father (bless his departed soul) didn't teach me.

He died when he was 55....but, he lived a full life (and died because of it) up to that point. We spent the last couple months he was alive meeting in late afternoons at Hialeah race track. I'd make sure I had some work appointment early in the afternoon somewhere in Dade county so I could then get back to Hialeah to meet him in the Clubhouse. Racing, at that point at Hialeah, wasn't very good. It had been taken over by Calder and Gulfstream. Hialeah was barely alive. But, what a beautiful facility. He and I would stay for an hour or more after the races were over in the Clubhouse, under the huge wooden paddle fans next to one of the bars, and just drink and talk.

He loved strip bars. And he was a piece of work. Never shy'ed away from buying the girls $120 splits.

One time...only one of many....a place on 17th Causeway in Lauderdale...he convinced two very good looking pole dancers to fly with us that night to the Bahamas for how long and whatever. Now, I'm thinking..."I'm not totally sure I want to do this but I'm for certain not going to pass it up." Anyway, the bouncers, somehow, found out about it and were not pleased....we ended up beating a heck of a path down 17th street to get away. There are more than one similar experiences.

He had a theory about credit cards and he had 10-20 of them. You gave them to me...suffer the consequences. He'd bet $1000 on a race and keep throwing out the cards until one would work. He would have a stack of tickets on one race an inch thick. I could never figure out how he could decipher which one's were winners. 

He came into work one morning with his head in his hands..."You won't believe what I did last night...I bought a freakin' dog for $8,000". (A race dog at the dog track.) Now, me of appropriate sympathy couldn't pass up that opportunity...I went out at lunch and placed a case of Alpo on his desk when he wasn't looking.  Another time he somehow got involved in owning a race horse and the mob from Philadelphia was looking for him. I don't remember how that turned out.

He was a very small-scale Shapiro in the way he looked at life. But, he had a heart of gold and was totally legal. He would not have done what Shapiro has done. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. And, he did, to more than one race track.

There was a time I got involved in a little lady who was LEGALLY DIVORCED (I add with emphasis). Nevertheless, her ex wasn't very happy with the situation and was giving me a fair amount of grief about it. Good ole Chucky simply said, "You know, I know some people that could take care of the situation if you want." I declined.

He was far less than a person of virtue. But, yes, he was. He was horrible. But, he wasn't. Everyone loved him, It was impossible not to.

I don't play the horses anymore. But, when I did, after he died....and I won by a nose...I just looked up to the sky and said, "Thank you, Chucky".

I miss him and always will.