A sharp dressed man

Some  pieces of this story are things my Daddy told us growing up.  Unfortunately some details are missing and there's no one left to ask.  Write down or record the stories your parents tell you now. 
This story begins...There is no doubt that my Daddy was a sharp dressed man from a young age.  Born in 1923 in Ripley, Tennessee Daddy came from a long line of sharp dressed men, first his grandfather and later, his father. 

                                            pictured is my great grandfather born 1866 and
                                                          my grandfather born 1897

These are not the images that many of us have in our heads of African Americans born so close to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.  One of the family stories that Daddy told was that he had an uncle who was a tailor in Memphis, Tennessee.  His uncle was so talented that he could have a customer stand in a corner of his shop and hold his thumb up in different positions  while looking at the customer and shout out measurements for my Daddy to write down.  With few other measurements he would create a suit that was tailored to perfection.  One of his uncle's most well known customers was Memphis politician Edward Hull "Boss" Crump. So infamous was this politician that W.C. Handy wrote a song about him titled Crump Blues.

 Daddy wore many custom made suits that were created by his uncle.  He had an amazing sense of style throughout his life.  He loved hats, sharp leather shoes, and french cuff shirts.  Daddy wore a suit to church every Sunday.  He taught his grandsons the importance of being dressed for success and taught them the correct way to tie a necktie.  For Daddy there was 'dressed' or 'not dressed.' It was many years before he would wear short sleeve shirts or jeans.  For him, his clothes said something about who he was.  Daddy was a gentleman who believed strongly in tradition and his presence commanded attention because he was so well put together.  The legacy of all these sharp dressed men can be seen in the way we dress today, with an eye for style.  What is left from the stories of my great uncle is a suit and his tailor's scissors along with photographs and warm memories of days gone by.