Daylight on Dezso Drive

Across the murky waters of Mustang Bayou in Alvin, Texas, the morning sun danced across the window of the modest stucco home on Dezso Drive. Inside, a boy not quite 16 years old crammed his book and baseball glove into a duffle bag. For other guys his age the day was just starting, but he had already accomplished what most teenagers would consider a full day's work before dawn when he wrapped, stacked, and delivered 1,500 Houston Post newspapers.

Later, after a long day of papers, pencils, and pitches, he was happy to brush the dirt from his baseball pants and accept a ride on a teammate's motorbike from the practice field to the parking lot. Little did he know then it would turn out to be the most momentous ride of his life.

At the nearby tennis courts, Ruthie Holdorff concentrated on keeping her swing flat and smooth. She was waiting for Aubrey Horner, the varsity tennis coach, to come by and give her a few pointers, and she wanted to be ready. Horner admired Ruthie's spunk and backhand, and knowing she couldn't afford private lessons, he always made sure to help her a little while working with the varsity girls.

As Ruthie pounded balls off the wall, she heard the whir of the motorbike. Its driver, a boy she knew, gave her a friendly wave. His passenger stared at her intently as they passed and then asked his friend, "Who's that?" "That's Ruthie, Lynn Holdorff's little sister," answered the driver.

The passenger took a second look. Living in a small town, he'd crossed paths with Ruthie several times without really noticing her. But now he took a long, serious look.

And no wonder ...

Ruthie was no longer Lynn's tag-along little sister who came with her to his Little League games, but a blossoming beauty.

Ruthie was still a freshman, so the boy waited a year before making a move.

"Would it be all right with your mom if I took you to the show?" he asked her between classes one day.

"I think so," she answered shyly, "but I'll have to check first."

Her mom said okay, and no doubt Ruthie was excited. After all, Nolan Ryan was a sophisticated junior and had been voted "Best Looking" in his grade, just as she had been in hers. And, unlike most boys in Alvin, Nolan had a car he used for his paper route.

The date was set for the following Saturday. Lynn lent Ruthie a dress their mother had sewn, along with some perfume. She was still getting ready when Nolan pulled up in his 1956 Chevy.

The Holdorff and Ryan families knew each other, so double dating wasn't required. Nolan and Ruthie knew about the 11:00pm curfew, and the movie had been approved by their folks.

Nolan led Ruthie to the Chevy and opened her door. As he made his way to the other side, she discreetly scooted to the middle of the seat.

The Alvin Theater, near the corner of Gordon and Sealy, was very familiar territory for Nolan. It was where he and his dad wrapped stacks of the Houston Post newspaper every morning.

But driving up to the theater that night, newspapers were the last thing on his mind.

Rome Adventure was the movie on the theater marquee, but neither teenager really cared what was showing. Nolan threw a buck down for tickets and headed straight for the concessions. Moments later, a tub of popcorn between them, the theater went dark. As the scenes flew by, Ruthie did her best to concentrate on sunny Italy. It was a romantic moment when Suzanne Pleshette kissed Troy Donahue midway through the second act of the movie. But because this was Nolan and Ruth's first date, there were no thoughts of kisses between these two.

After the show they headed up Gordon to Dairy Land and topped the night off with sodas. Several friends joined them, and after a bit of friendly banter Nolan took Ruthie home. Lynn was waiting to hear all about her sister's date.

As for Nolan, after going home for a quick nap, he got up at 2:00am and headed right back to the corner of Gordon and Sealy with his dad to pick up the fresh stacks of Posts that awaited morning delivery. The fatherson combo had been following this routine for three years, and the work came as natural to the boy as pelting turtles with rocks in Mustang Bayou.

As Nolan worked he saw an occasional drunk stumbling out from one of the nearby bars, or a skunk scurrying from a storm drain in search of popcorn discarded by the night's moviegoers.

But his mind wasn't on drunks, skunks, or popcorn.

Normally he folded and wrapped 1,500 papers at breakneck speed. But now his mind was cloudy and all he could think of was Ruthie's long hair, pretty smile, and the easy way about her that made him open up.

By 5:00 am Nolan was back in the Chevy, the stack of newspapers neatly folded beside him. Weaving his way through Alvin's sleepy rural side streets, his mind was tired but his heart was beating to the drum of the wonderful soaring energy that new love brings.

Hand Holders

I first noticed Nolan when he was in the sixth grade with my sister. I thought he was cute, but the reason I liked him later on in high school was that he was confident and quiet. He wasn't the bragging type, but was kind and courteous.

— RUTH RYAN

Except for sports, Nolan and Ruthie had totally different interests. Though she grew up in a small town, Ruthie was a city type who liked ballet, theater, and music. Nolan was more outdoorsy, and on dates he took her practice shooting and to feed the baby calves he kept in a pen at a relative's house.

Nolan's quiet, reserved nature might have been due in part to difficulties caused by dyslexia and a lisp. He had trouble reading, and it set him back in some of his classes. In junior high, an impatient teacher called him stupid and threatened to hold him back a grade. A torrid tongue-lashing by Nolan's mom put...