Every fictional character has a story; maybe it’s a friend, part of the author’s imagination or something in his/her past. So too, are many of their traits and characteristics. In my “love, lies and liaisons” trilogy, the main character Steve Schilling wears a red fedora. There is a personal story about that red fedora that I’d like to share.

Early in my career I was a university provost (chief academic officer), second in command for those of you who had a normal life outside of academe. I was known as an innovator, a person who did things outside the norm. Today, we’d say “outside of the box.”

For a homecoming game, my wife and I decided to dress boldly in university colors to display our team support. She looked great in her red outfit, like a country and western music star. Everyone loved her red hat, some even called her “Lady Di” (Princess Diana for you late comers).

I selected red pants with red suspenders and a red and blue madras shirt. The ‘git up’ was cool but I needed a hat—something red to match my pants and school color. The day before the game, I was taking a quick browse through the local men’s shop and there was the perfect match—THE RED FEDORA!

I wore it to the game and was a big hit. Well . . . everyone was joking and laughing about my outfit. Before the first quarter had barely begun my wife, Lin, leaned over and whispered the news—“I’ve overheard some comments that the provost looks like a clown!”

Since momma Cochran didn’t raise a fool, I stored the red fedora away in a box never to see the light of day.

Several years later, I was president of Youngstown State University—a real football power, winning four national championships. It turns out their colors were also red and white.
For my first game, I dressed in gray slacks, blue blazer, white shirt and a red tie. The tie was loaded with penguins (we were the only college team with a penguin mascot.)

I waited for Lin who always manages to try on ten different outfits before she decides which one to wear, often causing us to be “almost” late for events. I was checking my watch when she finally came out of the bedroom. Wow, she was decked out in a red outfit made to kill. And of course, the most stylish red hat I’d ever seen.

“You look wonderful,” I said.

She smiled, looked at me, and stared. “Are you going like that? You look like a stogy, old university president.” I looked down at my shoes, and realized I had forgotten to polish them.

“It’s not your shoes dummy, you need a hat. Where’s the red fedora?”

Of course, I knew exactly where it was, and dutifully returned with it cocked on my head.

“Perfect, that hat will make you approachable. Most people are hesitant to make conversation with a university president.” she announced. “The hat will break the ice. You’ll be a hit!”

And sure enough, it was a lot of fun. I wore the red fedora to every game, home and away, as long as I was president. It became my trademark. As a matter of fact, I remember when I was in a grocery store one day with Lin and we met a friend who introduced me to her ten-year-old daughter.

The little girl asked her mom, “Is he really the YSU president? He doesn’t have a red hat.”

As I said in the introduction, every fictional character is often inspired by something from the past. Now, as I am writing a trilogy about a university president named Steve Schilling, it only makes sense that he wears a red fedora.

Stay tuned – – more insights about my characters and/or my past are on the way.