The answering machine was blinking one day last week and when I pressed the button, the voice began, "This is Pat from Gables at Green Pastures." My heart sank. Gables was the home of Opal McAlister, my oldest storyteller and Pat had helped me set up my interview with her more than a year and a half ago.

Pat's call confirmed that the day I knew eventually would come, had indeed arrived. Opal passed away on May 10, 2009, at the age of 104. She was likely the oldest living Buckeye fan, and undoubtedly the most fervent as you will learn in the book.

Opal was also a Veteran. In 1942, at the age of 38, she enlisted voluntarily to serve in World War II. She was discharged four years later with the rank of Captain in the Women's Army Corps and so this Veteran's Day seems the fitting day to share with you the memory of a lady I will call a difference maker.

When I first heard of Opal, I went to interview her for her Buckeye Story. I got that and more. I came away from that interview inspired by the woman I had met and cherishing a newfound friendship. At 104, her mind was sharp as a tack and her enthusiastic outlook on life was contagious. We talked history, politics, the Presidential Campaign, current events and of course Buckeye football.

It was the first of several visits I would make to see her. Opal lived on the route to Columbus and I would stop occasionally just to say hello or take her a book on my drives back and forth. (At 104 she still read a novel a week, took two daily newspapers, and did the crossword puzzle every day!) She always remembered who I was, was glad to see me and never failed to ask if I had my book done.

The last book I took her was indicative of how big a Buckeye Fan Opal was. Last fall I was in line for one of Coach Tressel's signings of The Winners Manual. The line was 700 people long and a sign at the table clearly said "No Personalized Signings". Coach T had his head down and was signing Jim Tressel just as fast as they could run them through. When I got to the table, I had two books. He signed mine first. As he signed the second I put my plan into action. I simply said, "That book is for your friend Opal". Coach slammed on the brakes, looked me in the eye, and asked, "Opal McAlister?" I nodded yes. "Give me that back", he said as he grabbed it, and scrawled in large letters inside the cover, "Opal, You're the Greatest!"

Indeed she was. My lasting memory of her will be the smile on her face later that evening as she read that inscription and politely asked me to thank "Mr. Tressel" for her. I did, and it was a privilege.