After 39 years friends David Vick and Leon Nix are reunited over breakfast Monday at Bowling’s Barbeque by Paul Manning, county commissioner and former owner of Paul Manning’s Bar-B-Que.

Aromas of coffee, eggs and sausage wafted through the air.  Conversations from a small crowd of diners filled the room as an early morning rain fell from gray skies outside Bowling’s Barbeque.  

For most diners it was just another Monday, just another meal, just another hour to spend with friends and family.

But for two men sitting at one of the tables, it was the reunion of an old friendship.

David Vick and Leon Nix had not seen each other in 39 years.

“I have not seen Leon since I was 24,” David said.  “After I came back out of the army in ’74, I saw him a couple of times but lost track after that.  I looked for him for a long time but never could find him.”

After years of searching, David found his long lost friend in an article that appeared in the St. Clair Times last week.  Paul Manning, owner of Paul Manning’s Bar-B-Que outside Ragland, closed the doors to his restaurant for the final time last Sunday.  The story described the legacy Manning’s business left in the community since opening in 1973.  And Leon Nix was part of that legacy.

Leon worked for Manning in his restaurant for almost 20 years.

“I would have never known Leon was in this part of the country if it weren’t for the St. Clair Times,” David said.

David and Leon unknowingly came close to crossing paths on occasion. Over the years David was a regular patron at Manning’s Bar-B-Que but never realized Leon worked there.

“Mr. Paul always had a good word and a smile for you when you came in, but I never knew Leon worked there.”

Manning said even though he knew both gentlemen, he had no idea they were friends.

“I never knew they knew each other until David called me about the story,” Manning said.

David met Leon through Leon’s stepson, Benny.  David and Benny attended grade school together and were both active members of their local Boy Scout troop.

David described Leon and his wife, Charlotte, as being a second family to him.

“We had a close, loving relationship,” David said.  “And if Leon didn’t love me, he sure fooled me.”

“David was a good boy scout.  He would do anything you’d ask him to,” Leon said.  “His dad and me were real close.  His whole family was real nice to me.  I don’t know why.”

When David was a teenager, Leon mentored him, taught him how to drive stick shift and even bought him his first Burger King Whopper.

“I ate it so fast, and Leon asked if I was full, and I said no.  He asked if I wanted another one and I said yes, so he bought me another one.”

Reunited after 39 years of searching, David and Leon now recall the stories of Boy Scouts, the old neighborhood they lived in and acquaintances they knew.

“I love Leon like a father and am glad to be back in touch with him,” David said.  “I hope we get to visit regularly for the rest of our lives.”

Manning said he was honored to see David and Leon renew their friendship.

“Leon is adjusting after a stroke he had over a year ago.  It’s a pleasure to see David, and I think it’s beneficial for both of them,” Manning said.