I first met Rob on June 30th, 2009, when he and I squared up for game #09Jun15727, TS Chickamauga. I was a newly minted major general at the time, just beginning to feel that I had a pretty good grasp of things. Rob was a long-time lieutenant general, said to be a pretty rough customer when it came to the TalonSoft series. I believe that it was I who answered his post in the Opponents Wanted forum, thinking to broaden my experience.
"Howdy!" That was the first word of each of his e-mails for the entire time I knew him. Who says that word, anymore? A man who's either in complete control of himself, or who simply doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks. Rob "Festus" Harney was both, and a lot more! After I told him that I was a Californian, he told me he was living in "Pennsyltucky!" How else was a CSA club member going to explain why he lived in the North? His adoption of the unique Festus character from the TV series, Gunsmoke, was a perfect choice for such a contrary individual. But there was nothing rude, egotistical or abrasive about him. Once you got through the initial visage of a hayseed picking his teeth with a bayonet, you found a very sensitive, thoughtful and focused guy. He was the embodiment of the occasional human surprises that you can find in this club of ours!
Our game went on for 43 turns and ended five months later on November 26th. During that time Rob demonstrated what a wily master of the TS series he was, ambushing me all over the field with little tactical victories and steadily thinning out my ranks and opportunities. But I fought back against him as forcefully as I could, eventually holding him to a minor victory, but just barely! "You're a better player than I thought you'd be!" he said, not in a condescending manner, but in a totally complimentary manner. And coming from him that felt remarkably good!
But what was even more enjoyable was the dialog we established with each other, a dialog that not only covered the usual banter over a game, but also delved into the state of the world, American politics, basic human values, ethics, our personal histories and life's most memorable moments. Rob was always exhibiting his considerable wit with a blanket of dry humor; not meaning to display his talents, but simply to underline his thinking and perspectives. I never found him to be shallow or crass about anything. I looked forward to getting his e-mail game turns.
While I never paired up with him in a game again, we occasionally checked in with each other thereafter, always joking and talking. I liked to write to him and get his views and advice on various club matters. Rob was an active poster within the forums and occasionally went out of his way to cast his verdicts on various subjects when he felt the need. But he always managed to stay in character as "Festus." It gave him an opportunity to say some fundamental things while halfway posing as a rube. It was a perfect way to be disarming!
A lot of his words are still posted within the forums . . . all one has to do is to log in and search the term, "Festus." I suppose that if you take the time to do this and read everything he said in context, you'll get a pretty fair picture of the remarkable man that he was. I found him to be a glittering gem, whose sparkle and charm always lit up the place, and whose light has now been extinguished. The ACWGC will be a slightly dimmer place without him.
Rest in peace, Rob Harney. I was very fortunate to have known you.
_________________ General Jos. C. Meyer, ACWGC Union Army Chief of Staff Commander, Army of the Shenandoah Commander, Army of the Tennessee (2011-2014 UA CoA/GinC)
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