The Tar Chewer, Knife Maker, and Service Giant with Brent Dial

This episode is a tribute to legacies that weren’t loud—but lived. Brent Dial joins host Steve Harris for a deeply personal conversation about grandfathers who shaped him, a father who raised him with quiet strength, and what he’s still learning as a grandfather of 17.

Episode Highlights

Grandpa Lessons That Stuck

One grandpa was a dog catcher, pecan farmer, and the guy who handed you a puppy as a goodbye gift.

Another was a knife maker, a game-night pinochle legend, and deeply sentimental—sometimes crying during General Hospital.

Both modeled service, humility, and devotion in ways Brent never forgot.

A Father Worth Honoring

Brent’s dad was a bishop, a husband who never raised his voice to his wife, and a man who shoveled neighbors’ driveways before his own.

 He was also a master of soft lessons: like what to do when a 15-year-old accidentally fires a rifle through a truck windshield.

Sticky Stories = Legacy

Tar-chewing on hot sidewalks.

Realizing service is more than a good deed—it’s a family identity.

Brent shares his own challenges—moments of impatience, over-gifting instead of being present, and wishing he’d taken grandkids fishing rather than just buying the poles.

But his deeper truth? Presence beats perfection. Kids don’t remember the moment—they remember how you made them feel

Legacy Through Living

Brent built a home with a separate entrance so kids (and later grandkids) could move in if life ever got rocky.

Because sharing space also means sharing moments—cutting grass, laughing, and learning how to show up better.

Legacy doesn’t need polish, it needs presence

Every moment is a memory, even the messy ones

Stories hold secret strength, especially the embarrassing, sticky, hilarious kind.

Be the bridge, between generations, emotions, and expectations.

You don't have to get it perfect, you just have to try.

Quote to remember: 

“My dad taught me how to serve—even when the other guy drove past with a winch.” — Brent Dial

Perfect for: Grandparents who think they’ve already missed their chance, Adult children learning what “legacy” actually looks like, Anyone who needs permission to remember that effort > polish

Next Steps:

Record one memory on your phone this week—messy audio, bad lighting, doesn’t matter

Tell the story that embarrasses you (the one with tar, or the truck, or the puppy)

And remember: your voice is the legacy