It was a week ago tonight I learned of the death of Louis Awerbuck.  I lost a friend a mentor and a legend in the firearms training community. I've spent the last week thinking of the things the soft spoken but very direct man taught me. Things that I carry with me everyday of my life. Like things your father taught you. Things you hear in the back of your head as you are about to do something.
I ran into two friends last night standing in line at a cafeteria to get dinner. We sat together and laughed and talked about the things we had seen and done and been told by him. All three of us had the wonderful pleasure of being able to  say we had taken a class and learned from a true Master. It was one of these men that had suggested me taking a class with Louis back in  2010.
The class was "Tactical Handgun-Stage I"  It was a three day class with 24 hours of instruction here in North Carolina. The class prepared me and taught me what I was capable of doing with my handgun. I went back the next two years for one day refresher classes. May of 2012 was the last time I spoke to and trained with Louis. Here is a treasured photo of me and Louis that year.

I was feeling sad and sorry for myself last week when I read on some posts about people that had planned on training with Louis one day. That day never came for some of the guys that I follow on social media and have a huge amount of respect for. I thanked my lucky stars and my friend for suggesting that I take his class. I was very fortunate to have taken around 40 hours of instruction from someone who shaped me, someone who really cared about his students and running a safe line and teaching people what they were capable of doing to save their life or someone else.

I will remember Louis in what he taught me and the way he lived his life.