Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry says his late father taught him how to be a cowboy but "his real impact on my life was mentoring me in the art of politics."
Perry, now U.S. energy secretary, appeared in the Texas Senate on Thursday for a ceremony honoring his father, James "Ray" Perry, a former longtime county commissioner who died late last month at age 92.
His voice cracking, Perry recalled his dad's "snippets of wisdom."
One happened while Perry was first running for the state Legislature from West Texas, and it was suggested he take credit with would-be voters for an unusually heavy rains the area had then been having.
Perry remembered his father telling him not to because, if so, he'd later get blamed when drought inevitably returned.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
