[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Most people would not expect a story about a tree to be so captivating–but then again one would not expect such a small tree to withstand so many catastrophes.
David and Teresa Giles are trying to spread the story of BUD The Mightiest of All Auburn Oaks to the entire Auburn family and anyone else that’s interested.
The story is about Bud, an Auburn Oak tree that grows in their backyard by the Choupique Bayou and how it has survived threats that would’ve ended the life of a younger, frailer tree.
However, this tree has proved be equally as strong as the Auburn spirit.
“The little tree reminds of Auburn football,” said Teresa. “We might have some devastating years, but we always come back.”
Making comebacks is a part of Bud’s lifestyle. From hurricanes, to decapitations, to even being run over by the van of an Alabama fan, the 15-feet tree has survived it all and more.
“The book mostly wrote itself,” said David. “Everything that happened was true so I just had to put it together.”
This couple has represented the orange and blue for many years. They met at the Blocked Punt Lounge (now 1716) in Auburn in 1975. Teresa bought David an Auburn Oak seedling on Christmas that year, made possible through the Auburn Forestry program.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”15470″ alignment=”right” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
Auburn has been a family school for Teresa; her father and uncle “Bud” both attended the university. She transferred there after completing two years at Washington State University.
For David, although all of his brothers went to UGA, he also had some family ties at Auburn.
He is the distantly removed cousin of Roy. B Sewell, who first commissioned the Auburn fight song.
The book is available through the Auburn University bookstore, Mascot Books, Amazon and other major online retailers.
After having a successful book signing at A-Day, they are trying get the word out of this book before the football season. Because more fans need to know of “the power of bud.”
“It’s become a good luck charm,” said Teresa. “I’d tell my Tennessee family members all the time at football games every good play was coming from ‘the power of Bud’.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
Auburn has been a family school for Teresa; her father and uncle “Bud” both attended the university. She transferred there after completing two years at Washington State University.
For David, although all of his brothers went to UGA, he also had some family ties at Auburn. He is the distantly removed cousin of Roy. B Sewell, who first commissioned the Auburn fight song.
After having a successful book signing at A-Day, they are trying get the word out of this book before the football season. Because more fans need to know of “the power of bud.”
“It’s become a good luck charm,” said Teresa. “I’d tell my Tennessee family members all the time at football games every good play was coming from ‘the power of Bud’.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
The die-hard Auburn couple will be signing books at the Auburn University bookstore for the opening game against Georgia Southern on September 2, 2017.
“What’s great is this is just increasing our Auburn family,” said Giles. “The first time we were at a book store we were having to chase people down and let them know about this story. But now we have some people show up [before].”
As much as the Auburn couple doesn’t mind making the trip to the Plains, they are considering moving back to the area, probably around Lake Martin.
For now, they live in Carlyss, Louisiana surrounded by LSU fans. Giles said they are thinking about moving back after their daughter Maggie, graduates from LSU. If this is the case, then they will donate the tree to the Auburn.
The book is available at the Auburn University bookstore, Mascot Books, Amazon and other major online retailers.
To top it off, 100% of the profits from this book go to the Auburn Oaks Dean’s Endowed Fund for Excellence in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]