Bacus dropped out of college for a while back in the seventies and went
to work, first on the railroad [as a tower operator], then on the
Mississippi and Illinois Rivers [as a second mate]. He used to bring a
duffel bag full of books to read while on his 30 day stints aboard his
towboat (the M/V Frank H. Peavey.) His captain once caught him reading
a book on watch and growled at him, "Don't give me no shit,
Shakespeare; you won't git none." That nickname stuck and is still used
today by certain friends.