Ving is a great conversationalist and also an accomplished musician and artist.  He writes songs, poems, draws and paints.  In addition, Ving has been trained in classical piano and is self-taught on the guitar.  What I really like about Ving is that he pulls no punches when asked what he thinks about something and is bluntly honest.  To me, that is a rare attribute that most people do not posses.  I was first introduced to Ving when I was in Polunsky visiting another friend, Arnold Prieto.  Arnold told me about this young guy that he liked and respected and suggested that I 'fly him a kite' to say hello.  From the first letter that I got back from Ving, I knew we would hit it off well.  We both had liked the same type music and artwork (though I can't draw to save my life!) and both of us were pretty warped in our sense of humor.  Needless to say, we had a lot in common and it has been a pleasure getting to know more and more about who Ving is on the inside.

In 2008 Ving was given a retrial due to his initial trial judge refusing to allow 9 of his character witnesses to testify. At Ving's new trial, I had the opportunity to testify on Ving's behalf and also meet his family both at the courthouse and when they welcomed me into their homes. The hospitality and kindness that Ving's family was amazing, and even his old friends, both from TX and from North Carolina were extremely gracias. I was honored to be welcome into the home of Ving's brother and was even invited to a barbeque at his grandmother's home in Anthony, TX (his grandmother is quite the cook and if anyone ever leaves her home still hungry, it is their own fault!).

Ving and I share a bond more like family than as friends, and we consider each other brothers. This is amusing at times because Ving will show photos of him and me together to the guys that he is in with and explain that we are brothers. It never fails that the viewer will point out that Ving is black and I am white but Ving is always quick to explain that I look like our father and he looks like his mother. That typically causes him to get some strange reactions from people!

Ving's artistic talent has grown incredibly in the past several years and his accomplishments bear that fact. One of his designs was selected by a German clothing client as a shirt motif. In addition, Ving's artwork (under the name of Martin) was recently featured in a USA Today article and on CNN when our client began offering his designs in Berlin Germany! Check out some of Ving's work on the drawings pages!

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