Al Cason: The Testimony of a Restored Life, Part 1

Dr. James Dobson: Welcome everyone to Family Talk. It's a ministry of the James Dobson Institute, supported by listeners just like you. I'm Dr. James Dobson and I'm thrilled that you've joined us.
Gary Bauer: Welcome to Family Talk, the broadcast division of the Dr. James Dobson Institute. I'm Gary Bauer, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Culture here at the Dobson Policy and Culture Center. I'm also the host of the Defending Faith, Family and Freedom podcast. Today, my guest on Family Talk is a true everyday hero in every sense of that word. His name is Al Cason and I truly believe he may have one of the best jobs in the world. Al is the president and COO of Bud's Best Cookies, a company started by his father, Albert L. Bud Cason back in 1992. In fact, Bud has been in the cookie business his whole life. So, it would only make sense that his only son would follow the footsteps into the family business. The story you're going to hear Al tell today is is not a story of just one success after another. It's a story of a man that grew up in a great family and but then his life went on, ran into a bunch of challenges and I am sure he'll tell us about the mistakes that were made, but it's also a story of the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. So, Al, welcome to Family Talk. Dr. Dobson loved folks like you. He loved hearing stories about people that hit the bumps in the road that we all hit, but we're redeemed by the love of Jesus. Uh tell us a little bit about the family that that you grew up in because it sounds like it it was a great family.
Al Cason: I grew up with two older sisters. I'm I'm the only son and the baby of the family. So, I have a sister that's 10 years older than I am, a 9 and a 1/2, and then one that's about 8 years older than I am. So, I was the baby by a long shot and the only son, which I guess I came along in my family at a time that my father, he was a type A personality or is, and worked very very hard. He he's always given to the church, supported his church, supported church school. It's always been very important to him. And I grew up in the church schools up until my seventh grade year where they put me into a college preparatory school. They were concerned about the surroundings that I might be there with, but they wanted me to have a good education. Some things had kind of happened to the church school that I was going to and then Rome that was down and and so they were able to get me into this college prep school. Well, there a lot of the the the kids came from money and and very liberal values. I was exposed to drugs, exposed to a lot of things, premarital sex, a lot a lot of things that I had been sheltered from in church school.
Gary Bauer: So, you you did get that start that you know usually will really help a young man or a young woman. You're you're being raised in a Christian home and you're in this Christian school all the way to the seventh grade. And did you feel good in the Christian school or were you even at that young age, did you see some of the problems there that led your parents to make the switch?
Al Cason: You know, I felt sheltered. I I really didn't know any better. I was very innocent and and you know up until that age, there there really there were a lot of guardrails around me. And so when I when I got to that other school, it it was it really kind of I I I'd never been exposed to anything like that before. Like I said, you know in a college prep school here in Birmingham, you know all the kids that went there came from money. So, money was not an issue. A lot of entitlement. And you know I didn't recognize it for that at the time, but you know they were slipping off drinking, they were you know they were experimenting with drugs. And by the grace of God, I held strong to my beliefs. I grew up Seventh-day Adventist. So, it was a little bit odd that I was on the basketball team, but I couldn't play on a Friday or Saturday game. And so you know I was kind of an outsider to that regard, I guess. And and also when I would go through the school lunch line, they would be they'd have to have a special menu if they were serving pork. And so I guess that goes back to being raised Seventh-day Adventist. I joked that it's kind of between the Jewish religion and Southern Baptist. It's it's kind of a different kind of belief that you follow the Old Testament guidelines and in what you eat as to have scales and fins and you know as far as you know seafood, you don't eat pork. Uh from sundown to sundown, you don't do what you normally do during the week and that was the way I was raised. So, you know not only was I exposed to the drugs, but I also you know you know wanted to play sports, but I couldn't participate the way the other kids could. And you know the peer pressure was building on me while I was there. And and while I was there for the 4 years, I was able to to to stay strong. I really didn't want to go back each year, but they felt like it was best for me up until you know it kind of gotten to got to a breaking point where I really just begged them to go ahead and send me off to a a Christian boarding school, an Adventist boarding school in Mississippi where I where I went for the last 2 years, my junior and senior year.
Gary Bauer: So, did that make a real difference, the atmosphere there?
Al Cason: It did. It did. I I was I was able to let my guard back down and and and enjoy the the 2 years. The thing was I I was I am very close to my parents. I still am and I would call them every day from from school there because I'd never been away from home. That was unusual to go away and especially you know 5 hours from home. And you know, but I did stay in in very close contact with my parents while I was gone.
Gary Bauer: Well, so you're in this church boarding school and and this is good for you, but now you got to you got to make a decision about college. And so did you pick this school or did your parents say that this was the right place to go?
Al Cason: It was kind of what was assumed. It was an Adventist college and that's typically where you would go coming out of the Adventist high school. It was in Chattanooga, Tennessee or college still Tennessee rather. And and so that's where I I went to college. And when I got there, here comes the you know not with everyone. I mean there there were still you know ones that that that chose the right path. But the the ones that I was friends with or had more in common with were drinking again. And there were you know living back like what I had seen at Altamont at this other school that I went to.
Gary Bauer: Yes.
Al Cason: And and at that point, Gary, the the peer pressure was so much and I had felt it for so long while I was there at Altamont, you know back where I went for 4 years in in high school, that that I just couldn't I couldn't take it anymore. And I just thought, you know what, I'm I'm going to I'm going to start doing these things like everyone else. And it was my decision. I can't blame it on anyone person. I mean anything that I did, you know it was ultimately my decision. But what you don't realize along the way is how you hurt the ones you love by by the this behavior. You know I thought you know along the way that I was only hurting myself. You know I wasn't doing this to them. But everyone you love is impacted by these things that you do and the decisions that you make.
Gary Bauer: You know I I grew up in a family where my father was an alcoholic. He was a functioning alcoholic. I mean he I don't remember him ever missing work. But he he clearly was physically addicted to alcohol. So, on times that he couldn't have any because of surgery or something like that, he would go through the whole withdrawal and all the rest of it. And so it made me very cautious about going down that road because I saw what the impact was in our family. But your your family your as I understand it your your mom and dad did not drink. Right? Is that right?
Al Cason: No sir, they did not. They my father his his father was a functioning alcoholic as well. You know we we use that word functioning. The counselors that I've had at all the rehabs that I've been to over the years are like, hey, an alcoholic's an alcoholic. You know how were they after hours? You know how were we with the family? Did they miss any family things? You know they they said you're trying to rationalize an alcoholic's an alcoholic. And you know my father still says the same about his father. But you know it was one of those things that I kind of thought this was just what we didn't do because of our religion. You know I did not understand that was the secret that was was kept that about my grandfather's alcoholism. And that was my dad's dad and he and I were very close. You know I didn't question what was in his in his glass when he was sitting there watching TV with me. You know I loved him for who he was to me and my father loved him you know no matter what because he's his dad. And and you know you always have that love no matter what because it's your father or your or whoever it is that that is going through this. You know they're in the throes of something that that that they really can't control. I mean this is something that you truly have to really surrender to God in a deep way for him to remove this obsession. But you know seeing that or not really knowing about that when you know this came up in school, it was just something that I felt like, well, this is another thing like we didn't go to movies or we didn't wear jewelry or we didn't dance or we didn't do something else. You know there really wasn't anything wrong with it. You know I just wanted to be I wanted to fit in. And you know what I didn't understand was all this genetics and you know how far back alcoholism went on my father's side. You know my grandfather was an alcoholic, my uncle was an alcoholic, my great great grandfather, great grandfather. I mean all the way back as far as we know alcoholism ran deep. And like you, my father abstained from what he saw with his dad. And he wanted to be different. You know he saw what he did to my grandmother and how he he he left he he and his brother and my my grandmother and started another family. And you know the nights that he said that he would sit out on the curb waiting for him to come visit that he never showed up. And you know that that that hurts him to this day. But on the flip side, you know he he loved him deeply. And you know when he forgave him for that, which is you know much like Christ does us. You know all the things that I'll go through that that I went through in my life, you know to be forgiven and and given another opportunity and and with my parents as well. And and through all of this in school, I I think I need to to mention I did everything I could. When I would go out or we'd go to a restaurant or a bar or whatever, you know I'd always try to hide you know where no one would see me because at this school that you went to, they would drive around and see if they saw your car at a bar or you know and they'd kick you out. I mean it it it wasn't anything Yeah, it was serious stuff. So, I really did everything I could uh to try and and hide this from my parents. And so you know I did for a number of years uh was able to kind of conceal this because I didn't want to hurt them. It wasn't that I was doing it. It wasn't that I realized I was developing a problem. Um I didn't want to hurt them because I loved them so much. And you know and this thing was just spiraling out of control and it and it started with alcohol. And then marijuana was introduced. Uh you know and so you know here comes a little marijuana, here comes you know the alcohol. And the alcohol only built, Gary. It it You know I started off and it didn't start like a normal person. You know the first time I I got drunk, uh I I literally got sick and and threw up half the night. Um but I got up and wanted to do it again. And you know that that 's unusual. That that 's not a normal person. You know that 's the the the voice and the mindset of someone that you know that's an alcoholic. And and I didn't understand it. And you know and and I was out there with the people that I wanted to hang out with and you know it continued to get worse. And you know I I I got married right out of college. Uh and you know the alcohol was was and the drugs. I mean it it had evolved at that point and the marriage got destroyed um because of all those things. And my parents found out. And I remember when I went and I had to tell my parents uh that the marriage was over and that you know as a parent, you want to find somebody else to blame for your children's problem. And they said you know they were blaming who I was married to at the time. And I said no. Um I have a raging cocaine problem. And and I said this was all on me. She had nothing to do with it. It was devastating to them, Gary. I mean absolutely devastating. They didn't even understand it.
Gary Bauer: It's hard for me to imagine what that must have been like. So, I want to make sure I I've got this uh straight. So, you you're developing these problems in college and then you graduate and and then you went to work for your father upon graduating and getting married. And at that early part of that time, they weren't aware of of this. Is that right? And then as it went on a little bit further in your job and in your marriage, you told them what was going on?
Al Cason: They did. I had a an old friend uh that saw me out somewhere and he mentioned it to one of my sisters and they told my parents that that that I was drinking and and and doing drugs and things. And so my father confronted me about it. And you know I I had That was the first time I'd ever really lied to him. You know I he asked me about it and and I could tell uh how it would would hurt him if I told him the truth. And you know when I had to lie to him. And you know and that's where the lies really began with my my family and and myself. And that really that hurt me to another level as well is having the lie of someone that I was always so close to and and you know really was kind of veering off the path the way I was raised and what I really believed in.
Gary Bauer: So, as you're dealing with all this, uh my understanding is that things eventually got so bad that that your your own father had to fire you a couple of times from the company. Is that right?
Al Cason: He did. Over the course of my addiction uh as things progressed over a 12 year period, you know he fired me over 12 times. But after the after the divorce when I went and told them that I had a a a really a raging cocaine problem, which I did, they they they sent me to a rehab in California. And I went there for 4 weeks and came back. And I might have made it 30 days, Gary, but you know I didn't really want it. I was doing what I thought I needed to do and you know the addiction such a powerful thing that you know I really didn't realize I had the problem that I did. And so I came back and in 30 days, you know I started working again and in 30 days I was using again. And you know and it had really evolved at this point. You know I was by myself and and you know I was just I would work and I would get home. And I mean I I would come out As soon as I would leave work, I mean I would have I would be shaking almost by the time I'd leave. And my father would wonder why I had to leave at 5:00 straight up. You know that's how bad it had gotten and I was 22 23 at the time. And so that's where it really evolved to. Then I'd get home and I'd drink and you know and use cocaine and you know of course smoke pot and you know this this happened right after the rehab. So, I was 30 days after that. And so you know this behavior and this type of of thing you know continued on for the next next couple of years. And and so you know I was working and you know I'd gotten remarried. The the the woman that I was seeing had gotten pregnant. So, I tried to do the right thing and and marry marry her and and have a baby, but you know I certainly wasn't the father that I needed to be when my son Buddy was born. And that that was that's one of the greatest regrets that I have, hurting my parents uh and and not being there for my son uh as he was little. Um you know I would leave work, go by this convenience store. Then I had a friend that had a automotive shop and I would go by his place and would do cocaine till 12 1:00. And you know I'd go drag and in at 2:00, barely able to drive. Uh and wouldn't even see my son in the evenings because you know my disease was foremost in my life. And then I'd get up, come to work and do the exact same thing the next day. And this went on and you know for for a couple of years like this.
Gary Bauer: My goodness. Yeah, we were talking briefly before we started our official talk here on the on the show. And um you mentioned that Dr. Dobson actually played a role in providing strength to your parents because they were regular listeners of this show. And Jim would often talk about people struggling with all sorts of things, whether it was addiction or infidelity or uh struggling with whether to abort a baby that they hadn't planned and uh and I I as I said earlier that he he hated to hear about all that suffering, but he loved hearing about how Christ can heal it all, no matter what it is. But tell us a little bit about uh the role that Dr. Dobson played with your your mom and dad.
Al Cason: As I grew up, hearing him on in our home was a regular thing. I mean daily uh even you know some of the tapes that she might get if if we missed it, you know we'd hear them on the weekends. I mean she would make sure that uh that that we got to hear this. And you know and as a child, it might go in one ear and out the other, but what it what it really did was help my parents and help them and prepare them for what they would go through because all the things you mentioned and more uh my life um you know they it would get thrown at them um over the years. The infidelity, the drugs, the immorality, all the things I mean that you can possibly imagine that go along with that kind of lifestyle happened. And they they had to hear about it. And you know and it caused them to struggle you know in their marriage because you know he wanted to believe me and believe that I was okay and wasn't using again. And my mother didn't. And you know so that caused friction between them. But the the bond that they had You know they've been married 65 years now. And by the grace of God. And you know I certainly didn't help help the situation, but you know uh they they held firm to their beliefs. And they kept praying and they kept praying and they kept praying. And uh and you know I I I ended up having to go to a rehab again. Uh I've been to four long four inpatient rehabs. The last one I was at was 14 months uh in New Jersey. And um I mean it was it was something. And I guess we'll get to that. But you know this you know the disease uh of alcoholism, drug addiction is is progression. And it continues to progress. And like I said, you know I didn't want to hurt anyone in my family. I didn't realize the impact it has on others. And you know not until I really got clean enough to to I mean really had you know 6 months of of you know of clean time in that last long-term rehab I was at, then I really realized how it impacted and how it hurt you know my parents mainly um because they were just devastated, absolutely devastated, and even questioned God. You know why would you allow this to happen to me? And my father was like, you know I went through this with my dad. You know how can I You know, Lord, why would I have to go through it, you know on both ends of my life with my father and now my son? And you know but he never gave up hope. He he never quit the faith. I mean that that strong rootedness that they got from you know all the the Dr. Dobson's teachings and all the the things that they heard day day in and day out, you know really helped them. And it and it developed a tough love in my mother uh that would come out later right right at towards the end. I mean where this story really gets crazy that uh that that she had to really you know use the tough love that she she learned um you know. But but they continued to to pray for me and and never gave up. He even had friends of his, Gary, that told him that they he just needed to let me die. That that's how bad it had gotten.
Gary Bauer: Uh my goodness.
Al Cason: And he's he's like that's that's my son. I I I'll never quit praying. I'll never give up on him. And thank God they didn't.
Gary Bauer: Now Al, what what a story you're sharing with our listeners. And my goodness, there's so many more questions. I uh I want to ask and and we need to hear the end of this story because there's a there's a lot of great things that God's going to do. Is there a chance you can come back and and be with us again?
Al Cason: Absolutely. I'd love to come back.
Roger Marsh: Fantastic. Addiction rarely destroys only one life. As Al Cason has shared with us today here on Family Talk, the choices that he made affected his marriages, his son, his career, and the parents who loved him deeply and refused to stop praying for him. You're listening to Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk. We just heard part one of Gary Bauer's conversation with Al Cason, president and COO of Bud's Best Cookies. And by the way, they are delicious. If you missed any part of today's conversation, you can listen again or share it with someone who may need to hear Al's testimony when you go to drjamesdobson.org. You can also go to jdfi.org and you'll find the information there as well. And by the way, once you're on our website, be sure you also sign up to start receiving Gary Bauer's weekly blog from the Dr. James Dobson Policy and Culture Center. Gary is our Senior Vice President of Policy and Culture here at the JDFI. And he produces a weekly blog as well as a bi-monthly podcast, Defending Faith, Family and Freedom. You can sign up to receive both when you go to drjamesdobson.org. At the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, we want families facing difficult seasons to know that they don't have to walk through them without biblical encouragement and hope. Family Talk is one way we continue providing that support each and every day. And your financial gifts make this ministry possible. Today we invite you to partner with us as we preserve and promote God's design for the family, introducing people to the gospel of Jesus Christ and defending the sanctity of human life and righteousness in our culture. Your generosity helps keep this trusted voice on the air. And it carries Dr. Dobson's dynamic legacy forward for a new generation of families. To make a tax-deductible donation, visit jdfi.org. You can also call a member of our constituent care team. That number is 877-732-6825. That's 877-732-6825. Well, I'm Roger Marsh and on behalf of all of us here at Family Talk and the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, thanks so much for joining us today. Be sure to tune in again next time right here for part two of Gary Bauer's fascinating conversation with Al Cason, the president and COO of Bud's Best Cookies, men who has a remarkable story of God's lasting love and legacy. And Dr. Dobson played a huge role in that upbringing. That's coming up on the next edition of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk, the voice you trust for the family you love. This has been a presentation of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.