Leo Nichols will soon turn 69 years old.

He spends many of his days playing basketball with guys about guys half his age, sometimes wondering how life would have gone had he finished college on a football scholarship.

“Mr. Murrell, I’m going to be truthful with you sir,” he wrote me in a letter dated Jan. 28. “I mess up everything I start.”

The return address points to the Estelle Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville. It’s a handwritten letter, not many of which I receive these days.

Nichols poured his heart — and his faith — into each one he sent me. But, first, he gave me a little background:

He was a football and basketball player at Lincoln High, where he graduated in 1967. A cornerback and wide receiver, he earned a football scholarship to Bishop College, which had just moved to Dallas from Marshall earlier in the decade. (Bishop closed in 1988.)

“I messed that up,” Nichols said. “I went back to Port Arthur for the weekend. I got busted for robbery. I was 18. But I’m not going to give up.”

In other words, Nichols, who is serving a life sentence on a robbery conviction, is hopeful he will be released on parole one day. Convicted of five offenses since 1967, he was denied parole this past February, with his next review scheduled for 2017.

“On this sentence I’ve been here for 29 years,” Nichols wrote. “I’m sorry to anybody that I did wrong. I hope the Lord forgive me.”

He went on to request the copy of the high school football Super Team we released on Christmas Day, prefacing: “I like sports a lot, Mr. Murrell.” He also wanted an article informing him how Port Arthur Memorial, Nederland and Port Neches-Groves basketball teams were doing. I obliged.

He wrapped up his letter noting how much he loved the Port Arthur News. A post-script followed: “I’m very sorry to anybody I ever did wrong in my life, whether it was robbery, or anything else. I hope the Lord forgive me.”

Soon after I received the letter, I asked Leo if I could interview him for an upcoming column. I even registered my number with the prison. No phone call … yet.

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Letter dated Feb. 18
“… Oh, and about the column that you were speaking of, thanks anyway I.C., but I feel better just telling you about my stories. Thank you for letting me be able to talk to you. …”

Quite understandable, I felt.

Nichols reminded me in this letter how much he’s interested in our local teams and asked for a copy of the Feb. 4 issue that covered National Signing Day. Again, I obliged.

“I’m 66 ½ years old,” he wrote. “I know it sounds crazy, but I love basketball so much, that I still be playing full court basketball with players down here in prison that’s 24, 28, 30, 35, 38 years old. And Mr. Murrell, I be wanting to win too (smile). That’s a good example of when I was saying God is good.”

Amen to that, Leo.

Nichols reflected on what he could have been as an athlete, wishing he could have played cornerback or safety in the NFL.

“I had a instinct for intercepting the ball. I had good instincts. But I used to get into too much trouble. Robberies and stuff. But God has changed me into a better man. I’m ready for society now. I’m not going to get into any more trouble. Well, this is all for now.

“Sincerely, Inmate Leo Nichols.”

That’s the most heartbreaking signature I ever read.

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Letter dated April 6
“I’ve been here almost 30 years. And sports has been a big part of me staying sane sir.”

While this made me feel good, sharing the importance of his faith in a difficult situation just warmed my heart.

“I’m only talking to you right now by the grace of the Lord,” he wrote. “God has been good to me. And if I can just be given another chance, I think that I can go all the way. When I say all the way, I’m saying make it in society.”

Nichols also wanted to know where the football players at Memorial, Nederland and PN-G have committed to playing collegiately. Well, Leo, aside from those who signed on National Signing Day, Bryan Cunningham of Nederland recently inked with Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas.

By this time, Nichols admitted he was nervous at first about being a part of my column, “because I never was offered a blessing like that before in my life.” Then, he indicated he was interested.

Leo, you’re taken care of. Everyone has a voice. Yours, like mine, often comes in the power of the written word. (Kids, practice your handwriting and typewriting.)

I’m also tickled that you wrote Bob West was your favorite sports editor for years. “But I’m glad the city of Port Arthur found a good replacement. The Lord is good.”

Yes, Leo, the Lord is good. He’s better to us than we can be to ourselves.

He forgives, too. Please, forgive yourself.

And, if I don’t talk to you between now and the time you receive this, happy birthday fellow June boy.

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I.C. Murrell can be reached at 721-2435 or ic.murrell@panews.com. On Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews