More Dessert and Less Monkey Brains

From eating monkey brains to making sure that dessert always comes first, from the mellow sport of golf, to swimming in the Amazon River, there is nothing too dangerous or exciting to keep David Merrell from doing what he wants to do.

David Merrell, 57, is third generation West Palm Beach, Fla. He was raised by his father, A.W. Merrell, and has three siblings, an older brother Rick, a younger brother Dann, and an older sister, Linda-Gail. Merrell's mother passed away when he was only 22 and his father passed away when he was 38 years old, he has maintained a close relationship with his brothers, however he has lost touch with his sister over time.

Merrell did seem like a typical boy on the outside, "everyone loved him," said his older brother. He was a football player and a professional motor-cross racer for three to five years. He helped out at the family business, which was a camping company, and made good grades.

Merrell has made several accomplishment in his life. When Merrell was only 17-years-old, he saved a child from a burning Dumpster. Merrell came across a child sitting in a Dumpster that was playing with matches. It wasn't long after that the Dumpster caught on fire and Merrell dived in to save the little boy. In honor of his duties, he received West Palm Beach's Key to the City.

Merrell may have earned the Key to the City, however he also has also earned his night in jail. "One day my buddies and I were surfing on Palm Beach. The cops came and arrested us for surfing on the island [which was illegal]. The officers called my dad and informed him that bail was $200. My dad said that the bail was too much and told the cops to let me spend the night in jail, while I sat there, all of my friends parents were coming to pick them up and then they had to go to court. Since my dad didn't bail me out, the cops felt bad and let me go free, without having to go to court," said Merrell.

"David's mother passed away when he was only 22-years-old. None of the siblings will talk about it," said nephew Kodi Merrell. Apparently Merrell's mother had passed away after losing a long battle with cancer. The loss of his mother prompted Merrell's artistic side, where he eventually became a photographer and a musician.

The passing of Merrell's mother "never kept him from accomplishing anything in his life, if anything it made him want to do more," said Merrell's best friend, Danny Erneston. When Merrell was 20, he experienced one of many life changing moments. He and his youngest brother went to Brazil to do mission work. From building houses, to swimming in Amazon River, to being included in a trial ritual and offering, and having to drink goats blood, their experience was a memorable and fun story.

Trips of travelling the world did not just stop at Brazil. Merrell has travelled all over the world, to Thailand, Australia, China, United Arab Emirates, and the Dominican Republic, just to name a few. "One of my most interesting experience while travelling was eating monkey brains in China," said Merrell. Merrell has a reputation for loving food, especially dessert, and nothing will keep him away from a potentially good meal. His older brother said, that because of Merrell, that the family motto is "hit the dessert section of a buffet, first."

Merrell was a firefighter for Palm Beach County for 23 years, he has finally decided to stick closer to home. Merrell was once married but is divorced now and has two daughters, Tara and Tamera. Merrell works with his younger brother for Merrell Company Inc., which involves wood work and furniture building. On the side, he now teaches Systema, a form of Russian Martial Arts. Ever since he was 30, Merrell was interested in Taekwondo and Jujitsu, but he finally settled on Systema.

For the past eight years, Merrell has gone to Russia to practice Systema. Every year he goes back to Russia, he stays on military bases with the Special Forces, he trains with ex K.G.B., which was the Russian secret service. He is one of the few civilians to do so. Three years ago, "I participated in a tank obstacle course where I beat everyone in the Special Forces," said Merrell.

Most days Merrell likes to go to work with his brother, teach Systema on Monday and Wednesday nights and play golf. Merrell enjoys the time he spends with his daughters and grandchildren. He continues to eat large quantities of food a day, with just a little less monkey brains.