Buss: Precious memories great hymn, reminder of good friends
BUSS ED COL, October 23 (or when or wherever) 2022
Suggested head: Precious Memories great hymn . . . reminder of good friends
Ted Buss
Columnist
The longest verified human lifespan in history is that of Jeanne Calment of France. Jeanne was born in 1875 and died in 1997. She lived 122 years plus 164 days, and a highlight of her life was meeting artist Vincent van Gogh when she was 12.
Meeting Ted Williams, Willie Mays and Cal Ripkin, were career highlights, but to make it to Calment’s level I need another 41 years of “stuff” under my belt.
Let’s see, she was around when Edison created the light bulb, the Galveston hurricane killed 8,000 folks (1900), Coca-Cola was branded (1886) and the Gunfight at OK Corral (1881). Imagine the depth of things Jeanne witnessed. Think of your own life and consider notable episodes you’ve taken in.
For we seasoned citizens it’s easy to recall great high school football names like Fouts, Beach, Golding, Maroney, Doke, Todd, Crane, Parker, Palmer and others nobody under the age of 40 ever heard of. Sometimes extraordinary moments just pop up out of nowhere.
For instance, around 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 22, 1963, talk around the TRN newsroom was about what a slow day it had been. Then all hell broke loose. President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas.
As news of his death came, tears filled our eyes. Bodies ran wild, teletype machines went crazy and one EXTRA after another sailed down city sidewalks.
We all have good, bad and sad episodes. For me, it has been a blessing to have worked with dedicated journalists and good friends.
We had Carroll Copeland, Randy MacPherson, Lee Anderson, Joe Brown, George “Buddy” Works, Ted Leach, Carolyn Jones, Helen Burdick, Lois Lukie, Charles “Dee Dee” Wolston, Rhea Howard, Charles Ward, Al Parker, Charles “Butch” Walker, Betty Clines, Glenn Shelton, Katricia and Jim Cochran, George Smiley, Torin Halsey, Judith McGinnis, Frances Tate, Lynn Dickerson, Don James, Becky Chaney, Deanna Watson, Nick Gholson, Ben Noey and many more. A career ending brings random thoughts that come in no order, rhyme or reason.
Memorable good guy NFL interviews . . . Emmitt Smith, Fran Tarkenton, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Dan Reeves, Cal Ripkin and Bob Hayes.
This sportswriter could have done without ever meeting . . . Michael Irvin, Buddy Ryan and Earl Weaver. Jerks one and all.
Favorite area Friday night lights . . . Olney, Crowell, Seymour, Childress and Quanah.
Best all around high school athletes (1950s and 60s) . . . Leland Allred (football, basketball and baseball), Travis Reagan (football and baseball), Johnny Grace (baseball and football), John Genung (football and baseball) and Harold Morgan (football and baseball).
The most gifted individual athletes . . . Ronnie Littleton and Felley Donaldson.
Best springtime sporting event . . . Leo Cook’s Wichita Falls Fast Pitch Invitational.
My guess is that if you are age 50-plus, you can relate to all the above. If you are age 35 or younger you’re still likely wondering who Cal Ripkin was.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Buss: Precious memories great hymn, reminder of good friends