When I look around today, and drive by the city pool, school playgrounds, sandlots and youth baseball complexes, a question often pops in my head. Where have all the kids gone? Yes, I know it’s 2023 and I understand it’s a different time than when I grew up during the 1970s, but why is that? Well, there are several reasons why we don’t see kids out playing like we did. The number one reason? Protection.

Today’s kids are growing up in the age of social media like You Tube, Twitter, Instagram and processing up to the minute news. The ‘70s had basically three channels, NBC, ABC and CBS, all of which only had two local news broadcasts a day at 6 and 10 p.m. Today, there are numerous 24-hour news channels, even local channels, where anything and everything is known about in a matter of minutes.

Kids today are sheltered and protected from the dangers of the world we live in due to the fears generated from what people see every day on the news. Parents today have a much tougher job of raising kids and worrying about the different types of dangers and challenges than those that existed for my parents.  

Even though there were dangers when my generation grew up, it was a different time when so many bad things were never seen or heard about. The world was still a bad place, but no one really knew because of the lack of news coverage. The news was much simpler back in the ‘70s and mostly void of daily murders or drive by shootings. The worst thing we heard about was the weekly death toll from the Vietnam War. We learned of the passing of Elvis Presley and updates on the Watergate scandal involving President Nixon. We heard about the nationwide gas shortage and the long lines at the pumps. But even then, there was almost always a feel-good story.

During my generation, parents trusted their kids to behave and play with responsibility. Now this was not always the case — kids have historically had a propensity to get into trouble. Common sense is what kept us alive as we understood what was risky versus what was just plain dumb, something kids today seem to lack. During my younger days, the main form of transportation was a bicycle. We rode our bikes around the entire community for miles, seven days a week. We spent countless summer hours outside every day no matter how hot it was.

No one stayed in the house because you weren’t allowed in the house. We played outside because our parents did not allow you to come inside unless you had a medical emergency. If you needed a drink of water, you turned the water hose on until the water got cold enough to drink. A water hose during my generation was necessary for survival! It not only kept us hydrated but was a great form of entertainment when it came to water balloon fights and a slip-n-slide.

Hungry? Well, we could usually find a fig, pear tree or blackberry patch with good fruit on it to satisfy our cravings. Sometimes we hopped on our bikes and went on a coke bottle run collecting as many bottles as we could find in ditches and trash cans so we could turn them in to the local country store in exchange for candy or maybe an ICEE.

It’s sad today to look around and see empty playgrounds and sandlots. You never see groups of kids riding their bikes anymore. You don’t see kids playing chase or climbing trees. Kids today have no idea what a treehouse really is! They have little imagination when it comes to playtime unless it involves a joystick. Because of the level of protection kids have today, they’re just not as mature as my generation was during the pre-teen and teenage years. Imagine your 18-year-old today having to go fight a war in hand-to-hand combat.

What concerns me the most is that the days of kids being free to play outside will never happen again. Kids are too busy on social media sites worrying about someone saying something negative or starting rumors. They are consumed with self-indulging issues that really don’t mean a thing. I only wish parents would take more control and give better guidance. In the meantime, I will continue to pray for kids to experience good fishing, good bike riding and good tree climbing, while not forgetting their sunscreen.  

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

As you probably guessed, everything did not go as expected.  At about 10:15 p.m., with only 45 minutes left to in the trip, a bearing in the jet’s left electrical generator failed.  In case of a generator failure, the jet’s electrical system would automatically draw power from the other engine’s electrical generator.  When this jet’s computer system switched to the right generator, a power surge in the electrical system tripped a circuit breaker.  The second generator shut down.  Without power from the generators, the jet relied on two small nickel cadmium batteries to power the jet’s radios, navigational gear, and other operational systems.  When fully charged, these two batteries could only power the jet for about five minutes. 

No alarms sounded when the two generators failed.  Joseph and Messina only recognized that both generators had failed when the instrument panels began to dim.  It had been about five minutes since the generators failed.  Time was running out.  As soon as Joseph was aware that there was a problem, he contacted the Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center, declared an emergency, and asked for a heading to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.  Before he could get a response from air traffic control, the two nickel cadmium batteries had exhausted their power supply and the jet’s entire electrical system failed.  Like most jets, the Gulfstream II had a backup for the backup for the backup in case of electrical failure.  Joseph tried to activate an instrument called a transformer rectifier to generate power but it, too, malfunctioned.  Joesph and Messina immediately realized the severe trouble the crippled jet was in.  All of the electrical navigational equipment had shut down, as had many of the jet’s crucial systems, such as electrically assisted flaps and brakes.     

The jet was nearly eight miles high, traveling at about 400 miles per hour, and was approaching one of nation’s busiest airspaces with no radio communications, no navigational equipment, and no interior or exterior lights.  The jet’s transponder, which transmits information such as the jet’s identification number, heading, speed, and altitude to air traffic controllers, also ceased to operate.  Air traffic controllers could only see an unidentified blip on their radar screens.  When Air traffic controllers realized Joseph’s jet’s electrical system had malfunctioned, they tried to contact Joseph by way of an emergency hand-held transceiver, another piece of emergency equipment, but the jet did not have one of the emergency transceivers.   

In an act of desperation, an air traffic controller directed the pilot of a commercial jet to help locate Joseph’s jet.  USAir Flight 1729 was traveling at the same speed as Joseph’s jet at an altitude of 20,000 feet.  They were unsure of Joseph’s jet’s altitude.  The air traffic controller told USAir pilot of Joseph’s jet’s electrical malfunction and said he would not be lit up.  The USAir jet pilot saw Joseph’s jet directly in front of him about two miles away.  They were heading directly toward each other.  The air traffic controller held his breath as the symbol for the USAir jet and the blip converged.  He breathed a sigh of relief when the symbols for the jets had passed each other and continued in opposite directions.

Back in Joseph’s jet, Messina shone a small flashlight in the cockpit for them to see by.  Joseph had only a tiny magnetic compass and a small emergency attitude indicator which showed the relationship of the airplane’s wings in relation to the horizon for navigating the jet.  There was no moon in the night sky on this night and all Joseph and Messina could see below them were dense clouds.  In the distance, Joseph noticed a glow in the dense cloud cover.  This, he surmised, had to be Washington, D.C.  He aimed the jet towards the glow.  At about 12,000, Joseph’s jet was engulfed by thick clouds.  He continued his descent towards the glow.  The jet continued its slow descent, but the clouds did not thin.  Finally, at about 1,000 feet, Joseph’s jet broke out of the clouds.  The first thing Joseph saw was a brightly lit obelisk in the night sky.  It was the Washington Monument.  Both pilot and co-pilot were relieved at the welcome sight.  Joseph aimed the jet toward the Washington National Airport.  Air Traffic controllers had rerouted the other jets from the area in anticipation of an emergency landing. 

Joseph’s jet was not safe yet.  They held their breath as they tried to lower the landing gear by using the emergency extension system.  Another sigh of relief.  This emergency system worked.  They were unable to lower the jet’s flaps, which would normally slow a jet on approach.  They touched town on the runway at the dangerous speed of about 170 miles per hour.  The only brake they had was the emergency brake, which failed to respond until fully engaged.  The locked tires only lasted a second or two before all four of them blew out.  Somehow, the jet did not flip as it skidded to a stop.  Finally, the harrowing ordeal was over. 

Although terrifying, Joseph still flies his jets.  He owns several.  Throughout the emergency, air traffic controllers failed to realize that Joseph, the pilot of the Gulfstream II jet, would have been instantly recognizable had they seen his face.  You and I have watched him in “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “Grease,” and “Saturday Night Fever.”  The pilot who miraculously guided the jet to safety, despite horrifying odds, whose middle name is Joseph, was John Travolta.

Source:  James, Mike. 1995. “STAYIN’ ALIVE.” Washington Post, March 26, 1995. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/03/26/stayin-alive/1b623dd6-7fb0-4f96-8573-b268d8fff3c2/.

The biggest, most celebrity, and fun-filled party of every summer in Natchitoches and for miles around is coming your way a bit later than normal, at the end of this month.

Three days of festivities are right around the corner, Thursday, July 27 through Saturday, July 29, with the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning Joins four-time WNBA All-Star Alana Beard (whose parents are from Natchitoches Parish) and College World Series champion LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri in a star-studded 12-member induction class.

The LSHOF Class of 2023 also includes New Orleans native Ron Washington, who managed the Texas Rangers to a pair of World Series appearances and in 2021 helped the Atlanta Braves win the world’s championship; two-time LSU track and field USA Olympian and world champion Walter Davis; and Slidell native, Tulane great and Chicago Bears two-time Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte.

Also elected for induction are All-American LSU pitcher Paul Byrd, a 14-year Major League Baseball veteran who made the 1999 All-Star Game; Shreveport native Wendell Davis, who shattered LSU football receiving records before heading to the NFL; multiple national champion and world-class weightlifter Walter Imahara, a UL-Lafayette legend; and retired Baton Rouge-Parkview Baptist baseball coach M.L. Woodruff, whose teams claimed 11 state championships.

The LSHOF’s Class of 2023 will be enshrined Saturday, July 29, at the Hall of Fame’s home in Natchitoches to culminate the 64th Induction Celebration.

The 2023 Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, July 27, with the La Capitol Federal Credit Union Welcome Reception from 5-7 p.m., free to the public at the Hall of Fame museum.

The Friday, July 28 schedule begins with the Celebrity Bowling Bash presented by BOM at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. The 2023 Rockin’ River Fest, a free concert on the downtown riverbank stage, begins at 6 p.m. and runs until 10:30. In conjunction with the Rockin’ River Fest is the VIP Taste of Tailgating party presented by Hancock Whitney.

The slate on Saturday, July 29 kicks off with the free LSHOF Junior Training Camp led by community relations personnel from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, on the NSU campus at the Webb Wellness and Recreation Center and Turpin Stadium. Kids ages 7-17 do need to register in advance at the LaSportsHall.com website, but there is no charge to participate.

At noon Saturday, the Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation is held at The Venue on Front Street.

Festivities culminate Saturday evening with the Induction Reception at the LSHOF museum beginning at 5, followed at 7 by the Induction Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center. Northwestern State University and State Farm Agents of Louisiana are presenting sponsors Saturday evening.

The VIP Taste of Tailgating, the Bowling Bash, the Round Table Luncheon and the Induction Reception and Ceremony are ticketed events requiring purchase in advance through LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255, and those events could become sellouts.

The Thursday reception, the Friday evening River Fest and the Junior Training Camp are free. As noted above, camp participants must register online in advance.

The 2023 Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors. For information on sponsorship opportunities and other participation, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com, or Greg Burke, Director of Business Development and Public Relations, at 318-663-5459 or GregBurke@LaSportsHall.com.

John Albert Ceske, 80, of Many, Louisiana passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at Louisiana Extended Care in Natchitoches, Louisiana. A graveside service will be held for him on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Emmanuel Cemetery, Parish Road 821, Lena, LA with Bro. Charles Mark Woodham officiating. A visitation will be held prior to the graveside service for him from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 10:30 a.m. at the Emmanuel Cemetery Pavilion in Lena, Louisiana.

John was born on February 2, 1943, in Ashland, Wisconsin to Michael John Ceske and Ida Hattie Kindler. He proudly served in the United States Army for two enlistments; one in Germany, and the other in The Vietnam War as a field artillery man.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Ida Ceske; his loving wife of 50 years, Grace Marie Vercher Ceske; his sister, Laverne Nelson and husband, Harry; his brothers, Cliff Ceske and wife, Amanda, Howard Ceske and wife, Marpha, and Mike Ceske and wife, Peggy; and his sister-in-law, Frances Ceske. Left behind to cherish his memory are his son, Bobby Christine and wife, Betty of Many, LA; his daughters, Terry Cruz and husband, Adolfo of Huntsville, TX, and Lela Byfield and husband, Doug of Big Sandy, TX; his brother, Ed Ceske of Cleveland, TX; his grandchildren, John Eric, Rachel, Jason. Adolfo Jr., Danielle, Stephanie, Eric, Jason, and Kara; his great grandchildren, Trinity, Gavin, Kaydance, Raleigh, Grace, Eli, Chase, Emerson, Ezekiel, Cade, and Emelina; along with a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and other family members.

A Mass of Christian burial to celebrate the life of Junior William “Bill” West, of Franklin, TN; formerly of Zwolle, LA will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 307 Hammond Street, Zwolle, Louisiana with Fr. Timothy Hurd officiating. Burial to follow the service in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held for “Bill” on Friday, July 21, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 9891 Texas Highway, Many, Louisiana.

Junior William West, 96, passed away peacefully Monday, July 10, 2023. Born, July 12, 1926, in Pine Prairie, Louisiana to Charlie R. West and Zeola (Carpenter) West. He married Joan L. West on May 17, 1952. Mom passed away February 29, 2008. He is survived by his children Michael (Rose) West of Hattiesburg, MS, Randy (Donna) West of Scottsdale, AZ, Dan (Mary) West of Fort Atkinson, WI, Mary Kay West of Franklin, TN; grandchildren, Amy West, Jason West, Amanda (Joseph) Graham and Seth (Jade) West; great grandchildren Mya Goplin-West, Dawson Graham, Amelia Graham and Ryder West; sisters Verlin Hanson of Biloxi and Betty (Pat) McCann of Pineville, LA, brother and sister in law; Don and Marilynn Hauch of Racine, WI. Preceded in death by mom, his parents, J.B. and Mercedes West, Eunice and JJ Williamson, Sam and Thelma West, Wilford and Marion West, Don Hanson, Wilfred and Virginia Willis, Jimmy and JoAnn West and Joseph and Betty Kowalsky.

Dad served in the United States Army during World War II from September 1944 to November 1946. With qualifications as rifle sharpshooter, he was in combat in the South Philippines. After the atomic bombs he was one of the first to arrive at Hiroshima, Japan.

After WWII he left Louisiana with his brothers to find work in Wisconsin. He met and married our mom in Racine, WI. He worked at American Motors, then Walker Manufacturing where he retired. He frequently worked three jobs to support our family. He built our family home, worked on our cars and was an all-around handy man. He was always a constant figure in our home and lives. Always supporting our endeavors. He was a quiet, strong, dependable, humble man. He had a keen memory and a quick wit.

Family and friends always remember how he made them laugh. He was born during the Great Depression, and truly an example of a man of the Greatest Generation. He displayed to us the value in hard work, dedication, integrity, sacrifice and taking care of others.

In his free time, Dad enjoyed sports, was an avid hunter and a registered beagle breeder. Retiring at Toledo Bend Lake (Louisiana) gave him plenty of time to enjoy his favorite pastime, fishing.

There is no power on earth as strong as your Father’s Love, and our family feels extremely blessed to have been loved by Dad for so many years.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the National Council on Aging in Bill’s name.

Raymond Lee Prewitt, 79 of Florien, Louisiana passed away at Rapides Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana on July 8, 2023. A memorial service will be held for him on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Pisgah Baptist Church, 1420 Pisgah Church Loop, Florien, LA 71429 in the Toro Community. Pastor C. M. Kelly will be officiating his service.

He was born on January 11, 1944, in Houston, Texas to Henry Lee Prewitt and Geraldine (Hale) Prewitt.

Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Lee Prewitt and Geraldine (Hale) Prewitt; and his brothers, Roland and Roy Prewitt. Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 52 years, Evelyn (Mahaffey) Prewitt of Florien, LA; his sons, Tony Prewitt of Leesville, LA, Scott Prewitt of Deridder, LA, and Tim Prewitt and wife, Shelly of Longview, TX; his daughter, Angela Moore and husband, Jason of Conroe, TX; his sister, Marlene Holland of Florien, LA; and his brother, Ronnie Prewitt and wife Elizabeth of Florien, LA; his 9 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives.

Joy F. Nelson
Service: Sunday, July 23 at 2 pm at Beulah Methodist Church in Marthaville

Donovan O. Mitchell
May 12, 1995 – July 15, 2023
Arrangements TBA

The 13th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft again was lucky for Northwestern State.

For the second straight year, a Demon right-handed pitcher was selected in the 13th round of the draft as the Los Angeles Dodgers selected junior Alex Makarewich on Tuesday with the 400th overall selection in the draft.

A second-team All-Southland Conference selection as a junior, Makarewich followed former teammate Johnathan Harmon, who was chosen in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by Cincinnati. In addition to the symmetry with his former teammate, Makarewich’s selection brought his baseball life full circle.

“I had discussed it with my advisor,” said Makarewich, a 6-foot, 185-pound right-hander who made 15 starts in 2023 after spending his first two seasons in the NSU bullpen. “To finally get the call and the confirmation I was going to be a Dodger was a surreal feeling. Growing up in L.A., I was a Dodgers fan. My dad was a big Dodgers fan. We went to a few games. Throughout the years, I’ve always pulled for the Dodgers. To get picked by them was a surreal feeling. It still doesn’t feel real.”

Makarewich posted a 5-5 record in his lone season as a starter, striking out 89 hitters in 72 1-3 innings. The 89 strikeouts are the eighth-best single season total in school history and ranked him 103rd nationally.

Makarewich was stringy to opposing hitters, limiting them to a .208 batting average and 6.59 hits per nine innings – the 25th best number nationally. His 11.07 strikeouts per nine innings were second in the Southland Conference and ranked 66th in the country.

His selection marks the sixth straight season the Demons have had a Major League Baseball draftee and the fifth straight season in which a Northwestern State pitcher has heard his name called. Makarewich is the third Demon drafted by the Dodgers – the first since Clifton Glidewell in 2000.

The six straight seasons with a draftee extends the school record and is the longest active streak of any Southland Conference school.

Despite recent graduations to the major league level, the Dodgers remain one of baseball’s top farm systems, a fact of which Makarewich was familiar.

“I think it’s the best place for me,” he said. “The way I pitch, throwing off the slider with a lot of ride. Learning a new breaking ball. Developmentally, the Dodgers are the peak of baseball. They’re the best at taking the guys they think they can work with and making them 10 times better. I’m excited about it.”

(From the Summer of 2011 after 34 MILLION pounds of tainted turkey was recalled. Some things never change; it’s still tough to be a turkey …)

Man the poor turkey just can’t catch a break. I’d almost rather be a catfish than a turkey, and the catfish gig’s no day at the park.

I was eating a Sloppy Joe, one of the world’s truly underrated and underappreciated foods, when someone brought up the most recent recalled meat fiasco – 34 million pounds of recalled turkey meat. “Tainted,” meat inspectors declare.

My mania for Sloppy Joes is such that this line of conversation did not bother me. The buns were soft, the secret sauce ingredient (V8!) was kicking in, and the meat was, thank goodness, hamburger.

But between bites, I felt bad for mister turkey, and for several million of his brethren.

They have that stuff hanging from their necks. They walk funny. Talk funny. The beady eyes, the chinless stare. A turkey could be the only entry in a beauty pageant, and still come in eighth, tops.

As if the cards weren’t already stacked, my buddies in the National Wild Turkey Federation are dressing up like shrubs and hunting them even though the turkeys are – unless you count ‘ugly as a weapon – unarmed. They call the turkeys, then shoot them.

So the turkeys in the news this week are double losers. They get called, shot, cleaned, packaged, then RE-called.

Is it any wonder that a guy who’s tabbed “a turkey” is a dud. An inept loser. Dumb as a chisel.

Turkey’s a tough row to hoe.

So if all that’s not enough, 34 million pounds of bird that will never gobble again was recalled. Punched out for nothing. Spoiled by salmonella, a word I never heard growing up. If you’re a turkey, you just can’t win.

Caught up in these poultry-based current events, my friend Doctor Pickles gobbled, “Here’s a question: what number do you have to get to in the Tainted Meat Game before it’s recalled? Before it’s Big News? Eight pounds? Eight million pounds? Twenty mil? If it’s just one box at the Jitney Jungle, do you keep it quiet? How many turkeys have to go bad before somebody squeals?”

And how do you know it’s 34 million pounds? Was it really 52 million? 75 million? Who is the quality control person in charge of keeping up with millions of pounds of spread-out tainted turkey meat?

Larry at the Tainted Meat Department: “Man, 52 sounds like a lot.”

Joe: “Well, let’s make it 18.”

Larry: “18? Who in their right mind would believe 18? We can’t say 18 million pounds. What are you, crazy? Are you insane, with the 18?”

Joe: “I’m just sayin’!, for cryin’ out loud. Make it 36 then.”

Larry: “We’ll say 34.”

Joe: “Fine. 18. 36. 34. Whatever. Let’s break for lunch.”
Larry, opening his pail: “Dang. Turkey again…”

In the tainted turkey racket, nobody wins.

Never do I hear the phrase “tainted meat” that I don’t think of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” and the opening scene card game at the apartment of sportswriter Oscar Madison, who stares into his ice box and offers the guys some snacks during a break.

Oscar: “I got, uh, brown sandwiches and, uh, green sandwiches. Which one do you want?”

Murray: “What’s the green?”

Oscar: “It’s either very new cheese or very old meat.”

Murray: “I’ll take the brown.”

Natchitoches attorney-at-law Jack O. “Britt” Brittain Jr., one of the most remarkable and beloved ambassadors ever in his community, passed away Tuesday morning at age 67 after a brief illness.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church in Natchitoches, with Father R. B. Williams, O.P., under the direction of Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. A visitation will be held at the funeral home in Natchitoches from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday.

He was born June 20, 1956, and died July 11, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Oliver Brittain and Ann Williams Brittain, paternal grandparents, Clarence Lafitte Brittain and Irene Humphries Brittain, and maternal grandparents, Judge R. B. Williams and Ora Garland Williams.

He is survived by six treasured siblings: Dr. Marguerite “Cissy” Picou and her husband, Dr. Bryan A. Picou of Natchitoches; Rebecca Brittain Morris and her husband, Wallace “Wally” E. Morris of Alexandria; Judge Lala Brittain Sylvester, and her husband, Russell “Rusty” L. Sylvester of Natchitoches; Eliza Brittain Behrendsen, and her husband, Gunnar F. Behrendsen of Natchitoches; John A. Brittain, and his fiancé, Janice Wheat of Youngsville; and Mary Jane “Cookie” Brittain Richardson, and her husband, Kirk J. Richardson of Nashville, Tenn.

Britt has 16 beloved nieces and nephews: Marguerite “Megan” Picou Bishop, and her husband, Ashley, Sara Picou McCann, and her husband, Gabe, Catherine “Catie” Picou Oryl, and her husband, Ben, Dr. Bryan A. Picou, Jr, and his wife, Kassie, Winfield Hancock Morris, and his wife, Lidiane, Wade Hampton Morris, and his wife, Kathryn “Kat,” Lala “Brittany” Sylvester Gaspard, and her husband, Brett, Courtney Elisabeth Sylvester, Ashley Kathleen Sylvester, Kathleen Marie Sylvester; Behrend Brittain Behrendsen, Ashton Lafitte Behrendsen, Sydney Brittain Dickson, and her husband, Clayton, Ann Marie Brittain; Stanley John Richardson, Richard Blanchard Richardson.

He loved his 15 grandnieces and grandnephews: Emma Virginia Bishop; Ella, Liam and Andrew McCann; Mack, Molly, Fiona and Claire Oryl; Amelia, Oliver and Eleanor Picou; Cooper Morris; Maeve Bailey Gaspard; and Rigby and William Dickson.

In lieu of flowers, the family hopes friends will consider contributions to the Jack Brittain, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund at Northwestern State University to benefit a female student-athlete.

Contributions can be made online by visiting: fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/nsujack. Contributions can also be mailed to: Demons Unlimited Foundation, Attention: Jack Brittain, Jr., Memorial Scholarship, 468 Caspari Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457. For more information, please contact NSU Associate Athletic Director Darian Westerfield at 318-357-4560.

He was a faithful parishioner of The Minor Basilica Immaculate Conception Church. Among his social memberships, he was a longtime member of the Krewe of Dionysos, and had been a member of Holiday In Dixie Cotillion, Holiday In Dixie Planter’s Ball, and an escort for the St. Denis Art Guild.

“Britt” was a 1974 graduate of St. Mary’s High in Natchitoches and was one of the first people inducted in the St. Mary’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He lettered four years in track, football and basketball, and played in the Louisiana High School Coaches’ All-Star Football Game in 1974. Britt was selected to attend Boys State, and also served as a page in the Louisiana Legislature and at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. He also worked for U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, helping staff his north Louisiana office. In his senior year of high school, his fellow students voted him Mr. SMH. As an adult, he was an active member of the Tiger Athletic Association.

He chose to stay home and attended Northwestern State University, earning a football scholarship. He lettered in all four seasons (1974, 1975, 1977, 1978) first as a running back, then a receiver, and was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Britt graduated with a business administration degree in 1979, and set his sights on law school to become an attorney like his father.

He was admitted to the Paul Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University and earned his Juris Doctorate in 1982.

He served as a clerk for Louisiana Head Supreme Court Justice Jack Watson.

Britt entered public service after law school, and joined Senator Johnston’s staff in a full-time capacity, working both in Washington, D.C., and around Louisiana.

“Britt worked for us even in high school. We trusted him to represent the requests of North Louisiana for his entire tenure with our offices,” said Senator Johnson. “My wife and I have known Britt since he was born. He will be missed.”

Britt worked with Senator Johnson until the senator’s retirement. He was immediately offered, and accepted, a position with new U.S. Senator John Breaux as his North Louisiana Chief Political Aide and served until Senator Breaux closed his Shreveport office.

After coming back to Louisiana, Britt settled in Shreveport, where he was well-known and beloved in Shreveport-Bossier society. He was even named by the Shreveport Times as one of the city’s “Most Eligible Bachelors,” a distinction he informally retained for years to come.

He became a member of the Indoor Tennis Association in Shreveport and later was part of a United States Tennis Association national finalist and state champion team. He was a state-ranked singles player.

After leaving government service, Britt worked as a Merrill Lynch Financial Planner in Shreveport. He ultimately returned to his hometown and joined the Brittain Family Law Firm as an attorney-at-law, remaining in practice for the rest of his life, with specialties including estate planning, timber management and oil & gas leasing. His invaluable service to a far-reaching and diverse group of clients and friends was universally admired.

He was among the best of the best and always provided the life and joy of any event. Britt made his priorities in life serving others, supporting countless noble causes and especially his beloved hometown and alma maters of St. Mary’s, NSU and LSU. For decades, he was an avid friend to NSU’s Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority co-founded by his grandmother Ora G. Williams in 1929. Early this century, the sisters showed their love and appreciation by creating the “Jack ‘Britt’ Brittain Service Award” given to a person who is remarkably supportive of the Tri Sigmas at NSU.

“Jack defined the virtue of generosity. He was generous of time, generous of treasure, and most importantly generous of spirit,” said Dr. Jim Henderson, president of the University of Louisiana System and former president of NSU. “His support for our alma mater knew no bounds and was exceeded only by his love and support of his family and friends. When our fathers met as football teammates at Louisiana Tech in the 1940s, they had no idea their sons would bond as Demon alums some 70 years later. Jack was a treasure to us all and I will cherish his friendship for life.”

He spent 18 football seasons as the often unconventional, always passionate sideline reporter for the Demon Sports Network, and did everything he could in support of NSU Athletics in all sports. Britt’s loyalty and service was recognized by the N-Club, the university’s association of former athletic letterwinners, in 2013 when he was surprised by being inducted into the N-Club Hall of Fame as a winner of the Distinguished Service Award. He was a founding member of Demon Brothers, a football alumni group, a member of the Demons Unlimited Foundation and the NSU Alumni Association, and was universally beloved by student-athletes, coaches and staff from all sports and all ages.

Through his involvement with NSU Athletics, he developed deep friendships with sports media, coaches and athletic personnel from around the state and Southland Conference. He volunteered to do legal work for the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, some which was vital to the location of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches. He also enthusiastically attended annual inductions and assisted in LSHOF operations, notably taking a major role in hosting golf tournaments. He was awarded a Life Membership in the LSWA and later, in 2017, became a recipient of the organization’s most prized honor, the Mac Russo Award, given to an individual who “contributes to the progress and ideals of the LSWA.”

He made it his mission to spread joy and happiness at every opportunity, throughout his life, and was lovingly loyal to his family and friends. He was a trusted confidant and advisor to people in all walks of life, a gracious and festive host, and a servant/leader in his community, state and nation.

He will be missed. Britt left an indelible, lasting impact with no boundaries. To know him was to love and admire him, and also, to feel his unabashed love that he shared with everyone.

Over the years, every sport has been given a “black eye.” No matter what sport it is, people are always looking for some form of illegal or unethical issues that they can bring to light.

Recently, professional basketball had the controversy over a referee who was betting on games he was calling. Baseball has the infamous Pete Rose controversy with his betting on baseball. Football and baseball over the years have both gotten black eyes over the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. But when it comes to tournament bass fishing, the sport continues to battle with the never-ending effects of bass dying after a tournament. 

Now this is not due to a lack of concern about keeping their catch alive, as there are times when no matter what you do, you will still have a fish die in your livewell. It’s actually very important to the anglers in general because dead fish can cost them a lot of money. A dead fish can also hurt an angler when it comes to Angler of the Year (AOY) standings which usually has a cash bonus for the winner at the end of the year. So, it’s important for tournament anglers who participate in this sport to be conscious of how they take care of their catch.

Admirably, 98 percent of all bass tournaments do a great job of implementing rules that penalize anglers for weighing dead fish. Some events deduct anywhere from a quarter to a half-pound penalty for every dead fish weighed in. While this doesn’t sound like much, it can be the difference between finishing first or 10th. It’s the difference between getting paid or going home with nothing. 

Just like so many things in our world today, there are always people watching and looking for a reason to create controversy that will help their agenda. In the fishing world that would be PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). This organization continues to target tournament bass fishing and would like to see the sport discontinued. They show up at boat ramps all across the country wearing fish costumes and making their presence known while protesting bass tournaments. 

But what they refuse to see is how well and to what extent anglers go to keep fish alive. On the professional level or other high exposure events, fish care is critical. Nothing upsets an angler more than losing a fish in their livewell. I’ll give you an example of how much attention I give to fish care while they are in my possession. 

In the fall, winter, and early spring months, it’s unusual to have a fish die in your livewell due to the cooler water temperatures. Hot water is the enemy of tournament anglers and during the summer months this is hard to combat. This is why I hate summer tournaments! You spend so much time babysitting your catch and constantly checking on them to make sure they are in good shape as the day progresses; it’s a job! Here’s what I have found over the years that can make a huge difference in fish care and that has worked extremely well for me. 

 When an angler first launches his boat on tournament morning, he should immediately fill his livewells with fresh cool water. This is because the water is at its coolest point for the day. Next, put G-Juice or any other good additive into the water to help add slime back to the fish after they have been handled. It also reinvigorates bass and keeps them in stable condition before weigh-in.

After doing these two things, turn your livewell on recirculate. The next step is crucial to keeping the water cool and is where anglers often make their biggest mistake when trying to keep fish alive. When the livewell is recirculating,  add ice, or in my case, frozen water bottles. For me, I’ll mix G-Juice into bottles of water and freeze them so that I can drop one bottle in the livewell every hour. I remove the bottle cap which allows for the gradual addition of more G-Juice while simultaneously maintaining the water at a cooler temperature the entire day. DON’T ADD HOT FRESH WATER TO YOUR LIVEWELL DURING THE DAY! This is a recipe for disaster!

 If anglers want to continue to have bass tournaments, they have got to become more diligent about taking care of their catch. The problem is, when people show up at a boat ramp where there was a tournament the day before and see dead fish floating, photos are taken and posted on social media for all to see! This is nothing but ammunition for organizations like PETA who want to eliminate tournaments all together.

To sum this up, tournament anglers and tournament trail organizations need to do a better job when it comes to fish care if they don’t want the sport to get another black eye. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and be conscious of taking care of your skin by using plenty of sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

BOM was a sponsor of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission’s Patriotic Weekend at Toledo Bend. Pictured left to right: BOM’s Tiffany Miller, Autumn Palmer, and BOM’s Linda Guay.

By Brad Dison

For centuries, Paris has been the mecca for clothing designers.  Jacques Heim was a French costume designer for theater and film.  In the 1920s, he began working in his parents’ fur company.  Although fur clothing is frowned upon today, it was popular during Jacques’s lifetime.  In 1923, he took over the family business and expanded its product line to include dresses, non-fur coats, and other articles of clothing.  In 1932, Jacques created a new piece of clothing altogether and needed a catchy name for it.  At the time of his creation, scientists were making discoveries which they said would usher in a new era of human existence.  They claimed that one day soon, nuclear energy would transform the world into a utopian society.  They called it the “Atomic Age.”  Jacques liked the idea of the atomic age, and he named his creation the Atome.  For years, Jacques tried to get people interested in the Atome.  He even hired skywriters, pilots who flew small aircraft which released special smoke during flight to create writing that was readable from the ground, to tell people about his product.  Despite his best efforts, few people wore the Atome, and it was ultimately deemed a commercial failure. 

Another designer named Louis Réard created a similar product based on a redesign of Jacques’s Atome.  Like Jacques, Louis began an advertising campaign for his creation.  As part of that campaign, Louis wanted a model to wear his creation at its unveiling presentation.  All the models he usually hired for such events refused to wear his creation.  Louis knew that without a model to showcase his product, his creation would be a failure just as Jacques’s Atome had been.  In desperation, he hired 19-year-old Micheline Bernardini to model his creation at its unveiling.  Micheline had no experience in runway modeling.  She worked at the Casino de Paris as a fully nude exotic dancer.     

On July 1, 1946, the United States exploded the first of 23 nuclear bombs in what was called Operation Crossroads.  Like Jacques, Louis was inspired by the atomic age and named his product after the location of the nuclear explosion.  Four days later, Micheline unveiled Louis’s creation in Paris.  For Louis, the success or failure of the product depended on its unveiling.  He invited local and international press to the unveiling.  As an extra step to endear his product to newspapermen, Louis used cloth with a newspaper type pattern.  To Louis’s relief, newspapers around the world published articles with pictures of Micheline wearing Louis’s creation.  Louis’s creation was an instant hit, as was Micheline.  She received more than 50,000 fan letters after the event.  14 days after the unveiling, Louis applied for and received a patent for his design.  For the next 40 years, Louis operated a shop in Paris as a home base from where he sold his design all over the world.    

Louis named his creation after the atoll where the United States tested nuclear bombs.  That name has become part of our popular culture.  You and I know Louis’s creation, which consisted of no more than 30 square inches of material, as the Bikini.   

Source:  Adwar, Corey, “The Scandalous Story behind the Debut of the Bikini.” Business Insider. Accessed July 9, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-scandalous-story-of-the-bikinis-debut-2014-7.

Mary Frances deBargas Lowrey
July 10, 1944 – July 8, 2023
Services: Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 11 am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Natchitoches.

Jack O. “Britt” Brittain, Jr.
June 20, 1956 – July 11, 2023
Visitation: Thursday, July 13, 2023, 9 am at the Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home, Natchitoches.
Service: Thursday, July 13, 2023, 11:30 am at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church, Natchitoches.

Mark Rodgers
September 5, 1938 – July 5, 2023
Service: Friday, July 14 at 1 pm in the Winnfield Funeral Home Chapel

Percy Moore
January 16, 1951 – July 10, 2023
Arrangements TBA

Barbara LaCour Rachal
November 16, 1944 — July 6, 2023
Service: Thursday, July 13 at 11 am at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Isle Brevelle

Longtime Northwestern State director of athletics Greg Burke has been named Director of Business Development and Public Relations for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.

Burke, who drew national acclaim for his work as NSU’s AD from 1996-2022, started his new role this week, said LSHOF Foundation CEO/President Ronnie Rantz.

Burke’s initial focus will center on assisting with partnership opportunities, including attendance at events, for the approaching Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction weekend July 27-29.

Future priorities will include establishing a membership structure for annual support, developing annual and long-term sponsorship and partnership opportunities and embarking on long-term funding sources which will maintain and enhance the future profile of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.

“It is both inspiring and a privilege to have a role in continuing to develop the brand and legacy of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in its ‘hometown’ of Natchitoches and on a statewide level,” said Burke. “I look forward to working with Ronnie Rantz, Doug Ireland, the Foundation board and others to further develop the vision and mission of the Hall of Fame and to position it for sustained success and growth.”

Except for four years at the University of Akron as a development officer in his home state, Burke has lived in Natchitoches since 1986, and traveled throughout Louisiana extensively in his roles as assistant AD and then AD at Northwestern State, and since retiring from the university.

He has done fundraising and development work along with marketing, public relations and extensive administrative duties, raising millions of dollars for NSU Athletics and contributing to a long list of milestones for the Demons. He has also been active in community and regional affairs as a board member and officer of multiple service and civic organizations, and is a board member of the Friends of Louisiana Sports and History (FLASH) local museum support group.

“The opportunity to bring Greg onto our Foundation team is a big step forward for us,” said Rantz. “He knows Louisiana, is well known around Louisiana, and loves Louisiana sports. He is widely admired around the state and country for who he is and for his career in intercollegiate athletics, and he has a passion for Natchitoches and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame that makes him an ideal addition for us.”

Burke worked in the private sector during the past year, traveling extensively to meet with stakeholders and potential partners.

“Greg is the consummate professional, and a people-person who will develop relationships around Louisiana and will strengthen existing bonds,” said Ireland, the Hall of Fame chairman and Foundation executive director since 1990. “His personality and skill set would be assets to any organization and they are tailor-made for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.”

Burke can be reached via e-mail at gregburke@lasportshall.com or through the LSHOF Foundation office in Natchitoches at 318-238-4255.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame includes 25 Pro Football Hall of Fame members, 18 Olympic medalists including 11 gold medal winners, 12 members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, seven of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, seven National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 42 College Football Hall of Fame members, nine National High School Hall of Fame enshrinees, jockeys with a combined 16 Triple Crown victories, six world boxing champions, nine Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinees, seven College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 10 College Basketball Hall of Fame members, four NBA Finals MVPs, four winners of major professional golf championships, five National Museum of (Thoroughbred) Racing and Hall of Fame inductees and two Super Bowl MVPs.

The 2023 Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, July 27, with a press conference and reception. The three-day festivities include two receptions, a free youth sports clinic, a bowling party, and a Friday night riverbank concert in Natchitoches. Tickets for the Induction Ceremony, bowling party and two VIP events, along with sponsorship opportunities, are available now through the LaSportsHall.com website.

The 2023 Induction Celebration will be hosted by the LSHOF Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.

Mitchell Baptist Church received its award from Samaritan’s Purse for participating in Operation Christmas Child for five years. The church began as a Drop Off Center in 2018 with Bro Bobby Russell as the pastor and Tonia Cates as the Drop Off Coordinator. In the first year, they collected 654 Shoeboxes to send to third-world countries around the world to share the Gospel.

In 2020, Glenna Carter became the Drop Off Leader. Shoeboxes are collected from Converse, Pleasant Hill, and Zwolle and are filled with school supplies, toiletries (no liquids), toys, stuffed animals, shoes, clothes, and a Wow item.

In 2023, Lisa Dyess became the Drop Off Leader and is seeking churches, schools, communities, and individuals to participate in this ministry to follow God’s Great Commission.

Once the child is invited to the distribution of shoeboxes by Samaritan’s Purse they are presented the gospel and then given the gospel in a book called “The Greatest Gift.” This book has been translated in 90 different languages. The child is then given this tangible gift of God’s love for him through a shoebox filled with His Love. The child then can enroll in a 12-lesson class about God’s love for him. Upon completing the class, a graduation is held and each child is given a Bible in their very own language.

In 2022, Mitchell collected a record number of Shoeboxes 889 in the THIRD WEEK of November. Mitchell is one of the six churches on the West Central La Team that serves as a Drop Off Center. Other churches include Calvary Baptist in Many, First Baptist Robeline, First Baptist Natchitoches, Martin Baptist in Martin, and First Baptist in Winnfield.

To become involved in this ministry contact Lisa Dyess at 318-796-2400.

The Louisiana Gumbo Cook-Off is returning to the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival on Saturday July 22, in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum located at 220 South Jefferson Street on the Northwestern State University campus in Natchitoches. In honor of this year’s festival theme, Celebrating Louisiana’s Cultural Gumbo, the festival will see the long-awaited return of the Gumbo Cookoff, in which professionals and hobbyists alike can compete in any of three categories and demonstrate their cooking skills. Registration and the Cooks’ Meeting will take place at 8 a.m. Tasting and judging will begin at 12:30 p.m. with winners be announced at 2:30 p.m. There is no fee to compete in the Cookoff. Gumbo must be cooked on-site outside of Prather Coliseum.

The Gumbo Cook-Off is the Louisiana Folklife Center’s way of celebrating the state’s unique and storied foodways, as well as the rich culture behind the cooking of gumbo. The ways of preparing gumbo and the ingredients used are as varied as the people who cook it, so there is no better way to embody this year’s festival theme of Celebrating Louisiana’s Cultural Gumbo.

Competitors will be given a 10’ x 20’ space outside of Prather Coliseum to set up either propane burners or cookfires to prepare their gumbo. Running water will be available on the premises, but all other supplies must be brought by the head cook. All gumbo must be cooked on-site, with no commercial or pre-made roux allowed. Poultry, meat, seafood, rice and broth or stock may be prepared in advance or on-site, and canned broth is allowed. Gumbo must be heated to a boil on-site, and gumbo must be prepared in as sanitary a manner as possible. Chefs must prepare at least two gallons of gumbo for the competition. For the complete list of rules, please visit our website at nsula.edu/folklife/.

“A Buck A Cup” gumbo sales to the public for the People’s Choice category will begin at 1 p.m. Festival attendees will be invited to purchase gumbo and vote on which gumbo they most enjoyed. Chefs participating in “A Buck A Cup” must provide their own bowls, spoons and napkins.

The Gumbo Cook-Off is being held at the Natchitoches-NSU Louisiana Folklife Festival. In addition to the cook-off, this year’s festival will include the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, three stages with live music, and many crafts and food vendors. The festival’s curated showcase of Louisiana folk musicians, food vendors and traditional crafts persons will open at 9 a.m., with live entertainment scheduled for 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The family-oriented festival is fully wheelchair accessible. Tickets are $10 at the door for all events, or $6 for an evening pass to all events after 5 p.m. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana.

Samuel James Friedman
January 4, 1937 — July 2, 2023
Service: Friday, July 7 at 11:30 am at the Natchitoches Events Center

Billy Ray Pesnell
March 20, 1934 — July 2, 2023
Service: Saturday, July 8 at 11 am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, located at 1815 Marshall Street in Shreveport

Pera Sophie Knopp Oehler
October 4, 1927 — July 5, 2023
Service: Saturday, July 8 at 9 am at Central Cemetery in Robeline

Retha Mae Ballard Justis
March 23, 1928 — July 4, 2023

Service: Sunday, July 9 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Elories “Honey” Helaire Johnson
July 4, 2023
Arrangements TBA

Alma Corine “Corey” Morris Creighton
February 16, 1951 — July 1, 2023
Service: Friday, July 7 at 10:30 am at the Family Worship Center, located at 330 Sandy Point Rd in Campti

Anita McGee
Service: Saturday, July 8 at 2 pm at Calvary Baptist Church in Natchitoches

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History threw a party to celebrate ten years of chronicling our area’s history and our state’s sports heritage, Saturday, July 1. The museum’s award-winning architecture draws visitors from all over the world to our city. The LSHoF was named the number 1 new architectural project in the world when it was built in 2013, the only project to be named from North America.

About 150 visitors came by the museum’s birthday celebration to enjoy traditional Fourth of July fare and experience the new exhibits throughout the 27,500 square foot facility. In addition to displays showcasing our state’s rich athletic heritage, there are items chronicling the history of the local area surrounding Natchitoches. There is also a gallery entitled “Southern Soul” highlighting Louisiana’s folk artists.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History is a superb addition to our area’s diverse tourism attractions. The museum offers quality family fun for a very modest admission fee.

Preparation is the key to doing well on any tournament trail. But in the tournament bass fishing world, it can also test an angler’s patience.

Anglers spend hours and days pre-fishing for schools of quality fish that will help put them either in the winner’s circle or at least in line to get a check. There’s a saying with bass fishermen that “time on the water” is critical to being competitive. 

Let’s look at another famous quote with bass fishermen: ”What a difference a day makes!”  There’s no telling how many times anglers have found quality fish during practice, only to be left wondering on tournament day, “Where did they go?”

My last tournament on Sam Rayburn was a prime example. The fishing overall was tough and summer temperatures were hitting the mid 90’s. Not only was it hot, but there was little to no wind which makes fishing difficult on any body of water. When you tell people it was a beautiful day, in bass fishing terms that means the fishing was probably not very good. Pretty bluebird days do not usually equate to great fishing days. 

This tournament, my electronics played a big role in me locating a school of bass offshore in 15 to 18 feet of water. It had a high spot of about 10 foot that was holding a solid school of bass. During my final practice day after coming across this little honey hole, I made two casts onto this spot with a big redbug colored V&M Straight Wild worm when the rod loaded up with a solid 3.5-pound bass. This was what I was looking for!

Any time you can catch fish over 3 pounds on a spot, that’s a good thing. My next cast resulted in a 4-pounder and now I was excited. Realizing that quality fish were present, I pulled up the trolling motor and left the scene, counting on this spot for tournament day. 

But guess what? I ran into the same thing that happens so many times when you find a good group of fish on one spot in practice — overnight they get smaller! For some reason my 3- and 4-pound fish I found the day before turned into 1.79, 1.74. 1.72. 1.59 and 1.76. Five fish that were just under 9 pounds total. Every fish I caught looked like it had come out of the same mold!

One thing you must understand about bass, they tend to group up the same size as others in the school. Again, this is not unusual in that it often happens that bigger bass will leave a spot only to be replaced by smaller ones. It’s as if a memo was sent out the night before my tournament alerting all the good fish to move off this hump. 

After catching and culling three times with a worm, I decided to show them something different as I picked up a Strike King 3XD crankbait. Immediately I started catching fish and hoped they would be bigger fish. But no, they continued to be in the 1.75-pound range which was not helping me at all. My co-angler, who was fishing out of the back of the boat, was also catching fish, but of the same size I was. We both tried different techniques, but the results were still the same — small fish!

I finished 18^th overall in this event but should have finished much higher IF my fish had not gotten smaller or if the good fish hadn’t read that stupid memo.

That’s what makes tournament fishing so frustrating. You spend hours and days trying to find quality bass and for whatever reason, they just disappear. Sometimes all the preparation in the world doesn’t help if the fish don’t cooperate.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and please wear good sun-protective clothing and your sunscreen. If you think you’re immune to getting Melanoma — think again!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

By Brad Dison

Milton Teagle was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  Milton was an overweight child.  As a toddler, people stared just a little too long at Milton, but he paid them no attention.  When he started school, he was subjected to cruel, merciless teasing by some of his classmates.  Milton acted as if their teasing had no effect on him, but inside, Milton was crumbling.  The only comfort he found was from eating the wonderful foods of his hometown.  It was a vicious, seemingly unending cycle in which the teasing led to eating and the eating led to more teasing.

To help his struggling family— his father worked in a thrift store and his mother sold cosmetics— eight-year-old Milton began selling sweet treats at Leah’s Pralines, a candy shop located in the heart of the French Quarter and just four blocks from his home.  Working in a candy shop did not help with his weight problem. 

The relentless teasing continued throughout Milton’s high school years.  By the time he graduated from high school, he stood 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed nearly 270 pounds.      

Friends from his youth remembered him as being likable and hilarious.  He was always teasing and joking around.  Antoiniette Di Piazza, a childhood friend of Milton’s, said “You could always tell sometimes at school when he was younger, he would try to hold back tears.  I felt for him.  The boys would just pick on him because of his weight,” but he was “one of the nicest, sweetest, most humane people.  I just can’t begin to tell you how big his heart was.”  Milton once told a reporter, “You know how they teach you early on that ‘Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you?’ Well, that’s a lie.”

After his high school graduation, Milton attended the Dominican Seminary in Iowa where he planned to become a priest.  Two years into the program, Milton decided that he was not suited for the priesthood. Milton was searching for direction in his life, and that direction appeared in a simple handwritten note.  One day, Milton was walking to his car when he noticed a handwritten note under the windshield wipers.  Written on the note was, “Fat people die young.  Please don’t die. Anonymous.”  Milton tried to brush off the note, but the words kept replaying in his mind. 

Milton did not want to die.  He realized that being overweight was hazardous to his health and he wanted to do something about it.  For over two months, Milton lived off a diet of just lettuce and water.  His weight began to plummet from nearly 270 to about 110 pounds.  Because of his crash diet, Milton suffered from bulimia and anorexia.  He began to lose his hair and, by losing more than half of his body weight, his skin hung from his body.  Milton realized he needed help and checked himself into a hospital. 

During his recovery, Milton got a crash course in nutrition and health from his doctors and nurses.  Milton wanted to know more.  He began to read everything he could find on the subject.  At first, he sought out the information for his own wellbeing.  As his health improved, he decided to find a way to help others who were like him to find a healthier way to live.  Milton considered a career in medicine so he could learn more about the human body, but he changed his mind because he hated the idea of “dead bodies and blood.” 

Milton worked at a number of jobs and considered different career paths, but sharing his experience and knowledge of health and nutrition were always on his mind.  He developed a philosophy of “love yourself, move your body, and watch your portions.”  In the 1970s, Milton moved to Los Angles and began working as a maître d’hôtel for an upscale Beverly Hills restaurant called Derek’s.  Milton wanted to join a fitness center to improve his health even more, but he felt uncomfortable because all of the fitness centers seemed to be geared towards customers who were already physically fit. 

With minimal experience in the restaurant field and the knowledge he gained about health and nutrition, Milton opened a salad bar and adjoining fitness center called “Ruffage.”  His clients included some Hollywood stars, but unlike the other fitness centers, Milton made an effort to make clients of all sizes feel welcome.  He began a program called the “Anatomy Asylum” which provided training on healthy eating, portion control, and fun exercises in a supportive environment.  Because of his supportive nature, his wonderful personality, and his fitness classes, Milton guest starred on the daytime soap opera General Hospital.  From there, Milton was often a guest star on numerous talk shows hosted by Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Phil Donahue, David Letterman, and Howard Stern.  In 1980, Milton got his own television show which featured exercise routines, discussions about health topics, and comedy.  At its peak, the show was broadcast in over 200 countries. 

It all started with a handwritten note which said, “Fat people die.  Please don’t die.”  As a child, Milton went by the nickname Dickie.  In his twenties, Milton adopted his uncle’s name, Richard.  If you have never participated in one of his many programs, you certainly know the phrase “Sweating to the Oldies.”  You also know Milton Teagle “Richard” Simmons. 

Sources:

1.     “How Richard Simmons’ Childhood Shaped Him.” People Magazine, 2017,people.com/health/richard-simmons-childhood-fitness-guru-new-orleans/.

2.     “Get Your Aerobic Outfit On and Enjoy the Life Story of Richard Simmons,” by Jack Lorre, Fansided, 2022.  https://en.onechicagocenter.com/view/?id=richard-simmons-life-occ&src=.

May my life be like a great hospitable tree, and may weary wanderers find in me a rest.”
~ John Henry Jowett

Samuel James “Sam” Friedman was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on January 4, 1937, and died peacefully in his sleep in Glenville, North Carolina on July 2, 2023, at a remarkably youthful 86.

He was preceded in death by his son, Kerry Friedman; his great-granddaughter, Annaley Ratliff; and his parents, Elizabeth H. and Sylvan N. Friedman.

He is survived by his wife, Edwina Bagwell Friedman; his children, Elizabeth Edwards (and husband Stephen) and Greg Friedman (and wife Hanna); his grandchildren, Erin Ratliff, James Lee Friedman, Ian Edwards, and Ava Edwards; and his great-granddaughter, Audrey Ratliff.

Sam showed an early interest in agriculture and animal husbandry and in high school proudly served as National FFA President. Upon his graduation from Natchitoches High in 1954, he attended LSU where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He continued his studies at Louisiana State University Law School (now Paul M. Hebert Law Center) and obtained his Juris Doctor in 1961. After graduation, he served for two years in the army and was discharged with the rank of Captain. He returned to Natchitoches and entered into private law practice.

In 1973, he left his law partnership to form Safari Management, a hotel development and management company. This firm started with the acquisition of the Holiday Inn-Brownwood, TX. Next, he and his partners built the Holiday Inn-Natchitoches, and they soon owned and/or operated more than 20 Holiday Inns, a Hilton, and 3 Residence Inns. He was elected to the Board of Directors and served as President of the International Association of Holiday Inns, Inc., the franchise organization of Holiday Inn owners.

In 1977, he became the principal shareholder and president of Traber Agency, a general insurance agency corporation in Natchitoches. He sold the agency to the Bank of Montgomery in 2016.

In 1979, Sam acquired property in Clay County, TX, and organized Lone Star Hereford Ranch, one of the premier Hereford cattle operations in the United States. He operated it until he sold it in 1990.

In 1989, he was honored to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

Sam valued his ties to LSU and was a zealous Tiger fan all his life. He continued to support his alma mater after graduation by being actively involved in the Alumni Association and heading the fund drive for many years in Natchitoches Parish. He was a member of the Louisiana State University Foundation, and in 1984 he was appointed to a six-year term on the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors, serving as Chairman for the 1986/87 school year. In 2000, he worked extensively with the LSU Alumni Association to develop Lod Cook Hotel on campus that still operates successfully today.

In the ‘80s, Sam realized that the hotel industry was changing, and he decided to stay ahead of the curve. In 1988, he divested himself of his roadside Holiday Inns and formed a new company, Dimension Development, with the mission of developing primarily extended-stay, suite hotels. He first focused on Homewood Suites, an emerging conceptual hotel still in development, and he participated in establishing the design and operating standards for the brand. He subsequently served as a founding member and Chairman of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Franchise Advisory Council for 17 years until he retired as Chair Emeritus.

Through the years, the company also acquired full-service and luxury hotels. Today Dimension operates 80 hotels in 15 states. The thriving company recently held a leadership conference in New Orleans that coincided with Sam’s 50th anniversary in the hotel business. Sam was feted with an evening of tributes that began with a second line and culminated at a dinner at Galatoire’s with family, friends, and past and present business associates toasting Sam’s accomplishments and contributions to the hospitality industry and his vision in shaping the all-suite hotel market.

Sam viewed his time on earth as a great adventure and life a wilderness to be explored. He loved mountains and lakes, salt water and deep-sea fishing, fine wine, and sparkling conversation, and he was a connoisseur of anything culinary-related. He was in his element when he was entertaining, and he excelled at it. He was the consummate host, bon vivant, and good friend. With his charisma and an unparalleled gift of storytelling, he worked a room, much to the delight of everyone in it. It has been said that if you choose your passion as your job, you will never work a day in your life. When Sam found the hotel business, he discovered his passion and spent his personal and professional life doing what came naturally to him, offering hospitality and respite to family, friends, and strangers.

Funeral services are under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the Natchitoches Events Center Thursday, July 6, from 5:00 until 8:00. The funeral will take place at the Events Center Friday, July 7, at 11:30, with Rabbi Judy Ginsburgh officiating. Burial will be at Memory Lawn Cemetery. A reception at the Events Center will follow the service.

Pallbearers will be Mike Berman, Calvin Braxton, Mike Cahn, Kevin Dunn, Paul Harden, and Bobby Mancil.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ed DeSousa, Jeff Fisher, Fred Flippin, Ed Horton, Jack Guenther, Allan Rose, and Lovan Thomas.

Sam’s kindness, generosity, and hospitable nature were not limited to people. He was also an animal lover and advocate and, through the years, made room in his home and his life for countless dogs, cats, birds, and various species of wildlife. Recently, Edwina and Sam saw a need for a shelter and pet adoption center to serve Natchitoches Parish and donated land to the animal rescue group, Friends All United for Natchitoches Animals (FAUNA), to expedite the project. He was excited about it and immersed in fundraising ideas to build the facility. Those who wish to honor Sam’s memory may do so by donating to FAUNA Shelter Construction Fund, P.O. Box 2552, Natchitoches, LA 71457, or to a cause of their choice.