Sunday, December 6, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Preston Callison retires -- at age 86!
Preston Callison is a World War II veteran, a former member of the South Carolina General Assembly, a life-long Democrat, and a pioneering attorney in hospital-oriented legal practice in South Carolina.But most important to me is that he has been my good friend. I was happy to see that Gov. Mark Sanford and others who know about his role in South Carolina's public life, chose to honor him with the Order of the Palmetto. He deserves it, and his inclusion in the roll of Palmetto honorees surely honors them all.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
REST IN PEACE, SAM CLAY
I just found out my dad's World War II crewmate, Sam Clay, died last year. Sam was the flight engineer on a crew of nine on a B-17 Flying Fortress based in Southeast England. They flew 35 missions in 1944. I met him at his home a few years ago in Hammond, Louisiana. It makes me very sad to know he's gone.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 9:32 AM CDT
Published in the Daily Star, Hammond, La.
Death Notices: Sam Austin Clay Jr., 88, Hammond, died Aug. 3; funeral, 10:30 a.m. today, First United Methodist Church, Hammond; interment, Greenlawn Mausoleum, Hammond; Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Hammond.
Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home
Sam A Clay Jr. April 16, 1920 - August 3, 2008
Obituary: Sam Austin Clay, Jr., 88 years old of Hammond, LA, died Sunday, August 3, 2008 at the Richard Murphy Hospice House in Hammond, LA.
He was born on Friday, April 16, 1920 in Clarksville, TX. He had been a resident of Hammond since 1965 where he worked as a finance manager for Community State Bank. Prior to living in Hammond he and his family lived in Bogalusa, LA where he was a finance manager at CIT Corporation. He was married to the late Martha LeDuke Clay for 49 years. Sam was a longtime member of the Oak Knoll Country Club and he enjoyed playing golf for many years. Mr. Clay was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hammond and a volunteer with the Mary Bird Cancer Center and Hospice.
Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Sherry Clay and Doug Sommers of Ponchatoula, LA; granddaughter, Betsy Compton Corbett of Alpharetta, GA; grandson, Christopher Ducombs of Hammond, LA; 2 brothers, Ted Clay and Guy Clay; 3 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Martha LeDuke Clay; parents Sam and Bula Parsons Clay and 3 siblings Blanch, Jamie and Dot.
Friends will be received Tuesday, August 5, 2008, at the Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Hammond, LA from 6:00pm until 8:00pm and Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church of Hammond from 9:00am until service time. Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Hammond, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 10:30am with Rev. Joe Donakey and Rev. John Johns officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenlawn Mausoleum, Hammond, Louisiana. An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.harrymckneely.com
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 9:32 AM CDT
Published in the Daily Star, Hammond, La.
Death Notices: Sam Austin Clay Jr., 88, Hammond, died Aug. 3; funeral, 10:30 a.m. today, First United Methodist Church, Hammond; interment, Greenlawn Mausoleum, Hammond; Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Hammond.
Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home
Sam A Clay Jr. April 16, 1920 - August 3, 2008
Obituary: Sam Austin Clay, Jr., 88 years old of Hammond, LA, died Sunday, August 3, 2008 at the Richard Murphy Hospice House in Hammond, LA.
He was born on Friday, April 16, 1920 in Clarksville, TX. He had been a resident of Hammond since 1965 where he worked as a finance manager for Community State Bank. Prior to living in Hammond he and his family lived in Bogalusa, LA where he was a finance manager at CIT Corporation. He was married to the late Martha LeDuke Clay for 49 years. Sam was a longtime member of the Oak Knoll Country Club and he enjoyed playing golf for many years. Mr. Clay was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hammond and a volunteer with the Mary Bird Cancer Center and Hospice.
Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Sherry Clay and Doug Sommers of Ponchatoula, LA; granddaughter, Betsy Compton Corbett of Alpharetta, GA; grandson, Christopher Ducombs of Hammond, LA; 2 brothers, Ted Clay and Guy Clay; 3 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Martha LeDuke Clay; parents Sam and Bula Parsons Clay and 3 siblings Blanch, Jamie and Dot.
Friends will be received Tuesday, August 5, 2008, at the Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Hammond, LA from 6:00pm until 8:00pm and Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church of Hammond from 9:00am until service time. Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Hammond, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 10:30am with Rev. Joe Donakey and Rev. John Johns officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenlawn Mausoleum, Hammond, Louisiana. An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.harrymckneely.com
Friday, September 4, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Visiting Naval Air Station, Pensacola, 43 years later
I first laid eyes on NAS Pensacola in the late summer of 1966. The United States was fully engaged in a war in Vietnam, and the possibility of having to serve there was real for all of us who were new in the American military. I was assigned to Pensacola after Navy Boot Camp, to attend the best photography school in the country, the basic photography program at NAS Pensacola.
Today, the base has seen its aspiring Navy pilots sent to other bases, and its photography school combined with photography programs of other services in Maryland. The 1939 building that housed the photography school is being renovated to become the base headquarters. The Navy and Air Force jointly train electronic warfare officers here. It is a thriving part of America's defense.
Oh, and the Blue Angels are based here.Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Chuck Leavell, tree farmer and piano artist extraordinaire
I had a really cool interview with Chuck Leavell today. He's a Georgia tree farmer. He plays piano for Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones. He's a big advocate for family tree farmers and sustainable practices. He's behind the launch of a new website called the Mother Nature Network. http://www.mnn.com/Leavell has been visiting senators in Washington to persuade them to treat family tree farmers favorably in the new cap-and-trade legislation that would give farmers tax credits for carbon sequestration. He wants to ensure that the benefits of the new law extend to more than just the big corporate tree growers.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Governor loses loyal staffer amid scandal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sawyer to Depart Governor’s Office
Columbia, S.C. – July 17, 2009 – Governor Mark Sanford and his Communications Director Joel Sawyer today announced that Sawyer will be departing the Governor's Office to pursue other opportunities in the private sector, effective Wednesday, August 5.
"It's truly been an honor to serve both Mark and the people of South Carolina for the past six and a half years," Sawyer said. "This has been one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make, because I have and will continue to be such an ardent supporter of what this Administration is working to accomplish. I firmly believe that despite recent events, great things to move our state forward can be done during the remaining 18 months of this Administration."
"The public nature of my job might lead some to speculate about my reasons for leaving, but I want to be crystal clear that my departure is purely about what's best for me and my family on a personal and financial level. I wish Mark and the rest of my talented and dedicated colleagues the best."
Gov. Sanford issued the following statement:
"Joel has been a wonderfully devoted and skillful member of our team. The people of our state have benefited greatly from his service, as has this administration , and I sincerely thank him. We will miss him, but I join the rest of the staff in wishing Joel and his young family all the best in their future endeavors," Sanford said.
Gov. Sanford's Cabinet Director, Ben Fox, will take over as Communications Director upon Sawyer's departure.
Sawyer to Depart Governor’s Office
Columbia, S.C. – July 17, 2009 – Governor Mark Sanford and his Communications Director Joel Sawyer today announced that Sawyer will be departing the Governor's Office to pursue other opportunities in the private sector, effective Wednesday, August 5.
"It's truly been an honor to serve both Mark and the people of South Carolina for the past six and a half years," Sawyer said. "This has been one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make, because I have and will continue to be such an ardent supporter of what this Administration is working to accomplish. I firmly believe that despite recent events, great things to move our state forward can be done during the remaining 18 months of this Administration."
"The public nature of my job might lead some to speculate about my reasons for leaving, but I want to be crystal clear that my departure is purely about what's best for me and my family on a personal and financial level. I wish Mark and the rest of my talented and dedicated colleagues the best."
Gov. Sanford issued the following statement:
"Joel has been a wonderfully devoted and skillful member of our team. The people of our state have benefited greatly from his service, as has this administration , and I sincerely thank him. We will miss him, but I join the rest of the staff in wishing Joel and his young family all the best in their future endeavors," Sanford said.
Gov. Sanford's Cabinet Director, Ben Fox, will take over as Communications Director upon Sawyer's departure.
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