Welcome

Welcome to my blog http://www.skegley.blogspot.com/ . CAVEAT LECTOR- Let the reader beware. This is a Christian Conservative blog. It is not meant to offend anyone. Please feel free to ignore this blog, but also feel free to browse and comment on my posts! You may also scroll down to respond to any post.

For Christian American readers of this blog:


I wish to incite all Christians to rise up and take back the United States of America with all of God's manifold blessings. We want the free allowance of the Bible and prayers allowed again in schools, halls of justice, and all governing bodies. We don't seek a theocracy until Jesus returns to earth because all men are weak and power corrupts the very best of them.
We want to be a kinder and gentler people without slavery or condescension to any.

The world seems to be in a time of discontent among the populace. Christians should not fear. God is Love, shown best through Jesus Christ. God is still in control. All Glory to our Creator and to our God!


A favorite quote from my good friend, Jack Plymale, which I appreciate:

"Wars are planned by old men,in council rooms apart. They plan for greater armament, they map the battle chart, but: where sightless eyes stare out, beyond life's vanished joys, I've noticed,somehow, all the dead and mamed are hardly more than boys(Grantland Rice per our mutual friend, Sarah Rapp)."

Thanks Jack!

I must admit that I do not check authenticity of my posts. If anyone can tell me of a non-biased arbitrator, I will attempt to do so more regularly. I know of no such arbitrator for the internet.











Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Sack Lunch- John Massey


----- Original Message -----
From: John Massey
To: Clarence Maxwell ; Sam Kegley ; Rita Anderson ; Max & Jane Correll ; George/Mary Hubbard ; Tom/Pat Blubaugh
Sent: 2008-12-31 15:23
Subject: Fw: Fw: Sack Lunches]




John & Yvette Massey
1988 Marblecliff Crossing Court, Columbus, Ohio 43204-4966.
Telephone: 614-486-7102; E-mail: .

--- On Wed, 12/24/08, Louise Bourassa wrote:











---

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan .ʼ

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.

'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base '

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'

She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.

A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to ' Canada for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your email buddy list....


I JUST DID!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

More interesting notes from friends

Hi Sam,

Sorry I missed you all for breakfast recently. I did enjoy the photos. Maybe
I cam join you the next time.



I can relate to Ginny's story below. My dad (Tom Arthurs) worked at the rod
and wire mill where he wanted to get me on. He was upset with my refusal
because I had insight from my buddies who did work there. I told him that
the place was not going to make it from all the stories I heard. He told me
I didn't know what I was talking about. There now sits a Kmart on the very
site where the rod and wire mill sat. I rest my case.



Here is an interesting parable I received that tells of one perspective.



Enjoy,



Jack

A Modern Parable


A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford Motors) decided to
have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard
to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.

The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the
reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior
management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering,
while the American team had 7 people steering and 2 people rowing.

Feeling a deeper study was in order; American management hired a consulting
company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.

They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while
not enough people were rowing.

Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another
loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally
reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 2 area steering superintendents and 1
assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 2 people
rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing
Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens for the
rowers. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other
equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The pension
program was trimmed to 'equal the competition' and some of the resultant
savings were c channeled into morale-boosting programs and teamwork posters.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off one rower, halted development
of a new canoe, sold all the paddles, and canceled all capital investments
for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives
as bonuses.

The next year, try as he might, the lone designated rower was unable to even
finish the race (having no paddles,) so he was laid off for unacceptable
performance, all canoe equipment was sold and the next year's racing team
was out-sourced to India.

Sadly, the End.

Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty years
moving all its factories out of the US, claiming they can't make money
paying American wages.

TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plants
inside the US. The last quarter's results:

TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in losses.

Ford folks are still scratching their heads, collecting bonuses... and
asking for a "bail-out"...

IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY





_____

From: Sam Kegley [mailto:skegley@columbus.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 3:23 PM
To: VMarsh1979@aol.com
Subject: Re: Fw: Bailout-Excellent reading



Thanks Ginny!



I am not anti-union, but we all know that the pendulum swings back and forth
from its apex to its low point, over and back again. Upton Sinclair's "The
Jungle" about the Chicago Stockyards near the beginning of the twentieth
century, whereby the cattle or hogs went in one door and no waste products
came out the other, led to meat inspection and produced much of the union
efforts in Chicago. Owner-managers were taking advantage of the mostly
European immigrant workers and their customers all over the country.



Our adversarial management-labor arrangements came about due to mistrust by
each side. Deming showed the gullible Japanese, with an industrious
workforcs, how to manufacture keeping parts and products within control
without waste. How clever he and his ilk were, but our managers were too
busy maximizing their profits with increased production, shipping good along
with bad.



I am proud that the rearing of my friends in the Looney family was by
excellent working people who instilled the ethics to be worth your labor.
Forest and Mary Kegley did likewise. Aren't we imperfect, but perfectly
blessed?



Sam

----- Original Message -----

From: VMarsh1979@aol.com

To: skegley@columbus.rr.com

Sent: 2008-12-30 13:45

Subject: Re: Fw: Bailout-Excellent reading



Sam, way back in the 60's before Bill and I split, I worked at the Rod and
Wire Plant in New Boston. As a member of the union, which was forced, not
my choice. I later took a job as a secretary not in the union. I saw a lot
of manipulating with the union office people who would hide their work so
that they could work overtime, especially on holidays where it would be
double time and a half. I saw people and I was one of them who was bumped
off their jobs by someone with longer employment but who could not do the
job. On one job I had, the janitor was running the mimeograph machine
making copies because the woman who bumped me from my job didn't know how to
do it. I had no respect for the union. I think the union had a lot to do
with the steel industry shutting down years later. Poor quality work.



Ginny

Reply to Big Three Bailout- Jack Plymale

Columbus' John McConnell had a saying he adhered to in managing Worthington Steel, consistently rated one of America's ten best managed companies. "Do the Right Thing". That sounds so much like the "Golden Rule" of the Bible. It is vital to having Capitalism work effectively like we know it can. John paid well, but expected a 'day's work for a day's wages'.

Sam

----- Original Message -----
From: Jack H Plymale
To: Jim Fout ; Sarah Rapp ; Sam Kegley
Sent: 2008-12-29 19:32
Subject: Bailout-Excellent reading


HERE'S AN OLD OHIO BOY WITH A PRETTY FAIR HANDLE ON OUR PROBLEMS AND, AT LEAST, A POSSIBLE SOLUTION.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Keith & Pat Brooker

Subject: Bailout-Excellent reading
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:17:18 +0000







<>














Subject: GM supplier answers GM President Troy Clarke's "plea" / Great
response




This is one of the greatest responses to the requests for bailout money
I have seen thus far. As a supplier for the Big 3 this man received a
letter from the President of GM North America requesting support for the
bail out program. His response is classic, and has to make you proud of
a local guy who tells it like it is.



Dear Employees & Suppliers,
Congress and the current Administration will soon determine whether to
provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it
through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation's
history. Your elected officials must hear from all of us now on why
this support is critical to our continuing the progress we began prior
to the global financial crisis......................As an employee or
supplier, you have a lot at stake and continue to be one of our most
effective and passionate voices. I know GM can count on you to have your
voice heard. Thank you for your urgent action and ongoing support.
Troy Clarke President General Motors North America



Response from:
Gregory Knox, Pres.
Knox Machinery Company
Franklin, Ohio

Gentlemen:

In response to your request to contact legislators and ask for a
bailout for the Big Three automakers please consider the following, and
please pass my thoughts on to Troy Clark, President of General Motors
North America.

Politicians and Management of the Big 3 are both infected with the same
entitlement mentality that has spread like cancerous germs in UAW halls
for the last countless decades, and whose plague is now sweeping this
nation, awaiting our new "messiah", Pres-elect Obama, to wave his magic
wand and make all our problems go away, while at the same time allowing
our once great nation to keep "living the dream"... Believe me folks,
The dream is over!

This dream where we can ignore the consumer for years while management
myopically focuses on its personal rewards packages at the same time
that our factories have been filled with the worlds most overpaid,
arrogant, ignorant and laziest entitlement minde d "laborers" without
paying the price for these atrocities...this dream where you still think
the masses will line up to buy our products for ever and ever.

Don't even think about telling me I'm wrong. Don't accuse me of not
knowing of what I speak. I have called on Ford, GM, Chrysler, TRW,
Delphi, Kelsey Hayes, American Axle and countless other automotive OEM's
throughout the Midwest during the past 30 years and what I've seen over
those years in these union shops can only be described as disgusting.

Troy Clarke, President of General Motors North America, states: "There
is widespread sentiment throughout this country, and our government, and
especially via the news media, that the current crisis is completely the
result of bad management which it certainly is not."

You're right Mr. Clarke, it's not JUST management...how about the
electricians who walk around the plants like lords in feudal times,
making people wait on them for countless hours while they drag ass...so
they can come in on the weekend and make double and triple time...for a
job they easily could have done within their normal 40 hour work week.
How about the line workers who threaten newbies with all kinds of scare
tactics...for putting out too many parts on a shift...and for being too
productive

(We certainly must not expose those lazy bums who have been getting
overpaid for decades for their horrific underproduction, must we?!?)

Do you folks really not know about this stuff?!? How about this great
sentiment abridged from Mr. Clarke's sad plea: "over the last few years
...we have closed the quality and efficiency gaps with our competitors."
What the hell has Detroit been doing for the last 40 years?!? Did we
really JUST wake up to the gaps in quality and efficiency between us and
them? The K car vs. the Accord? The Pinto vs. the Civic? !? Do I
need to go on? What a joke!

We are living through the inevitable outcome of the actions of the
United States auto industry for decades. It's time to pay for your
sins, Detroit.

I attended an economic summit last week where brilliant economist, Alan
Beaulieu, from the Institute of Trend Research, surprised the crowd when
he said he would not have given the banks a penny of "bailout money".
"Yes, he said, this would cause short term problems," but despite what
people like politicians and corporate magnates would have us believe,
the sun would in fact rise the next day... and the following very
important thing would happen...where there had been greedy and sloppy
banks, new efficient ones would pop up...that is how a free market
system works...it does work...if we would only let it work..."

But for some nondescript reason we are now deciding that the rest of
the world is right and that capitalism doesn' t work - that we need the
government to step in and "save us"...Save us my ass, Hell - we're
nationalizing...and unfortunately too many of our once fine nation's
citizens don't even have a clue that this is what is really
happening...But, they sure can tell you the stats on their favorite
sports teams...yeah - THAT'S really important, isn't it...

Does it ever occur to ANYONE that the "competition" has been producing
vehicles, EXTREMELY PROFITABLY, for decades in this country?... How can
that be??? Let's see... Fuel efficient... Listening to customers...
Investing in the proper tooling and automation for the long haul...

Not being too complacent or arrogant to listen to Dr. W. Edwards Deming
four decades ago when he taught that by adopting appropriate principles
of management, organizations could increase quality and simultaneously
reduce costs. Ever increased productivity through quality and
intelligent planning... Treat ing vendors like strategic partners, rather
than like "the enemy"... Efficient front and back offices... Non union
environment...

Again, I could go on and on, but I really wouldn't be telling anyone
anything they really don't already know down deep in their hearts.

I have six children, so I am not unfamiliar with the concept of wanting
someone to bail you out of a mess that you have gotten yourself into -
my children do this on a weekly, if not daily basis, as I did when I was
their age. I do for them what my parents did for me (one of their
greatest gifts, by the way) - I make them stand on their own two feet
and accept the consequences of their actions and work through it.
Radical concept, huh... Am I there for them in the wings? Of course -
but only until such time as they need to be fully on their own as
adults.

I don't want to oversimplify a complex situation, but there certainly
are unmistakable parallels he re between the proper role of parenting and
government. Detroit and the United States need to pay for their sins.
Bad news people - it's coming whether we like it or not. The newly
elected Messiah really doesn't have a magic wand big enough to "make it
all go away." I laughed as I heard Obama "reeling it back in" almost
immediately after the final vote count was tallied..."we really might
not do it in a year...or in four..." Where the Hell was that kind of
talk when he was RUNNING for office.

Stop trying to put off the inevitable folks ... That house in Florida
really isn't worth $750,000... People who jump across a border really
don't deserve free health care benefits... That job driving that
forklift for the Big 3 really isn't worth $85,000 a year... We really
shouldn't allow Wal-Mart to stock their shelves with products acquired
from a country that unfairly manipulates their currency and has the most
atrocious human right s infractions on the face of the globe...

That couple whose combined income is less than $50,000 really shouldn't
be living in that $485,000 home... Let the market correct itself folks -
it will. Yes it will be painful, but it's gonna' be painful either way,
and the bright side of my proposal is that on the other side of it all,
is a nation that appreciates what it has...and doesn't live beyond its
means...and gets back to basics...and redevelops the patriotic work
ethic that made it the greatest nation in the history of the world...and
probably turns back to God.

Sorry - don't cut my head off, I'm just the messenger sharing with you
the "bad news". I hope you take it to heart.

Gregory J. Knox, President
Knox Machinery, Inc.
Franklin, Ohio 45005











--
Jack P.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Brown Bag Christmas- Clay Vice

----- Original Message -----
From: Clay Vice
Subject: Fw: *Brown Bag Christmas* 12/20/08










The following story from about 75 years ago was published by Joe McKeever
and certainly exemplifies the meaning of Christmas.

When I asked our newlywed Sunday School class to share a favorite
Christmas story, Carrie Fuller said, "Our family has one we call the
'brown bag Christmas.'" When she finished, I had to hear more.
Two days later, I called a member of her family for more details.

It was the early 1930s during the Dust Bowl days of Kansas, in the heart of
the Depression. The Canaday family---Mom, Dad, 7 children---were having a
tough time existing, so there would be no luxuries at Christmas that year.

Mom told the children to go outside and find a Christmas tree and decorate
it. After a lengthy search, they returned with a dead branch, the only thing
they had been able to find. They stood it up in a bucket of sand and
decorated it with pieces of paper tied with string. Little Judy, almost
four, did not know how a Christmas tree was supposed to look, but somehow
she knew it was not like that!

As Christmas approached, the Canaday children, like children everywhere,
pestered Mom and Dad about what presents they might get under their "tree."
Dad pointed out that the pantry was bare, that they did not have enough to
live on, and there certainly would be no money for gifts. But Mom was a
woman of faith and told her children, "Say your prayers. Ask God to send us
what He wants us to have." Dad said, "Now, Mother, don't be getting the
children's hopes up. You're just setting them up for a disappointment." Mom
said, "Pray, children. Tell Jesus." And pray they did.

On Christmas Eve, the children watched out the window for visitors, but no
one came. "Blow out the lamp and go to bed", Dad said. "Nobody is going to
come. No one even knows we're out here."

The children turned out the lamp and got in bed, but they were too excited
to sleep. Was this not Christmas? Had they not asked God to send them the
presents He wanted them to have? Did Mom not say God answers prayer?

Very late that night one of the children spotted headlights coming down the
dirt road, everyone jumped out of bed and ran to the window. The commotion
woke up Mom and Dad. "Don't get excited, children," Dad said. "They're
probably not coming here. It's just someone who got lost." The children kept
hoping and the car kept coming.

Then, Dad lit a lamp. They all wanted to rush to the door at the same time,
but Mr. Canaday said, "Stay back. I'll go." Someone got out of the car and
called, "I was wondering if someone here can help me unload these brown
bags." The children dashed out the door to lend a hand. Mom said to her
youngest, "Stay here, Judy, and help open the bags and put up the gifts."

A deacon from the church in town had gone to bed that Christmas Eve, and lay
there tossing and turning, unable to get the Canaday family off his mind.
Later, he said, "I didn't know what kind of shape you folks were in, but I
knew you had all those kids." He had gotten up and dressed and went around
town, rousing people from their sleep to ask for a contribution for the
Canaday family. He filled his car with brown bags of groceries, canned
goods, toys, and clothing. Little Judy got a rag doll which remained her
favorite for years.

With so much food, Dad wanted to have a Christmas feast, to spread it all
out and eat as they had never eaten before. Mom, ever the caretaker, said,
"No, we need to make this last." And it did last, for weeks.

The next Sunday, Mrs. Canaday stood in church and told what the members ---
and one deacon in particular --- had done for her family. There was not a
dry eye in the house.

Years later, the oldest sister Eva wrote up this story about her family for
a school project. Eva said, "We were so thrilled by all the wonderful things
in the brown bags, for a while; we lost sight of the most special gift. The
best gift that Christmas was not in brown bags at all.

It was Mom's faith, as she taught her children to bring their needs to Jesus
and trust Him to meet them. And a Dad's love that wanted only to protect
his children from hurt and disappointment."

When she finished telling her story, she added, "Little Judy is my wonderful
grandmother." Today, Judy Canaday Dryden lives in Sanger, Texas. As she
relived this event from so many years ago over the phone, one could hear the
tear in her voice and feel her pride in being the recipient of such a
precious heritage from her mother and father.


Editor's Note:
Christmas is a time to celebrate praying mothers and caring fathers and
believing children. We give thanks for sensitive deacons and generous
friends and sleepless nights. And we praise God for the hard times that
teach unforgettable lessons --- stories of faithfulness that get told and
retold through the years --- inspiring each new generation to place their
faith in a loving Savior.

Prayer: Father thank you for friends and family and let us never forget that
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen!

Clayton Howerton Home from 16 days in Cleveland Clinic

I spoke with Clayton a few minutes ago after Bill Meade called and told me of Clayton's new operation at Cleveland Clinic. He had a person coming in then for some consultation on the operation.

He said the previously transplanted heart opf his had a valve problem. He described the valve as an upside down parachute. The chute strings were "broken". The surgeon made a four inch incision below Clayton's heart and put tissues in to replace the strings. After convalescence, I don't know how long, they told Clayton he would be back at 95 %.

Nobody is completely out of the woods until the last tree is closed behind you, but prayers for his full recovery are in order.

Clayton was center on Portsmouth's 1955 football team. Bill called to thank me for the Portsmouth Old-Timers report in my blog from Saturday morning's breakfast. I also spoke with my brother, George, who had also talked with Bill Meade.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Portsmouth Old-Timers Breakfast in Columbus




L to R: Smokey Gibson, Dr. Chet Corbitt, Blaine Bierley, Charles Tubbs, Dick Klitch, Paul Bierley, Sam Kegley


A highlight of our P'Town Old Timers breakfast was Paul Bierley's (Sousa Expert and historian) accounting of this fictional story ( I think it is fictional).

The 90 year old gentleman went to his doctor for a health check-up. The doctor said: "You are fit a a fiddle. How old was your father when he died?" "Who said he died?", the oldster replied. "He is 115." "How old was his father when he died", queried the doctor. "Who said he died? "How old is he now? He is 135."

"What is he doing now?" I don't know at this moment, but tommorrow, he is getting married." "Why would he want to do that at 135?" "Who said he wanted to?"

Thursday, December 25, 2008

John Wolfe's insightful letter to the Dispatch Editorial Page

John Wolfe is my acquaintance from Senior softball here in columbus. John has always been one of the best players in Columbus leagues. He hits the devil out of the ball. He is also Mayor of Whitehall and, I display my pride in saying, he is a very good friend of mine.

He mentions a group of atheists and agnostics who number 13,000. Today's US Census site indicates that the current population of the USA is 305,483,513. I obtain a percentage of our population for this group as .042 per hundred. That is 4.2 people out of every ten thousand. Come on Christians, Jewish and others who believe in our wondrous God. Quit letting them push us around. Merry Christmas and you keep on, John wolfe!



One group shouldn't dictate to Whitehall
Thursday, December 25, 2008 3:22 AM


It is time for the silent majority of this country to stand up to all organizations that would erode the basic rights and freedoms we have established through trial and tribulation. The Nativity scene displayed by the city of Whitehall is a tradition, as are the other Christmas displays. They shall remain a tradition in the future ("Whitehall defending manger once again," Dispatch article, Friday).

The Freedom From Religion Foundation professes a membership of 13,000 nationwide. Whitehall alone has a population of 19,000. Not one member of this community has made a negative remark about this display.

The foundation, a group of atheists and agnostics, is quick to cite the unconstitutional decision rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of county of Allegheny vs. Greater Pittsburgh ACLU, regarding the crèche display, by paraphrasing that ruling. It wants everyone to believe that community displays of manger scenes along with traditional Christmas decorations are unconstitutional. Wrong!

It is time for us, the people of this country, to stand up to these organizations and say, "Keep your beliefs to yourself."

JOHN A. WOLFE
Whitehall mayor

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Blog visits- Vice- The Ace Agent


My blog count has doubled since Clay Vice asked his e-mail buddies to visit. I may have to cut back a bit on that % commission, Clay or I will never make any money for my writings. Now, If I can just place some advertising on the blog.

Sam

----- Original Message -----
From: Clay Vice
To: Sam "Kat " Kegley
Sent: 2008-12-16 11:22
Subject: Fw: SAMKAT " ALIAS " SAM KEGLEY


WOW SAM, THAT THE BEST OFFER THAT I HAVE HAD TODAY !! 50% OF NOTHING STILL LEAVES ME AT THE POVERTY LEVEL. OH WELL I STILL HAVE HOPE WHEN OBAMA COMES INTO POWER THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A SLICE OF BREAD AND A SLICE OF FISH AND HAVE A SANDWICH AND A BOTTLE OF WATER, THAT ALL THAT I NEED, BUT I WILL HAVE THE PRESTIGE OF BEING A AGENT FOR MY GOOD FRIEND
" SAMKAT KEGLEY " I HOPE ALL MY EMAILS FRIENDS WILL READ YOUR BLOG, I AM SURE THEY WILL KNOW SOME OF THE GOOD PEOPLE OF PORTSMOUTH THAT YOU WRITE ABOUT.
C.V.




----- Original Message -----
From: Sam Kegley
Vice ; Kris Vice ; Jody Visi ; Dianna Young
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 10:55 AM
Subject: Re: SAMKAT " ALIAS " SAM KEGLEY


I will have to make the Vices my agent for blog visits. The list grew very close to 100 hits yesterday due, I am sure, to your efforts. My resulting income was zero, but you get 50% of it.

Thanks friends!

Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: Clay Vice
To: Sam "Kat " Kegley Sent: 2008-12-16 09:38
Subject: SAMKAT " ALIAS " SAM KEGLEY


HEY GUY'S YESTERDAY I TRIED SENDING SAM KEGLEY BLOG TO ALL OF YOU AND FOR SOME REASON IT DID NOT SEND PROPERLY. " IMAGINE THAT, MUST OF BEEN MY FIRST SCREW UP THIS YEAR " HAR, HAR, HAR, TO THOSE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED GO TO GOOGLE AND TYPE IN. " BLOG OF SAM KEGLEY " AND THEN CLICK ON "SAMKAT : BOOKS - SAM KEGLEY SORRY ABOUT THAT MESS UP, THE BLOG I SENT GOT THRU TO SOME BUT NOT TO EVERY ONE. I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT is ABOUT PEOPLE FROM PORTSMOUTH AND SCIOTO COUNTY AND IS ALSO SPORTS RELATED ABOUT OUR AREA. LOOK AT ALL OF HIS LINKS AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DID.
CLAY

Monday, December 22, 2008

Merry Tossmas!

Thanks Ted Truitt and Sue Harrison- tossmosites like me. We are part of the 86 % of Americans who are offended by the 14 % of Americans.

Holiday catalogs? Toss'em!

Sam

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Aaron and Valerie Photo 10-2007


 
Posted by Picasa




Aaron is growing- Oct 2008 photo... vs. 1-2-09 Photo. He will be 13 in February.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Costa Rica- Rivers to cross...

http://www.serendipityadventures.com/VacationDesign/tropicalBikeTour.htm

My good friend, Jack Plymale, has chosen to live in Costa Rica.

Bert Leach, the genius teacher of Portsmouth High School in the 40's and 50's, has never been more quoted by any other than by Mr. Plymale, the ex-Trojan, who quotes more verse than any other I know of. Mr Leach was often talked about as "the smartest man in Portsmouth" among the Gilmer twins, Eddie Hill, Clark Rapalee, Gus Thompson, Gib Lakeman, Howard Rase, Carl Riley, and others I listened to.

Mr. Plymale has some wisdom much beyond me. I'm searching for a quote I want to use for my newest book. Maybe Jack will read this and help me. Google led me to the link herein just now on Costa Rica, which I have not yet read, but intend to. Somewhere in my reading and memory is an often remembered classic quote regarding 'rivers to cross... mountains to climb... I am still searching, but must leave to watch my nine year old granddaughter play basketball for Upper Arlington's fourth grade team. Prioities, you know.

You may comment by just clicking on 'Comments' in the title to this post and having at it.

God, please bless these beautiful countries on earth, ours and Costa Rica, my friends Jack, Jim Fout, & Doc Yeagle, and all Portsmouthites, who know how to get to Mabert Road. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Especially to the urchins! I was once one of those Mound Park Urchins. I find 'urchin' defined in Google as "poor and mischievous city kids". Mabert Road had their share of urchins and so did the Fourteenth Street Community Center. Were we not all blessed?

Friday, December 19, 2008

Valerie Still 3X AA at Kentucky and MOP Col's Quest two time ABL Champions


Friends,

Please tolerate me again. Jeanie's and my friend, Valerie Still is a great and courageous lady in a tight spot. Her husband has left, they are now divorced, and she is trying hard to maintain a great home for her and Aaron. She has been unsuccessfully trying to sell her home in Powell and will, by God's great grace, obtain her Phd from Ohio state in June of 2009. I sent the-mail below out to several mutual Kentucky (mostly) friends today. Prayers of support and visits to her website are the most encouraging things we can do presently.

Hey Cat Fans,

One of our own and the Columbus Quest American Basketball Leagues' very best people has a new blog I would like for you to visit.
Go to www.vstill.blogspot.com . She just started this and she would be warmed by the thoughts of the Kentucky or any of the Columbus community.

Is Valerie Still special? I guess so! If you consider that she was three times an All American at UK and Most Outstanding Player for the twice ABL Champion Columbus Quest. She is ahead of our man, Dan Issel, as the highest basketball scorer in Kentucky history. Check out the photo on her blog. She looks just as fantastic today.

She is in a tight spot currently as she is now divorced but raising a truly fine son, Aaron on her own. For some reason her ex is being no help. She has been trying to sell her property in Powell with no success to date. The courageous lady will receive her PhD form OSU in the June, 2009. She is currently working hard in her studies and in her teaching.

Jeanie and I love Valerie and Aaron. We offer not much more than our devoted friendship and love for this precious beauty of God's. Join us in prayers for them and visit her blog and let her know that she counts in our lives.

Would that the compassionate Coach Gillispie could help in her plight.

Valerie- Your blog is terrific!



Sam

Candy Cane-AngelRays-Sarah DuPuy Rapp & the Goddards

12 Days of Christmas- Jacquie Lawson- Vices



















Beautiful work!

We are now at 7 days.

Thanks Carole and Clay!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

This is Awesome! Ramey 'Sonny' Hoskins

~He Is God~


He is the First and Last,
The Beginning and the End!


He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be ...
unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!



He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!
The world can't understand him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him, and The leaders can't ignore Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him, The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and The people couldn't hold Him!
Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him, and "Oprah" can't explain Him away!



He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.




His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.
He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and He is my peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and He rules my life!



I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
the power of the powerful,
the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and is to come. And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.



His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me,
never forsake me,
never mislead me,
never forget me,
never overlook me and
never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!



When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!




He is everything for everybody everywhere, every time, and every way.

He is God, He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine!

My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.
So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...

He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side,
and that means all is well with my soul.



Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!






PASS THIS ON IF YOU BELIEVE IT...

I love the Lord and thank Him for all that He has done in my life; therefore I'm passing this on.

"I love you" God - Laura McDowell

Grandmother - a wonderful mother with lots of
practice. ~Author Unknown




















I LOVE YOU!!



TOMORROW'S NOT PROMISED.

SO I WANT TO SAY I LOVE YOU TODAY!


I believe in prayer. It's the best way to draw strength from heaven.



CIRCLE OF FRIENDS









I thank you for being you!





HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:



YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES

You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)


PASS THIS ON. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY BE IN NEED
The first sentence is pretty powerful!

God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.'


Father, God, bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need this day! And may their lives be full of your peace, prosperity and power as they seek to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

Now send it on to other people, including the one who sent it to you. Within hours you caused a multitude of people to pray for other people. Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life.

P. S. More is better; who else do you know that needs prayer?

Make it a Wonderful Day!!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Sam & Jeanie


I talked Jeanie out of sending Christmas cards this year. We had cut the practice out a few years ago but the 'reciprocating' list quickly grew again to nearly unmanageable proportions.

We value your friendship and are happy for the e-mail friends and family because it is so much easier to send greetings this way. We also remember our non-cyber family and friends and trust they know of our thoughts.

Most of you share the love of Jesus Christ with us and we are also grateful for that. We never want to pester anybody on any point , but we sincerely believe that there has never been a more important gift to humanity than the birth and life of the son of God. Please celebrate the wonderful Day with good health and pleasing times among your close friends and family.

Christmas love from

Sam & Jeanie

Vices plug my blog

I will have to make the Vices my agent for blog visits. The list grew very close to 100 hits yesterday due, I am sure, to your efforts. My resulting income was zero, but you get 50% of it.

Thanks friends!

Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: Clay Vice
To: Sam "Kat " Kegley ; Mary Ellen Aeh ; Jake Bell ; Howard Bennett ; Cheryl Bishop ; Jack Blevins ; Boldman/Merideth ; Marty Burgess ; Cameron Cam ; CEKMAK@aol.com ; Ervean Church ; Norma Cornett ; HANK CRAFT ; Cvour@aol.com ; Greg Downing ; Juanita Elliott ; Kellie Sue Gerwig ; GARY GOODMAN ; DARRELL & AMY GORDAN ; Jean & Jim Griffth ; CHARLES HAMBLIN ; Heather BOWEN ; Dick Hunter ; J.D. Yeagle ; David Jordan ; BRENDA KEATON ; rita m ; Mick & John ; DAVID MILLER ; Bill Mullins ; Nola & Dave Richards ; Harold t Pack ; June & Paul ; DARLENE & BILL PERKINS ; Tom Perkins ; Diane Phillips ; Fred Ramsey ; Jim Robinson ; roseanne@woh.rr.com ; Andrr & Jack Russell ; Sharon ; Hilton Smith ; Hazel Spencer ; Pat Spitzer ; Olena Spradlin ; MICHAEL STURGILL ; sunsets@roadrunner.com ; JOHN THOMPSON ; Heidi Vice ; Kris Vice ; Jody Visi ; Dianna Young
Sent: 2008-12-16 09:38
Subject: SAMKAT " ALIAS " SAM KEGLEY


HEY GUY'S YESTERDAY I TRIED SENDING SAM KEGLEY BLOG TO ALL OF YOU AND FOR SOME REASON IT DID NOT SEND PROPERLY. " IMAGINE THAT, MUST OF BEEN MY FIRST SCREW UP THIS YEAR " HAR, HAR, HAR, TO THOSE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED GO TO GOOGLE AND TYPE IN. " BLOG OF SAM KEGLEY " AND THEN CLICK ON "SAMKAT : BOOKS - SAM KEGLEY SORRY ABOUT THAT MESS UP, THE BLOG I SENT GOT THRU TO SOME BUT NOT TO EVERY ONE. I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT is ABOUT PEOPLE FROM PORTSMOUTH AND SCIOTO COUNTY AND IS ALSO SPORTS RELATED ABOUT OUR AREA. LOOK AT ALL OF HIS LINKS AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DID.
CLAY

Monday, December 15, 2008

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Friday, November 28, 2008
Please search Navigation Menu

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Please notice the navigation menu on the left. I would like you to visit any of the topics to observe. Many current postings of mine have to do with politics and many of you readers may disagree with my conservative bias. That is OK, but please try other sections as I suggest, before dismissing my blog out of hand.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Sam
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 12:23 AM
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 3:41 PM
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 12:22 AM
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 2:03 PM

Stroke signs to notice




Jeanie and I have been privileged to have such wonderful friends. Carole and Clay Vice brought Portsmouth Clay High School to three girls' softball Ohio State Championships and two runners-up during a nine year run (1978-1988- please see their stories in my Excellence in Athletics in the Portsmouth Area book).

I received this important re-cycle e-mail from the Vices this morning that suggests a new menomic- STRT (Smile-talk-raise arms-tongue) or START, if you will:



INFORMATION EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW.

I also read to CHEW up an aspirin immediately (I carry one in my purse). I know it would taste awful, but it can save your life.



.

Blood Clots/Stroke - They Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue



I will continue to forward this every time it comes around!


STROKE:Remember the 1st Three Letters....S.T.R.


My nurse friend sent this and encouraged me to post it and spread the word.
I agree.

If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.
Seriously..

Please read:

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away. ) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other,that is also an indication of a stroke.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.



I have done my part. Have you?

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Ohio Magazine Article September 07 Murals

Mural, Mural on the Wall
October 2006 Issue

Author: 1 - None
Related Categories: Arts & Culture; Southeast
Thanks to a Portsmouth couple who enlisted fellow citizens in a remarkable effort, the Portsmouth floodwall murals -- 2,200 feet of art and history -- have boosted tourism and civic pride.

Ugly as a mud fence. In lots of places, that just about sums up ugly. But the good people of Portsmouth, Ohio, who faced a 20-foot-high floodwall of gray concrete for more than 40 years, could teach us all a thing or two about ugly.

Just keep the Ohio River out, citizens said. They'd lived through the '37 flood and were glad to see the big gray monstrosity, a third of a mile long, rise between them and the water.

Advertisement

No one questioned the aesthetics of utility - that is, no one until Portsmouth natives Dr. Louis R. and Ava Chaboudy took a long look at the long wall. In 1992, Ava, a AAA tour planner from Portsmouth, led a motorcoach group to see the new murals in Steubenville. Louis rode along, and after everyone oohed and aahed over a gargantuan Dean Martin on the side of a building, he and Ava came home dejected yet curiously inspired.

"He looked at our old, dingy floodwall," Ava recalls of her late husband, a longtime Portsmouth obstetrician and gynecologist, "and said 'Why can't we do something like that here?' We were so excited we didn't sleep that night."

Steubenville and Portsmouth were both old industrial powerhouses down on their luck, and Steubenville had jumpstarted its future with images of its past. Could Portsmouth do the same?

All they needed were some old photos, and local historian Carl Ackerman had nearly 10,000 shots from the 19th and 20th centuries. Plus a painter who could tackle concrete and create a little economic miracle.

They searched North America for just the artist and found internationally known muralist Robert Dafford. Fourteen years later, the result is the Portsmouth floodwall murals, the world's largest known work by a single artist.

After their epiphany in 1992, the Chaboudys led a 10-year crusade to cover the concrete expanse with Portsmouth's glory days, from the first Indian settlement to the millennium. "Two thousand years of history, 2,000 feet of art," the city crows about its 54 murals, and Dafford's paintbrushes never dry.

Having worked on wall murals in France, Belgium, England and Canada, Dafford began researching and painting the floodwall in 1993. He thought he might be done, except for inspections and touch-ups, when the 52 murals were dedicated in 2002.

But no. Portsmouth had more epic stories to tell, this time immortalizing its baseball heroes on a tangent to the main wall. Now, Branch Rickey, Al Oliver and Rocky Nelson are enshrined, "and Don Gullett goes on this year," says Bob Morton, president of the nonprofit Portsmouth Murals, Inc.

The school board has hired Dafford to paint murals in several new schools, and he's working on the new $1.3 million Portsmouth Convention and Visitors Bureau and Welcome Center. Ava and Louis R. Chaboudy, who died in 2003, were honored at the August dedication, with, of course, a mural of their own.
Photo by Jim Noelker


The floodwall project has gained its own momentum since the Chaboudys took a vanful of Portsmouth's worthies to see the Steubenville murals. "Tourism dollars have increased in the past few years, and I think it's the murals," says Brenda Marth, director of the Portsmouth Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Even more amazing to Marth is a recent poll of high school students, conducted by the Southern Ohio Museum. "They were asked, 'What is Portsmouth's greatest asset?' Every one of them said the murals. They're teenagers - we didn't even think they noticed them."

The scenes that percolated up through the city's history now seem to be permeating its revitalized sense of identity. "We used to have shoe factories and railroads, and this was a good place to live," Chaboudy recalls. "Foreign markets stopped all of our business, and there was a cloud over the city. Everybody went someplace else, and the children left.

"We heard 'Why in the world would you want to come to Portsmouth?' We wanted that to stop, and the murals did [it]."

Chaboudy envisioned giant scenes that would "unravel time just as it happened. History had been put on the back burner, but the murals have stimulated interest in it."

On the new Welcome Center exterior, one wall will be the old railroad station, which Dafford sketched just before it was razed. The entrance wall will capture a bit of scenic byway that runs the length of the Ohio River. And the east wall? "We have a half dozen ideas for that," Morton says.

Portsmouth Murals, Inc. has the luxury of the late Carl Ackerman's photographic archives, slices of riverside life nearly since the dawn of photography. Ackerman was instrumental in the original committee, and is immortalized in his own mural.

Dafford studies those photos and his own sources. "I work with local historians to select the important items in their history," he says in his studio in an old brick railroad warehouse along the tracks in Lafayette, Louisiana. "I've done so many Ohio River murals that I have a whole collection of riverboats."

As proof, he steps back from a steamboat scene he's painting for a hotel lobby in Vicksburg, Miss. "I've done thousands of miles of the Ohio River, with hundreds of small cities in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio that are renovating their historic districts."

Since 1992, Portsmouth has become one of the stars of the movement, re-imagining its riverfront and the giant wall that holds the Ohio in her banks. The Army Corps of Engineers worked 10 years to complete the behemoth, built to withstand a 77.1-foot flood stage.

Assuring the Corps that the project would involve only paint, no nails, the committee was on its way. With one small oversight.
"We had everything in place, but forgot we didn't have any money - not a cent to our name," Chaboudy recalls. "So we raised the first $5,000 from the volunteers who went to Steubenville in the van."

The committee threw cocktail parties, packed picnics and tried everything to raise money. "At first, the mural idea went over with a dull thud," Morton says. "People thought we were crazy."

But the visionaries persevered, going after grants and approaching the community. They examined murals across Canada and America, choosing Dafford exclusively. His murals range from $5,000 to $10,000; the Portsmouth average is $10,000.

When the late Vern Riffe, speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, locked in $115,000 from the state, the committee could commission four murals a year.

"Our total now is about $700,000," Chaboudy says, "and that's a lot of money."

Yet no contribution was too small; Portsmouth schoolchildren donated pennies, nickels and dimes. At stake were naming rights for the popular black cat that Dafford painted into the Early Boneyfiddle mural (Boneyfiddle is a Portsmouth historic district). Second-graders at Woodrow Wilson Elementary gave $1,300 and loyally named the cat "Woodrow."

Woodrow is so popular that "visitors rub the cat's head," Chaboudy says.

Although every inch of floodwall has been painted, Portsmouth residents still have stories to tell. Is there any person or place that's eluded Chaboudy?

"Kathleen Battle [the internationally known soprano] is from Portsmouth, and we tried every way we could to get her cooperation. We tried hard, but we couldn't hold up the painting."

No one, not even one of the world's great divas, can stop Ava Chaboudy, Portsmouth Murals, Inc., or Robert Dafford's flying paintbrushes.

Probably prouder of the monumental work than anyone, Chaboudy still keeps her eye on the prize. "We learned from Steubenville, if you're in bankruptcy, this is the way to get out."

Favorite Scenes

The artist and civic leaders choos their favorite murals.

With "Two thousand years of history, 2,000 feet of art," as Portsmouth boasts, it's hard to pick favorites from the 54 murals, but a few of the floodwall effort's principals reveal their choices.

a.. Muralist Robert Dafford's favorites are chronologically the first two, Mound Builders and Shawnee Village. Mound Builders depicts two horseshoe mounds from 600 to 1000 AD, one part of which is preserved in Portsmouth's Mound Park. "The mounds are incredibly complex," Dafford said in his studio in Lafayette, Louisiana.

b.. Portsmouth 1903 is the favorite of Bob Morton, president of Portsmouth Murals, Inc. "It's the first one we did, a panoramic view of Portsmouth from the Kentucky side, a century after it was platted." The mural is a composite of four photos from the Carl Ackerman historical photo collection and, at 80 feet wide, the broadest on the floodwall. It was dedicated in May 1993, and positive response helped to propel the project.

c.. Portsmouth Motorcycle Club is the favorite of Brenda Marth, director of the Portsmouth Convention and Visitors Bureau. "I don't ride motorcycles, but I have this on my business card." Bikes with shiny chrome line up on either side of the frame, with a large horizontal inset of the 1913 Portsmouth Motorcycle Club at top.

d.. Chillicothe Street glows as a trompe l'oeil night scene from the 1940s. It's tops with Ava Chaboudy, a project founder. "It looks like it goes with you as you walk along - it's uncanny. People take pictures of each other in front of it because it looks like a real street."
But for Chaboudy, still active in the mural ambassador program, each scene is spectacular. "Front Street is a lively place to be. It's unbelievable, when you think it was such a dead, nothing place before we began."
Vote for your favorite Portsmouth Floodwall Mural at www.portsmouthmurals.com. So far, Portsmouth Motorcycle Club is in first place, followed by Chillicothe Street and Twilight.



Click here to check out some of the murals

When You Go ...
The Portsmouth Floodwall Murals line Front Street.
The Welcome Center, 341 Front St., is open Mon.-Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sun. For more information, call 800/648-2574 or visit www.portsmouthcvb.org.
For more about the murals: www.portsmouthmurals.com.
For more about Robert Dafford: www.daffordmurals.com.

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Friday, November 28, 2008
Please search Navigation Menu

Labels Blog Info 0 comments
Notice Navigation Menu and select topic to view

Labels Blog Info 0 comments
Please notice the navigation menu on the left. I would like you to visit any of the topics to observe. Many current postings of mine have to do with politics and many of you readers may disagree with my conservative bias. That is OK, but please try other sections as I suggest, before dismissing my blog out of hand.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Sam
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 12:23 AM
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 3:41 PM
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 12:22 AM

Thursday, December 11, 2008

"Rounder and Better"- PHS Coach Bill Rohr

My Jeanie (Jeanette Weddington Kegley) made me promise to dedicate the day yesterday, to helping her trim the inside of the house for Christmas. I just hadn't got around to it.

Early in the day though our good young friend, Rich Lakeman, Gib Lakeman's son and a basketball teammate of our son, Jay's at Westerville High School, stopped by. He came to look at the chimney he had rebuilt for us a few years ago. A neighbor had noticed what might be wind damage from a recent windstorm (80 mph winds). Rich observed that it was not damage, rather it was design to have the flashing at the top corners of the flashing between the roof and the brick to cause the waters to flare out away from the remainder of the flashing to avoid possible water damage. Afterwards, Jeanie and I sat with Rich and coffee for around three hours of prized conversation.

I occasionally see Rich in the neighborhood and he hardly fails to mention "rounder and better" in our conversations. Rich credits me for passing on a nugget I heard at PHS from the great teacher and coach, Bill Rohr.

Bill Rohr''s rare coaching mistake was in cutting me from his basketball try-outs for our beloved Trojans. I could have become so much better with his coaching. The real mistake was mine for not being good enough.

Coach Rohr had been culturally blessed at the feet of Paul Brown, football coach of Massilon High School, Ohio State Universtiy, and the Cleveland Browns. Coach Brown made professional football into a science in my humble opinion.

Coach Bill Rohr may have been a better teacher than a coach, although he was among the best coaches Portsmouth High School ever had. He became the best I, and many others, ever had at PHS, among faculties of great teachers. I had him for "Civics" or "Social Problems" or some such class. Coach Rohr was so good at bringing each of his students into class discussion. He passed so many nuggets on to us students.

I laid one, and no doubt more, upon Rich as he rode with me to watch Jay play in a Miami University of Ohio JV game one Saturday. Coach-teacher Rohr had told us students: "Whatever you do in life- I don't care if it is digging holes- Dig yours rounder and better and somebody will notice." Gib's son, Rich, took the advice very literally.

Rich wasn't interested in going to college., He became a tradesman, a brick-layer, and did his jobs better. He developed his own sub-contractor business and has helped build many of the finer homes in the Columbus and the New Albany area. He has a rich career and good family with wife, Nancy, and daughter Kelly. Gib's widow, Margaret (Lehman), has also benefitted much from the four sons and one daughter of hers and Gib's, here in Westerville. Rich is among their finest.

We had lost time in getting Jeanie's decorations up, but enjoyed the time with Rich with more than a little remembering of Gib's Portsmouth stories. Jeanie and I essentially finished the inside decorating a little later.

If I have been lucky, and I know that I have, it is the absorption of such culture from such dedicated teachers. Gib also taught and coached many years here in the Columbus high Schools. I have taught and tutored at Columbus State Community College for twenty-five years, in addition to my Metallurgical Engineeriong career.

Rich has trained many young brick-layers and he has often repeated the "rounder and better" advice of Bill Rohr. It has not hurt anybody to hear.

At this Christmas season, may this particular nugget, from Paul Brown and Bill Rohr, go on forever. Most readers of my blog are Portsmouth Ohio people and I would hope that the children and grandchildren of my compatriots will accept this as a cultural Christmas gift.

Sam

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Clark Rapalee- Jack Plymale


On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 8:00 AM, Jack H Plymale wrote:



> **An old backup QB and piano player. He and I were rooming together in The
> Holly hotel in Charleston when the lady found her husband in bed with
> another woman. There must be some cofusion about his age The obit showed him
> to be almost79 but and I wasn't quite 80. Rapp ran like he was running in
> deep mud, but like Gib had fantastic sence of humor. Talented in many areas
> and never lacking for courage,Never knew anyone who knew him wo didn't like
> him.
>

Clark Rapalee- Clay vice


THANKS SAM FOR THE INFORMATION ON CLARK RAPALEE, I PASSED THIS ON TO ALL MY CLASS MATES AT CLAY HIGH SCHOOL AND TO A FEW OTHERS THAT KNEW HIM HERE IN PORTSMOUTH. I ENJOYED THE STORY VERY MUCH AND KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HIM OR HIS DEATH.
THANKS MUCH, CLAY

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Please notice the navigation menu on the left. I would like you to visit any of the topics to observe. Many current postings of mine have to do with politics and many of you readers may disagree with my conservative bias. That is OK, but please try other sections as I suggest, before dismissing my blog out of hand.

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Sam
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 12:23 AM
Posted by Sam, Kegley at 3:41 PM

Re: Clark Rapalee- E-mail from Andrew Waber

Politics- Conservative; Ray Pelfrey ; Jack H Plymale ; Portsmouth


Hello Sam

Thanks for the information... Clark had been battling heart trouble for several years before finally dying of it. His third wife Jewell actually committed suicide after finding him dead. I never really knew him... after my Aunt Audrey died in I believe 1988 or 1989 he met and married Jewell less than a year later and the whole family, including his children, had a falling out over it. He was not on speaking terms with any of his kids when he died, which is why he and his wife lay dead for weeks before someone finally found them.

--Andrew

Thank you, Andrew.

Sad news of a good friend. Rapp dropped by our house in Westerville and Gib Lakeman came over and we talked for an hour or more. That was maybe ten years ago. I had not been in touch with him since. Gib passed away about ten years ago. Rapp had taught in the Clay High School district before moving to Norwalk. His dad and mother would stop by Rase's Service Station on Hutchins and Seventeenth, just north of the old Sugar Bowl we loafed in. Mr. Rapalee had a band that played in the area regularly and Clark played piano. Mrs. Rapalee was a beautiful lady and they were each very nice to talk with. Clark was wise beyond his years. He had graduated from Otterbein, as Gib had, prior to going into the Army. Clark must have been double promoted in Portsmouth schools along the way because Gib was at least a couple of years older than him and fought in the Navy in the South Pacific during WWII.

Clark and I would rent Cushman motor scooters and tool atround Portsmouth on the governor controlled 40 mph scooters. He had a black '35 Ford sedan in excellent condition in the early 50's. Jack Plymale told me that Clark was a good athlete who was about a third string quarterback as a sophomore on the Trojans of 1943. The Gilmer twins, Bob and Bill, Eddie Hill, Howard Rase, Clark and I would ride around the area in the Gilmer vehicles and talk "old Portsmouth" stories, mainly of athletics. Those people indicated that Rapp would have been an excellent quarterback for Portsmouth, but he didn't play after that.

When Clark returned from Korea, he confided some atrocious personal battlefield stories to me. A man in his platoon wielded a flame thrower that "literally fried" the hordes of advancing North Koreans or Chinese troops advancing upon his people. Rapp was asked to take a battlefield commission which he turned down, as I remember. Men such as Clark Rapalee fought some real wars that have protected the rest of us. He had gone into Korea with the Second Army division invasion early on in the war and advanced with them through many battles.

God, please rest the soul of this great human being and my very good friend. like nearly all humans throughout history, Clark had sinned, but Jesus paid that price for each of us.

Sam Kegley
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Waber
To: skegley@columbus.rr.com
Sent: 2008-12-09 23:24
Subject: Clark Rapalee


Hello,

I saw your post on your blog wondering what happened to Clark Rapalee. Uncle Clark (whose first wife was my grandfather's sister Audrey Fritz) passed away July 11th, 2007 in St. Petersburg, FL. He was a long time school principal in Norwalk, OH.

"Former principal, wife die of natural causes at Fla. home
By CARY ASHBY - Reflector Staff Writer | Monday July 16 2007, 1:10pm

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Police have determined a former Norwalk educator died of natural causes Tuesday at his St. Petersburg, Fla. condominium.

Officers responded to a request to check on the well-being of Louis C. Rapalee, 78, and his wife, Jewelldene "Jewell" Rapalee, 58, after a resident in the complex was concerned because the couple hadn't been seen in several weeks, the St. Petersburg Police Department said. There also was unclaimed mail accumulating in their mailbox.

Police found the couple dead inside the couple's condominium. "Both of them had been dead for several weeks. Both of their personal vehicles were parked in the parking lot and nothing appeared to be disturbed inside the residence," an officer wrote.

"It's not being investigated as a homicide," police spokesman George Kajtsa said this morning. He noted that Jewelldene Rapalee's cause of death has not been determined, but said her husband died of natural causes.

Detectives determined "there were no indications of homicidal violence." Police said their preliminary investigation showed that Louis Rapalee "had a long history of medical problems, evidenced by an abundance of medical prescriptions in the home and by confirmation of his personal physician."

Police suspect Rapalee may have died first and his wife died "a short time afterward."

Rapalee was a principal at Maplehurst Elementary School as well as in South Central Local Schools.

"He was the second principal at Norwalk Middle School," Norwalk City Schools Superintendent Wayne Babcanec said. Rapalee was the principal there from 1966 until 1977.

From 1977 until his 1982 retirement, he was the Maplehurst principal. He first was hired in the school district in 1965, as principal at Pleasant and Bronson elementary schools.

Norwalk resident Bill Conway, a former principal at Pleasant and Bronson, worked with Rapalee, starting with his first year in 1966.

"That was the year (he) transferred to the middle school as a principal," Conway said. "We were more than co-workers; we were good friends."

Conway called Rapalee a "tremendous administrator" who cared for students. "His whole life was given over to providing the very best for children," he added.



Louis C. Rapalee
| Wednesday July 18 2007, 1:03pm

July 21, 1928 - July 10, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Louis C. "Clark" Rapalee, 78, of St. Petersburg and formerly of Norwalk, Ohio, died July 10, 2007 in his home.

He was born July 21, 1928 in Portsmouth, Ohio to the late Matthew K. and Doris D. (Gholson) Rapalee and lived in the Norwalk and Milan areas from 1960 until moving to St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1999.

He was a former Principal at Lyme Township Schools, Norwalk City Schools and South Central Schools. He was a veteran of the Army during the Korean Conflict.

He is survived by his sons, Louis Clark Rapalee, Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio and John M. Rapalee of Bowling Green, Ohio; and daughters, Terri Sandborn of Ironton, Ohio and Elizabeth and Lance Lyons of Dowagiac, Mich.; and step daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Stephen Richards of Clyde, Ohio; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his second wife, Audrie A. Rapalee in 1989; and third wife, Jewelldene "Jewell" Rapalee.

Private graveside services will be held in Milan Cemetery.

Walker Funeral Home, 98 W. Main St., Norwalk, Ohio is in charge of arrangements."


--Andrew

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