Brenda Marie Holzer has a beautiful family — a husband she’s been married to almost 31 years and two sons and a daughter, all young adults. As a paraprofessional with the school district in Yorkville, Illinois, she’s worked with disabled children, sharing her huge heart with youngsters who need extra love, care and guidance each … More I’ve never met Brenda Marie Holzer — but now I wish I had
Not sure it was my first rehearsal last Thursday evening that made it official. It must have been three days later, during the first service in which I stood at the front of the sanctuary at The Welcome Table Christian Church not five minutes from our house, cradling a black vinyl folder holding sheet music … More Making music to honor God — and the woman who brought me into this life
Almost six weeks ago, I was heartbroken to learn that a dear friend whom I’ve known since our college days at Texas A&M had died when she developed a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) that resulted in a fatal pulmonary embolism. I attended her memorial service in her hometown of Taylor in central Texas on Feb. … More Celebrating the life and birthday of Denise Richter, a wonderful Aggie friend and longtime fellow journalist, taken from us when she had so much more love to share
I’m still on Facebook. Shouldn’t be after I made a commitment to leave and even wrote an op-ed about it five months ago, but yet I linger — although I’ve had little time to spend keeping up with everyone. I really will be leaving. It’s just a matter of time. How long, I don’t know. … More A moving celebration of a friend’s life, the beauty of nature, and the moments when nature and fate intertwine
It may have been a short trip, but what a memorable time my wife Kay and I had during our 56-hour getaway this week. We did what she loves more than just about anything – spend time at the beach – and something else that will always rank as one of my life’s thrills: Meet … More Meeting my favorite Astros player ever, then spending time with my sweetheart at the beach: Priceless
On a night that features taking in a pro basketball game — something I haven’t done in decades — you’d think the game itself would be the highlight. But you’d be mistaken. I had that opportunity Monday, when I sat in nosebleed seats to join 20,000-plus other fans in cheering the Dallas Mavericks to a … More Three old friends teamed up for the first time in a few years — oh, and there was a basketball game too
I had the pleasure Wednesday morning of a phone chat with the unforgettable Bill “Bullet” Ramsey, my old Fort Worth Star-Telegram friend and sports copy desk colleague who somehow managed to retire at 55 and avoid newspapers’ inescapable plight. Can’t believe he’s been retired for 28 years, since he hung up his pica pole, page … More Chatting with Bill ‘Bullet’ Ramsey and wishing him a happy 83rd. Never worked with anyone else like him. Never will.
Have I mentioned how much I love college sports? Probably not. Kay and I don’t get many chances to attend college football games — her TCU Horned Frogs or my Texas A&M Aggies — and college basketball games are an even more rare outing for us. But Monday night, we joined over 5,300 other Frogs … More A night of college basketball — in person, not in front of the TV — brings fast-paced action, makes memories
In the waning days of 2021, I received a Slack message from one of my longtime colleagues, Rudy Bush, who happens to be the interim editor of our editorial board at The Dallas Morning News, asking if I had a few minutes to chat. He said he hoped he had an offer I couldn’t refuse. … More Relishing a chance to take part in a vital newspaper process: Election candidate recommendations
A couple of months ago, I was honored to spend about 25 minutes visiting by phone with Bill Rowe in Findlay, Ohio, a birth family cousin who’s lived a heroic and fulfilling life of 94 years. We talked about his military service as a 17-year-old in the latter days of World War II as well … More Godspeed to a hero of three wars, my cousin Lt. William Paul Rowe
A Life of Words 