On being deserving

Just in case you missed it, Elizabeth II died. I confess I don‚t really understand why so many Yanks are obsessed with the English royal family. I will acknowledge the Brits do pomp and circumstance in a fashion to which we can only aspire. I have no doubt that after over 70 years on the throne the Queen merits the honors bestowed upon her. You hold any business together for seven decades and you‚ve done the job.

She died at Balmoral Castle in the Highlands of Scotland. When she was moved to St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Billie said, “You need come watch.”

Ordinarily Billie is right about such things. So, I did although my first thought was why. Then I saw the Highlands. In the crowd I saw faces that reminded me of my Uncle Howett and my Grandmother McBride. I saw the distinctively Scottish image of the Crucifixion in the stained glass. I heard the Gaelic. Billie was right.

Did you know Gene Curtis died August 31? Gene graduated from Stigler High School, Class of 1947, as did my good friend, Walter Lewis. His father owned the Stigler News Sentinel. Gene was a loyal supporter and attendee of Reunion Days.

Gene‚s passing merited a quarter page article in the Tulsa World. Over his lifetime, the Tulsa World was his sole employer. He rose to be Managing Editor of the Tulsa World in its heyday. Gene was an important guy. During his rise, Gene was an extraordinary investigative reporter. In describing his career to a friend, I said, “He was the Woodward and Bernstein of the Heartland.” That is how I feel.

I reconnected with Gene after To Bear Witness was published. The book made several mentions of his mother, Florence. He reached out and we met for coffee in the office he maintained at the Tulsa World after his retirement.

Early in Gene made a statement of fact, “You‚ve spoken to a number of conferences and conventions.” I nodded.

“Did you ever speak at a Stigler High School Graduation?”

I answered, “No, was never asked.” Gene said, “Me either.” It is funny some of the things that will stick in man‚s craw. Gene had received any number of professional honors. He had spoken at over 50 high school and university graduations not to mention all the professional conferences. But never at his home town high school.

There was only one group of graduates to whom Gene genuinely wanted to speak.

After writing some of this, I went to the back porch with a coke, a red Solo cup of ice and some peanuts. What a beautiful day. The bird dog next door carefully and patiently stalked a grassgnawing rabbit. A twig rustled. The rabbit dashed into the hedge. Clint Eastwood was right when in the Academy Award winning movie, Unforgiven, he looked at the Gene Hackman character and said, “Deserve‚s got nothing to do with it.”

It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them. – Mark Twain

Hal McBride writes a column, Just Thinkin‚, published each week.

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