August 16 has always been a big day in my life. 8-16-70 Started Infantry Officer Basic at Ft. Benning, Georgia. 8-16-13 First hip replacement surgery that saved my life in Dallas, TX. 8-16-77 The day the music died for this son of Memphis. As a 28-year-old I was in Magnolia, AR traveling around the state with Betty Bumpers, Nell Balkman, Dr. Runyan Deere and others promoting childhood immunizations. Wed been at this game by five years then. I was PR director, scheduling coordinator, photographer, bodyguard and chauffeur. We stopped in Magnolia to allow Mrs. Betty Flanagan Bumpers to visit a favorite dress shop there on our way to Texarkana with stops in Camden in between. We all stayed in the car and Betty came out to tell us the mid-morning news just hitting TV stations out of my hometown and birthplace - Memphis. I was probably more shocked and saddened and hurt that the older passengers we had that day. My thoughts were that wed lost at the young age of 42 the best entertainer any of us would ever see. Frank Sinatra was more their speed but I called home that day and my 62-year-old sainted Mother was crying over Elvis death. As the world converged on Memphis the next few days many folks were stunned to see what an impact the young man with the big smile had on the world. So popular yet so alone. My old newspaper, the Memphis Press-Scimitar, the afternoon newspaper literally on ots on death bed, chronicled Elvis passing. This song captures so much of the emotion on that sad day but my heart still breaks for the man so many loved who couldnt find happiness on his own and died a lonely death in his upstairs bedroom at Graceland. Time has only proven my feelings a hundred fold. We lost something very special that day and well never get it back but his memory has given joy to generations who never saw or heard him in person. Rest in Peace, old friend. We all still miss you and always will. https://youtube/watch?v=RF5fW3-9DeI
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 16:16:38 +0000
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