Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems

Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems - www.kevindayhoff.com Address: PO Box 124, Westminster MD 21158 410-259-6403 kevindayhoff@gmail.com Runner, writer, artist, fire & police chaplain Mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist & artist: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, technology, music, culture, opera... National & International politics www.kevindayhoff.net For community: www.kevindayhoff.org For art, technology, writing, & travel: www.kevindayhoff.com

Showing posts with label YouTube KED. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YouTube KED. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

A collaborative art exhibit at Birdie's Cafe in Westminster, MD - He Wants Our Mary Lou!: Making Corso's "Marriage"


A collaborative art exhibit at Birdie's Cafe in Westminster, MD - He Wants Our Mary Lou!: Making Corso's "Marriage" http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-collaborative-art-exhibit-at-birdies.html


Published on Mar 22, 2016


A collaborative art exhibit at Birdie's Cafe in Westminster, MD- featuring the art of over forty artists. Each individual artist was assigned different lines...


A collaborative art exhibit at Birdie's Cafe in Westminster, MD- featuring the art of over forty artists.

Each individual artist was assigned different lines from Gregory Corso's "Marriage" and asked to visually interpret those lines.


This video is of opening night and the poem is read by the poet Goddess, Barbara DeCesare. The show is on display at Birdies Cafe from March 2016-May 1, 2016 at Birdie's Cafe, 233 East Main Street, Westminster, MD

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Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/
New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/


Scribd Kevin Dayhoff: http://www.scribd.com/kdayhoff
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Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf

Friday, March 18, 2016

March 18, 2018 Friday having a wonderful time with friends and fellow artists at Birdies Café “Marriage – by Gregory Corso”

March 18, 2018 Friday having a wonderful time with friends and fellow artists at Birdies Café "Marriage – by Gregory Corso" opening in historic downtown East Main Street Westminster.


March 18, 2018 Friday having a wonderful time with friends and fellow artists at Birdies Café “Marriage – by Gregory Corso” opening. With Sherri Hosfeld Joseph, ML Grout and Phil Grout, Tony and Randy Sweats, Missie Wilcox, Kelwin Inkwel, Todd White, Judy Goodyear, Lance Garber, Sebastian Joseph, Nolly Gelsinger, and Barbara DeCesare, among so many great folks in historic downtown East Main Street Westminster. https://youtu.be/pntLTknmCws

March 18, 2018 Friday having a wonderful time with friends and fellow artists at Birdies Café “Marriage – by Gregory Corso”


March 18, 2018 Friday having a wonderful time with friends and fellow artists at Birdies Café "Marriage – by Gregory Corso" opening in historic downtown East Main Street Westminster.

Art Artists Culture, Restaurants Birdie's, Westminster Bus Birdie’s, YouTube KED, Westminster YouTube KED, 

March 18, 2018 Friday having a wonderful time with friends and fellow artists at Birdies in Westminster

March 18, 2018 Friday having a wonderful time with friends and fellow artists at Birdies Café "Marriage – by Gregory Corso" opening. With Mary Lou and Phil Grout, Tony and Randy Sweats, Missie Wilcox, Judy Goodyear, Lance Garber, Sebastian Joseph, Nolly Gelsinger, and Barbara DeCesare, among so many great folks in historic downtown East Main Street Westminster.

Art Artists Culture, Restaurants Birdie's, Westminster Bus Birdie’s, YouTube KED, Westminster YouTube KED, 


Friday, September 03, 2010

Repairs are part of an ongoing effort to preserve Westminster MD timepiece.

Repairs are part of an ongoing effort to preserve the city timepiece.

August 4, 2010  By Kevin Dayhoff







There are three versions of my story on the Westminster clock tower.

One, a long and comprehensive story, was published only on the Explore Carroll website at: http://www.explorecarroll.com/opinion/4596/clock-docs-make-timely-house-call-citys-historic-timepiece/  It mentions councilwoman Albert’s work and where folks may contribute to the clock tower fund.

An excerpt may also be found on my Westminster community website: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2010/08/dayhoff-clock-docs-make-house-call-to_10.html

There was a short version published in my Sunday history column, “Archives,” that appears in the Baltimore Sunday Sun.  It only appeared in the print version of the newspaper.

Then, there is a much longer version of the piece that was submitted, but edited a good bit for length.  I will eventually put that on my website… here:

A YouTube of the event may be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvICD3mOouw


~~~~~~~~~

In the early morning hours of Tuesday morning, Main Street of Westminster was relatively quiet, with the exception of Westminster street department superintendent Larry Bloom, and Jeff Glass, the city public works director standing on the sidewalk across the street from the old firehouse at 66 E. Main Street in Westminster and looking up into the sky.

Was it a bird, a plane – superman?  Well no, they were staring at the old clock which sits atop the old fire hall - which served our community from 1896 to 1998.

After the fire company moved to its new location on John Street in 1998 and the building was sold, the city retained ownership of just the clock and the clock tower which sits on top of the three-story building that once housed the Westminster city offices until the late 1930s, in addition to the fire company.

A plaque at the base of the clock tower reads: “Henry Baile; Born January 9, 1809; Died October 26, 1891.  The above clock erected to his memory by his wife Margaret Cassell Baile Sept. 1, 1896.”

A newspaper article from January 1896 reports that the clock tower was the source of a great deal of excitement in the community:

“It is pleasant to record the fact that the clock … (built by the) Seth Thomas Clock Company, of Stamford, Conn., for a tower clock which the company lists at $1010, and which will be a contribution to the department...”

Meanwhile, 114 years later, last Tuesday, on the sidewalk below the clock, the assistant city street department superintendent Wayne Reifsnider, and David Booth of Precision Repair, a timepiece restoration company, were busy sorting through brand new clock hands and safety belts.

According to Booth, Tuesday morning’s task was to replace “the cedar hands, which require painting every two years, with powder coated aluminum ones, and stainless steel counterweights.”

It’s neat to be here and be a part of history, said Glass as he and Bloom kept looking up.  It’s exciting to see the clock being preserved, said Bloom.

Moments later, a Thomas Bennett and Hunter crane arrived and city workers Shawn Lockard and Alan Miller joined Reifsnider as they set-up the crane and attached a steel cage on the end of a cable.

Keeping the old timepiece working has been challenging for the city workers in the last number of years.

Miller said it was good to get it worked on, as he looked briefly up at the old clock.  Lockard added, “I’m glad that we’re finally getting it fixed.”

Booth and Reifsnider subsequently jumped into the steel cage and away they were whisked into the air four stories to replace the clock hands on the old historic clock that has been a fixture in the center of town since it was dedicated at 3:30 in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1896.

Replacing the clock hands on the old timepiece is part of an ongoing effort to save and restore the clock that has been in need of repair for a number of years. 

Booth said that it was exciting to see the refurbishing come along…

Booth shared that on November 17, 2008 a group of clock historians from Chapter 11 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors visited the old clock and did an assessment of the clock’s condition.

“After inspecting the clock, this group found the clock to be in surprisingly good condition,” although, “prior to (that) visit, vandals did extensive damage to the mechanism…

“The clock is a Seth Thomas (number 16.)  The nameplate is dated May 16, 1896, and it is clock #897, and marked ‘A. S. Hotchkiss.’” 

Just then, as traffic on Main Street began to increase, Ben Rogers walked up the street as he made his way to his office at Edward Jones, at the corner of Main Street and Longwell Avenue.

“It rings the time…  It will great to see the time on the face,” said Rogers just – as if on cue – the clock bell chimed.

Booth later e-mailed, “The bell was cast by J. Resister & Sons, Baltimore, MD, and measures 37” in diameter at the mouth…  It is inscribed ‘Westminster Fire Engine & Hose #1, Incorporated 1879’...  The other side has several names of officials on an 1881 executive committee.”

Nancy Hernandez of the Community Media Center was also there to film the repairs.  This is fun.  It’s exciting to be a witness… to record this.

Although Booth is donating his time, other expenses incurred in the clock repair are being covered by private donations collected by a fund spearheaded by Westminster councilwoman Suzanne Albert. 

Albert, the granddaughter of David E. Walsh, the city's mayor from 1912 to 1916, told Explore Carroll in 2008 that she has fond memories of the clock from the days when she grew up on Main Street in Westminster.

If you would like to contribute, send a donation to the Westminster Clock Tower Fund at the Community Foundation of Carroll County, 255 Clifton Boulevard, Westminster, Md. 21158.
####

[20100804 SCE Wster clock tower gets new clock hands sceked]
LABELS: 
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Friday, August 13, 2010

August 1 2010 Carroll Co MD 4-H and FFA Fair parade

August 1 2010 Carroll Co MD 4-H and FFA Fair parade

The hour-long parade can be viewed here in ten minutes…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1LrCDzH6Z0

Parade of agriculture and civic pride at Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair

Posted: 8/02/10 in Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4577/parade-agriculture-civic-pride-carroll-county-4h-ffa-fair/

There were bunnies, dogs, chickens, horses, ponies, tractors, trucks, proud Moms and Dads and plenty 4-H children and young adults on display at the Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair parade Sunday evening.

The hour-long parade featured approximately 31 floats said Rick Barber, who along with his wife, Brenda Barber, Danny Graf, Ashley Barber and Tammie Harris, served as this year’s fair parade committee superintendents.

This year’s parade featured the themes, “4-H is open to all,” and “Come one, come all, the fair has it all,” explained Rick.

[…]

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4577/parade-agriculture-civic-pride-carroll-county-4h-ffa-fair/

Written and filmed by Kevin Dayhoff for www.explorecarroll.com.

With editorial assistance by Jim Joyner and Charles Schelle

All rights reserved by Kevin Dayhoff and www.explorecarroll.com.

August 1, 2010

[20100803 info for YT pic posting CCFair parade]

Dayhoff Explore Carroll Maryland parade 4-H FFA Westminster tractors dogs horses chickens

LABELS: , , ,

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-1-2010-carroll-co-md-4-h-and-ffa.html

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Westminster videos and Jeff’s giant lava lamp


Westminster videos and Jeff’s giant lava lamp

The Westminster mayor and common council meeting this evening was a lot of fun. It was upbeat, positive, and informative.

In this evening’s Westminster mayor and council meeting, city administrator Marge Wolf announced that the city has purchased 4 video cameras. Soon, various city employees will be trained, by the Community Media Center, to operate the cameras so that the city can get the word out better about all the great work the city is doing.

Of course it is a smart move on the part of the city and the effort is to be applauded.

After the meeting several of us were talking about my “Westminster News” playlist - http://tinyurl.com/lubncg - on my YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/kevindayhoff

In particular, “20071008 Jeff and Joe discover a giant lava lamp” http://bit.ly/MQoOd. Please enjoy.




http://www.youtube.com/user/kevindayhoff#play/user/686F580EC3B58588

20090713 sdosm Westminster videos and Jeffs giant lava lamp

*****



Thursday, April 16, 2009

David W. Herlocker and the Westminster Main Street Mile

David W. Herlocker and the 28th running of the Westminster Main Street Mile

April 15, 2009

Earlier this evening was the 28th running of the Westminster Main Street Mile. The event went well, in spite of the rain. And of course, another reason the event went well, was because of the excellent hard work of Beth Weisenborn, the Westminster Road Runners Club Webmaster and Main Street Mile Registration Director.

Other folks were greatly contributed include: Bob Paczynski, Alan Gowen, Jim Beacham, Scott Kohr, Alan Gowen Lynn Richardson, Linda Morris, Debbie Leathers, Christine Webbert, Kim and Robert Muhl, Pam Gowen, Grant Hadden Bob Sommerville, Tim Gosnell, Chris Reese, Jack Klein, Caroline Babylon, Gorman Davis, Jack Klein, Scott Kohr, Alan & Pam Gowen, Robert & Kim Muhl, Grant Hadden, Debbie Leathers, Christine Webbert, Carole Williamson, and Sharon Larrimore… (Beth, who did I miss?)

But before, during and after the race, my thoughts were of Dr. Dave Herlocker…

Dr. Herlocker was one of the patriarchs of the annual Westminster Road Runners Club Westminster Street Mile. He passed away last Friday, March 21, 2008.

He passed away Friday, March 21, 2008 right before the 27th running of the event. The race will hardly be the same without him.

Dave Herlocker was a well-respected scientist, McDaniel College professor, runner, community leader, fellow member of Grace Lutheran Church and a good friend.

Below, please find a video tribute to Dr. Herlocker. Some of the initial pictures in this video are my additions. Later, this tribute consists of the video that the family and Fletchers Funeral Home put together.

/Kevin Dayhoff April 15, 2009




A Tribute David W. Herlocker, 67, of Westminster


October 30, 1940 – March 21, 2008

_____

His obituary read:

David Webb Herlocker, 67, of Westminster, died unexpectedly but peacefully at his home on Friday, March 21, 2008.

Born October 30, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois, he is the son of Donald Herlocker and the late Betty Comfort Herlocker. He was raised in Peoria, Illinois.

He was a 1962 graduate of Knox College and graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1966 with a doctorate in inorganic chemistry.

In 1966, he began a long career teaching chemistry at Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College. He served as the Chemistry Department chair department chair for many years. He retired in 2006 and was named an emeritus faculty member. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the American Chemical Society, and other professional organizations.

He began running in the mid 1970s and was a member of the Westminster and York Road Runner Clubs. He was an organizer of many road races in and around Westminster, including the Main Street Mile. After an accident in 1995 left him unable to run, he continued to walk daily with friends. He was a recognizable figure at many races with his loyal canine companion, Badie.

He was a long-time member of Grace Lutheran Church and served on the church council and scholarship committee. He was active in Ardent Folk, a ministry providing meals to those in need.

He was a member of the parent organizing committee which founded the Westminster Montessori School in 1974. He helped to develop and implement the school’s chemistry curriculum. Since his retirement he has volunteered weekly in their science classes.

An avid sports fan, he followed the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, and the McDaniel women’s basketball and volleyball teams. He was a 27-year member of a book club and a lover of history and trivia.

Remembering him are children and partners Caryn Herlocker Meade and Adam Meade of Raleigh, NC and Daniel Herlocker and Ellen Keelan of Brattleboro, VT; father Donald Herlocker of Canton, IL; brother and sister-in-law William and Hilda Herlocker of Kildeer, IL; sister and brother-in-law Linda and Peter Speck of Wanganui New Zealand; grandchildren Evan and Georgia Meade; former wife and friend Helen Herlocker; and numerous friends.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St, Westminster with his pastors Rev. Kevin and Martha Clementson officiating.

Inurnment of ashes will be in Grace Lutheran Church Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in support of the Ardent Folk social ministry.


http://www.fletcherfuneralhome.net/.

Westminster Road Runners Club Grace Lutheran Church Main Street Mile McDaniel College Chemistry Professor Dayhoff

20090415 A Tribute David W. Herlocker, 67, of Westminster


http://www.carr.org/~wrrc/

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net
Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net
http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

A message from your local fire department


A message from your local fire department

April 16, 2009 - June 19, 2008

Mrs. Owl and I, Bob Ruby and Robin Stansbury – and the Westminster Fire Department have scheduled several fire prevention events in the recent past and more are scheduled for the near future…

And I recently wrote a column on “Recalling the devastating Westminster fire of 1906 By Kevin E. Dayhoff,” (Recalling the devastating Westminster fire of 1906 By Kevin E. Dayhoff Other recent columns by Kevin Dayhoff)

… In which I noted: “Fire safety remains a serious concern for out community even today. Just last Saturday, my wife, Miss Caroline, Westminster firefighter Bob Ruby and I staffed a fire prevention and safety booth at the William Winchester Elementary School Spring Carnival.

It is never too early to start teaching your children fire safety. As history shows us -- it's everyone's concern and it can be a matter of life and death.”

For the upcoming fire prevention events at some of the local schools, what do you think of showing the video below?

I mean, it would get their attention – and probably would not be forgotten quickly… Well, take a look and tell me what ya think?

Fire is serious business

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_zzq8LPhdQ



http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/04/recalling-devastating-westminster-fire.html
20080619 FB SDOSM A message from your local fire department
20080619 20040500 Fire is serious business

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Pastor Clementson’s Maundy Thursday sermon


Pastor Clementson’s Maundy Thursday sermon

April 9, 2009

Pastor Kevin Clementson’s sermon for the April 9, 2009 7 pm Maundy Thursday church service at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Westminster, Maryland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPpnCIzR0SU
20090409 Part 1 Pastor Clementson Maundy Thursday sermon p1 of 2






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfcCNEuGu-o

20090409 Part 2 Pastor Clementson Maundy Thursday sermon p2 of 2







Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
21 Carroll Street
Westminster, MD 21157
Office phone number 410-848-7020

http://www.gracelc.org/

Kevin Dayhoff http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

Passover Maundy Thursday Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Westminster Easter Jesus Last Supper Seder Pastor Kevin Martha Clementson Dayhoff
20090409 Pastor Clementson’s Maundy Thursday sermon

Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

The view from underneath the April 3, 2009 7 PM Maryland Midland Train

Underneath the Westminster Train

April 3, 2009

The view from underneath the April 3, 2009 7 PM Maryland Midland Train in Westminster Maryland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Uz5C95aQRs



By Kevin Dayhoff http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

No animals were hurt in the making of this video. The only thing in danger was an expensive camera. Don’t tell my wife…

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.com

www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff

www.livejournal.com/

E-mail him at: kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle and The Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. www.explorecarroll.com

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams


Accept differences, Be kind, Count your blessings, Dream, Express thanks, Forgive, Give freely, Harm no one, Imagine more, Jettison anger, Keep confidences, Love truly, Master something, Nurture hope, Open your mind, Pack lightly, Quell rumors, Reciprocate, Seek wisdom, Touch hearts, Understand, Value truth, Win graciously, Xeriscape, Yearn for peace, Zealously support a worthy cause. (Author; Renee Stewart)

20090403 YT The view from underneath the Westminster Train

Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Dali: “Night in a Surreal Forest”


Dali: “Night in a Surreal Forest”

“Night in a Surreal Forest” is news footage of a fundraiser held by Salvador and Gala Dali on September 2, 1941 for the benefit of exiled artists.
19410902 Dali Night in a Surreal Forest



19410902 Dali Night in a Surreal Forest
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Frederick County Linganore "Lancer" Marching Band in New York City


Linganore "Lancer" Marching Band in New York City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV-m2_0-0Pw



The Linganore "Lancer" Marching Band
Spring trip: New York City,
St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 17th, 2009

Director Kevin Lloyd
Associate Director Damon Dye
Assistant Directors Jeremy Brown and Kara BoehneColorguard Instructors Kristen Bohner and Jordon Beck
Band Booster President Keith Prather

The Linganore "Lancer" Marching Band
http://www.linganoreband.org/
Linganore High School
5850 Eaglehead DriveIjamsville, MD 21754


Video by Kevin Dayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
www.kevindayhoff.net
www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff
E-mail him at: kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

20090317 Linganore "Lancer" Marching Band in New York City
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

Sunday, June 15, 2008

20080612 Jim McKay


Jim McKay

Thursday, June 12, 2008 © by Kevin Dayhoff

Author’s note: A shorter version of this column appeared in The Tentacle on June 11, 2008…

I finally got an accompanying YouTube video up. Find it here:

20080607 NBC's Bob Costas pays tribute to Jim McKay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoAatCui6zw

Last Tuesday morning the spotlight of the sports world was focused on the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore as folks came together to pay their last respects to Maryland’s own Jim McKay.

Mr. McKay passed away last Saturday on his horse farm in Monkton, in northern Baltimore County. He was 86 years-old.

For many of us who grew up watching early television, Mr. McKay was one of the first recognizable television celebrities in our lives.

One of the driving forces of television in its infancy was sports programming and many a youngster learned manners, poise, integrity, and speaking skills from Mr. McKay.

Much has been written about the socializing affect television can have on young impressionable minds. Of course, in recent years, much of the conversation has centered on the concern over the terrible impact the manners and behavior and violence displayed on television are having on today’s young children.

We may not have known at the time that we were learning to be gracious ladies and gentleman – but learning social skills is exactly what was happening.

We just thought we were watching sports.

(For many baby-boomers, the example set by folks like Mr. McKay may very well be one of the reasons that we are so disillusioned with Hollywood, television, and sports celebrities of the last decade or so.)

Mr. McKay was always very knowledgeable, well spoken, and gentlemanly as compared with television and sports of today which frequently appears to emphasize empty glitz, pizzazz, and mindless, banal banter over depth, talent, and integrity.

Mr. McKay was born James Kenneth McManus on Sept. 24, 1921 in Philadelphia. His family moved to Baltimore when he was 15 years-old, according to a definitive article written last Sunday by Baltimore Sun reporters David Zurawik, Tom Keyser, and Justin Fenton.

Running nearly 3,000 words in length, it is must reading for anyone who really wants to gain insight into the life and times of Mr. McKay – and why so many of us came to admire him as one of the truly great gentlemen of our time.

For the seasoned newspaper reader, one subtle tribute stands out. The AP stylebook now has folks simply referred to by their last name after they are introduced in an article. Unfortunately not many newspapers use a modified AP style that allows a writer to refer to a person by “Mr.” or “Mrs.” or “Dr.” after they are first mentioned.

In the article which appeared in the Baltimore Sun last Sunday, Jim McKay is referred to as “Mr. McKay.” It is one of the first times in recent memory that I can remember such respect for the subject of a Baltimore Sun news story.

As it should be, Mr. McKay began his career as a police reporter for Baltimore’s Western District, in 1946, for The (Baltimore) Evening Sun.

Dan Rodricks proudly pointed out in his column from last Sunday, that “Jim McKay had once been one of us. (So had his wife, Margaret; so had Louis Rukeyser of Wall Street Week, the author William Manchester, CBS reporter David Culhane, to mention a few.)”

Before Mr. McKay joined the paper, he graduated from Loyola High School and Loyola College where he “was sports editor of the college paper and … the public address announcer at basketball games. He was president of his senior class, and president and star of the drama club, which abruptly altered the course of his life,” said the Baltimore Sun.

“After graduating from college, Mr. McKay served 3 1/2 years in the Navy during World War II, mostly on escort duty in the South Atlantic aboard minesweepers.”

In 1947, A. S. Abell Company, the publisher of the Baltimore Sunpapers at the time, started the 11th television station in the country, WMAR – TV.

Last Sunday’s article noted that Mr. McKay did not understand why he was being recruited for the brand new medium. He was told, “(D)idn't you say you were president of the dramatic society at Loyola College? That's good enough for now.”

The television station began on Oct. 27, 1947 with a live broadcast of “two horse races at Pimlico.” The article noted “the first words heard on television in Baltimore were spoken by Mr. (McManus) McKay: “This is WMAR-TV in Baltimore, operating for test purposes.”

He changed his name in 1950 to Mr. McKay after he was recruited that year to work for CBS - TV. His first program was “The Real McKay.”

Many of us remember Mr. McKay for different reasons. In his long and storied career, he broadcast 25 Kentucky Derbys beginning in 1978.

He was the first host of the “Wide World of Sports” in 1961 and over the next four decades, he introduced many different sports to the American living room other than the traditional fare of baseball, football, or basketball. Many will remember the iconoclastic opening for each episode: “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”

He reported upon the Olympics for the first time in 1960 and went on to cover a total of 12 Olympics throughout his career.

For many folks, who are not sports enthusiasts; his place in history occurred when he anchored the live coverage, for 16 hours straight, of the terribly tragic 1972 Munich Olympics when 11 Israeli athletes were senselessly murdered by Palestinian terrorists.

History will forever remember Mr. McKay’s concluding remark when the ordeal was over: “When I was a kid, my father used to say our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized. Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They have now said that there were 11 hostages. Two were killed in their rooms this morning -- excuse me, yesterday morning. Nine were killed at the airport. They're all gone.”

He is the only sportscaster to win an Emmy for news coverage - for his reporting at those 1972 Olympics.

In 1968, he was the first sports broadcaster to win an Emmy for sports coverage – his first of 13 Emmys. He received a lifetime achievement award in 1990. In 1995, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

In a statement released by President George W. Bush, he said: "For a generation of Americans, Jim was more than the much-honored host of Wide World of Sports and ABC's Olympic coverage. He was a talented and eloquent newsman and storyteller whose special gift was his ability to make the viewers at home genuinely care about more than just who won or lost.”

His death marks the end of an era. He leaves behind a legacy of sharing, with several generations, a life known for the thrill of victory.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

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His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams