E stands for emeritus
On our most recent trip to Europe we got lost in Belgium. Bill Bray along with Jack and Peggy Summerville, your Ol' Editor (emeritus) and Friend Wife left the Grand Place for the airport on a local train and somehow made the wrong connection. The result was a national commuter train which took us across Belgium. We Midwesterners had a ball and saw the country, witnessed the people, and such. We eventually got off the train and crossed the tracks to catch one back to Brussels. What an experience, it was the highlight of our trip.
Bill Bray retired as the executive director of the Missouri Press Association and formerly was a journalism professor at the University of Missouri. He was regarded as the best of the bunch and had won honors, including the prestigious Amos Award, to attest to the high regard held for him in the profession. He died last week, following a noble fight against cancer. Bill was a fighter, and a gentleman. A member of the 99th Infantry Division's 394th Regiment, he was awarded the Purple Heart for painful and serious wounds in battle, earned the Silver Star for valor, and received both the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation and the Belgian Fouregerres. Bill was one of the best. It's been an honor to associate with the likes of him.
Your OE(e) put away the tools of his trade in August but keeps fingers on the keyboard for one or two short essays each week. He's completely bored if he doesn't do a bit, not a lot. With your permission and indulgence we'll continue on a limited basis.
Last week was busy. One day was spent as a bank board member attending the Kansas Bankers Association meeting in Wichita. It's as much fun to associate with bankers as editors, but different. Sorta like ham and eggs: both are good but different. The governor called Friday to invite your OE(e) to come to Topeka Monday to discuss school finance. Along with about 10 others, we explored that subject thoroughly. No good answer. One good thing, however, is that the school funding controversy has made administrators more aware of cash flow problems and strive for more efficiency. Many jobs will be eliminated, many vehicles will not be purchased, classes will become larger, and belts will be tightened a couple of notches. The governor knows she'll catch hell, no matter what, but the charming lady has courage.
Friday found the OE(e) at Topeka on a committee looking into the "damn fool" ideas about collecting sales tax where the product is delivered, instead of at the point of purchase. It must have sounded good when the Legislature approved the concept last year, and it became law in July, but Kansans are not in compliance and can't be, realistically. This newspaper would need to charge people in Tampa one price, those in Hillsboro another price, those in Marion a different price, and Peabody people would pay a different total for either a single copy or year's subscription. That'd be impossible.
Other "damn fool" issues include the so-called "concealed carry" law which would allow people to hide firearms on themselves. Having firearms strapped on the hip makes more sense, where others could see them. That's why policemen dress in uniforms, wear badges, and drive patrol cars clearly marked with red lights.
We won't go into the "gay" marriage issue at this time, but must comment that homosexuals seem more inclined to get married than heterosexuals who seem to prefer to live together without ceremony. Most heterosexual marriages end in divorce, and a great share of the children born today do not live with their fathers. As stated above, we won't go into that at this time.
This too-long column gives you an idea of what a guy does in retirement. A week from Friday will see the OE(e) at Topeka again, as an officer of a foundation. It's an important and interesting assignment.
Your OE(e) has been leading the life of Riley. As you know, Riley's a lazy curmudgeon.
— BILL MEYER
