Endangered species
When Kansas newspaper people refer to "Kurt," fellow toilers in the craft recognize who they mean.
Kurt Kessinger, publisher of the Osage County Chronicle, died last week just four days shy of his 63rd birthday.
For Kurt, his family, friends, and the profession of community journalism in Kansas, it was too soon.
Though Kurt was known in Kansas newspaper circles since his growing up years in the family newspaper business — Kessinger is synonymous with community journalism in Kansas — we got to know him much more closely during the past quarter century while working together on numerous professional projects. They ranged from convention antics to legislative issues. Kurt could always be counted on.
Our last visit found Kurt's body ravished by cancer but his face flourishing a broad smile. That was Kurt. He was nearly down, physically, but undaunted. His major concern was about our health problems at the time.
Kansas Press Association executive director Jeff Burkhead wrote a thoughtful tribute to Kurt. He said it like many of us would like to express ourselves. Kurt was special.
We'll miss him at the conventions, especially the past president's lunch and the RORAR breakfast (Royal Order of Raggedy Assed Reporters). His spot will be vacant when tough legislative issues come up, and at round table discussions when publishers solve each other's problems. It's sad that none seem to be stepping forward to fill such gaps.
Pages could be written without expressing the deep seated feeling we'd like to convey. A simple story might help. It was during the KPA annual convention two decades ago when Kurt wowed his attentive audience with rapid fire clever remarks while wearing an expensive rubberized Yoda mask. After the program, he pulled off the mask and gave it to our delighted grandson. It was typical of Kurt — thinking of others.
The funeral was in a filled school city auditorium. Newspaper people sat together, with past presidents (like Kurt) wearing the RORAR trademark, a blue diaper pin in their lapels.
Eulogies mentioned Kurt's service and also his playful stunts. He'd do anything to get a laugh. And did, frequently.
One who eulogized him mentioned that St. Peter greeted Kurt at the pearly gates with a glass of Scotch whisky in his hand.
Kurt's blood flowed red and blue for KU. He went there in two hitches, the first time was an academic disaster ("too close to Kansas City" he said), then he was active at Wichita State and finally returned to KU. Later he attended Oxford University in England.
While presiding at RORAR breakfasts he would wear academic robes and mortar board while solemnly reciting Latin engraved on the plaque, "Hoc insigne et distinctio incerta ejus illi membro RORAOI quie priore anno facilitatem claram adeptus est capiendae pennae ejus in manum et ponendi pedis ejus in os datur
Kurt's serious stance and solemn recitation would be accompanied by a raucous recording of Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax."
Thursday, following the final blessing, as the audience prepared to leave, the high fidelity sound system began to play "Yakety Sax." After a brief moment of surprise, all present began to clap in unison.
Kurt would approve.
— BILL MEYER
