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David Mitchell

Wow!

David Fredericks?

Thee David Fredericks! 

Where the heck have you been hiding?

Love your small world connection to the story.

What did your dad coach?

David Mitchell

Mark,

I promise I will try. I just keep putting it off except for these little outbursts.

Nina Osborn (Rossi)

Speaking of Jesse Owens, one of the stories my dear Aunt, Lucile Osborn, loved to tell was that she sat next to Jesse Owens all thru her classes at The Ohio State University!  She lived to be 103!!  Died in Feb if 2020!!!  Told that story whenever she could till the day she died!

 I would often tell my students when I had the opportunity!!!

David Mitchell

Nina, Dave, et al,

It's so fun when more of us somehow connect on one same story. 

It is indeed a tiny planet. And we all know Columbus is the center of it all.

Michael McLeod

Yes that warms my heart too, Dave - the reaction to Jesse Owens.

A heritage against hatred we should all be proud of.

Here's a link that you might find helpful, Dave. You said you had an interest in the subject.

ps thanks for the viet stuff, fascinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVWUslZ0odE&ab_channel=CBSMornings

And here's the same story with a cool accent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxYDr0wFhEg&ab_channel=Firstpost

Michael McLeod

And by the way Dave, in case I haven't said this to you already, you have a storytelling gift.

I have to bust my butt to tell a tale well so it grieves my ego to say that. 

The advantage you have, of course, is that when your own personal ass is on the line the story is imprinted rather indelibly on it, as many a great storyteller has learned. 

David Mitchell

Thanks again Mike and Mark.

How about a change of pace.

I had never heard of this song - "Golden Hour" - until a few nights ago. But about a hundred versions of it is all over YouTube with vocal and intsrumental vrsions (origially by a kid named JVKE - pronounced Jake).

Note: These two guys have other videos together so don't think this is pure coincidence. But I love the passion they bring to it.

David Mitchell

Here's a vocal of it. (I like things in twos).

I love the line where it says "You slow down time".

David Mitchell

And yes, these two do a version of Hans Zimmer's "Interstellar" on YouTube - like about a hundred other performers. And Wow!  

Michael McLeod

ok this is a bit of a downer but  there's a fascinating comparison made in a guest essay in the new york times today that compares the ethical dilemma of exploring the military capabilities of artificial intelligence with the choice we made in using the science of splitting the atom to create the Bomb. 

essentially the argument is if we don't do it first the bad guys will beat us to it and we'll all be screwed.

I didn't realize that einstein led that argument, by the way. and used the reasoning above.

And whoa: I had no idea that the a bomb test happened in a desert named Jornada del Muerto because of its lack of water.

Journey of death.

Who knew how apt that name would become in more ways than one.

Mark Schweickart

Dave -- Since the other Dave (Fredericks, that is) hasn't answered your question yet, let me jump in to say that his Dad was a wrestling coach at OSU. He may have been the head coach, but I'm not sure about that. We kids at St. Michael's also new Mr. Fredericks in two other capacities. 1) He was the assistant scout master for our illustrious Troop123 (or was it 23, not sure) who, in addition to his basic scouting duties also liked to spend time with us before the scout meetings having us practice military-style formation drilling -- you know, things like – the right-foot behind the left-foot placement, and then spinning sharply around 180 degrees into a quickly snapped salute. That sort of thing. And 2) some of us also got to know him as the person in charge of the caddies during the summer at the OSU Scarlet and Gray golf course. I recall how he was a no-nonsense fellow who, when we arrived in the morning, would have poles with a nail on the end for us to use before we could think about a paying gig as a caddy. These poles were to be used to pick up the trash in the environs surrounfing the clubhouse and caddy shack area. After that chore was done, we were free to goof off doing whatever we pleased (play basketball, play cards, practice our short golf game on a makeshift hole he (or someone) made up for us to use, which was near the basketball court that he (or somene) was also nice enough to have put in for us to use. It gave us something to do while waiting for a caddying job to materialize. He also, unlike other courses that I later caddied at, had an evaluation system in place to measure how well we did at our caddying. The person for whom we were caddying had to fill out a little evaluation card after the round of golf had been completed and turn it in to the caddy office. At the end of the summer, Mr. Fredeicks held a Caddy Banquet for all of us to attend, where prizes were awarded to those who had received the best reviews, based on their score cards. Needless to say, I never won anything. I wasn't a great caddy. I remember how humilating my first caddy assignment had been. It was a husband and wife couple, and I was caddying for the wife. It was explained to them that this was my first time, but they were game to give me a try, and even explained a lot of the duties for me as we made the round. But after awhile, I was noticeably dragging, and the husband insisted on carrying his wife's bag (in addition to his own) for the last two holes in order to give me a break. I didn't feel as if I could tell him no, so I just had to grin an bear it. I can imagine that filling out that evaluation form must have been a challenge for them that day. I didn't get fired, so they must have continued in their magnaniminity towards me. Whew!

Michael McLeod

that's a great story marq.

I did equally dumb stuff in my time as a caddy.

too senile to remember it, also too embarrassed to share it even if I did remember it.

Michael Boulware

I would like to add some comments about Casey Fredericks. We worked summers together for Franklin County along with Pat Manion. Casey always was willing to help anyone the best way he could. He was a gracious and kind man. Casey was the head wrestling coach at Ohio State. When Casey approached a group of people, everyone had big smiles, because he always had a good story and pleasant pat on the back for all. It was an honor to know him.

Michael McLeod

So every year I write an arts preview for one of the magazines in Orlando in which I give thumbnail descriptions of some of what the local arts institutions are doing, museums and theaters and whatnot, plus some of the touring shows that are coming to town. One of the most important touring events will bring Art Spiegelman, who wrote "Maus," a graphic novel based on his parent's experience of the holocaust,  to town for a lecture. I got a little political about that one given the book banning that is going on so I won't post it here. 

Anyway there are a couple of nyc based touring theatrical companies that put together a season of Broadway musicals and this is one of the shows. I'm guessing Columbus has a similar set up. I think it's called Broadway Across America.

Previews can be boring so I try to do a little research and find a nugget or two and put some personality into it as well so people know it hasn't been written by a robot.

I had fun with this one, though I'm thinking some of the younger readers won't get the allusions. But I'm guessing you guys will. This is my mini-preview of one of the touring shows. It brought back memories. Maybe it will do the same for you.

Peter Pan:  Not to be confused with another recent stage revival, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, this modernized rendition of the high-flying fantasy is more closely akin to the more traditional, “I-won’t-grow up!” mid-50s musical starring Mary Martin. That production was based, in turn, on the Disney animated version of a story written by Scottish novelist Sir James M. Barrie in the late 1880s. Barrie was obsessed with the notion of eternal childhood because he’d lost his older brother to an ice-skating mishap when he himself was only six years old. This on-tour version is modernized, but they didn’t, let’s say, tinker with its spirit, judging by the advertised promise that it “embraces the child in all of us, so go on a journey from the second star to the right and straight on ‘till morning.”  If you’re of a certain age, you already knew the way. 

David Fredericks

Mark and Mike...thanks for the kind remarks regarding my Dad. Dad was a national champion wrestler at Purdue University, where he met my Mom. Upon graduation he joined the Marine corps and fought in the Pacific. He returned to Purdue for his masters degree and was subsequently hired by Ohio State as head wrestling coach. He retired after 30 years as head coach. The coaching fraternity at Ohio State (Woody, Larrry Snyder(track and field), Fred Taylor (basketball), Mike Peppe (swimming and diving), Bob Kepler (golf), etc.) was very close. The wives played bridge together on a regular basis, rotating between houses. Attending Dad's induction into the Purdue Athletic Hall of Fame was a special night.

Michael McLeod

wow. I can just imagine all those legends of my childhood relaxing in each other's company. thanks for that.

David Mitchell

Wow! I love these old connections. My dad was a department head in the medical school for about 40+ years and knew Woody - but only slightly. If I recall corrrectly, Woody also taught History, and was for a time, the most popular teacher in the History department. 

Dad had a full time medical practice with his older brother John, who lost his dominate (right) arm in a surgery class accident while in Med school (resulting in gangreen and amputation), but eventually graduated and practiced allergy also for almost 40 years - most of it those years in an old house he bought just inside the Perry Street entance to the medical school (just off of King Ave). That allowed us to have free parking for all the football games as we would walk acros all those many practice fields to the "Shoe". And my Aunt would often have snacks for us back at the charming "office" after the games.

Dave,

My Dad had also been in the Pacific during the war. He was drafted in 1943, at age 32, with a wife and two little girls (my older sisters). The Army Air Corps needed fight surgeons pretty badly. After he came home he took over the Allergy Department at OSU for the next 40+ years. 

p.s. I only missed one or two home football games from about 4th grade through High School.

Also, I missed a couple of basketball games during Lucas and Havlicek's sophomore and senior year. But I was at every home game for their Junior year. 

David Fredericks

Mark S.- I remember the caddy banquets well! The banquets and awards were paid for by the golf course members. The members served the banquet as well. Caddies were graded excellent, good, fair, or poor after a round of toting a bag of clubs. The caddy with the most number of excellents was awarded a set of irons. Second place received a set of woods, and so on. Golf trophies were awarded as well for winners of the various flights in the caddy tournament. The most improved caddy received a Buvola watch. A good time was had by all.   

David Mitchell

If I may add a slightly connected story. (Popular OSU teachers);

I met and became friends with another most popular History teacher from another period in a very unusual way.

One day while living in Columbus - - - 

I was actually chased down in my car by a guy who followed me into a parking lot of that old abandoned grocery up in Linworth (off 161). He was flashing his lights and I stopped and got out to see what the problem was. He had a tough looking expression and I though I must have cut him off in traffic and he wanted a piece of me. I was apprehensive looking back into my rear view mirrow, deciding weather to get out of the car.

As we were both getting out of our cars, he yells at me and points "Is that your bumper sticker?"  I was confused and asked "Uhh,,,What,,". He answered "That Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association sticker. Did you fly helicopters in Vietnam?". "Oh,,, Oh yea,,, me,,, yes I did."

He walks up to me and says "I'm professor Joe (John) Gilmartin from the Ohio State History department, I teach Sophomore History 205 (or some number) - the History of the Vietnam War, and I want you to come and be a guest lecturer in my class". He gave me buisiness card and we both drove off.

So for 4 years, I had the honor of addressing his class (once each fall quarter,) which he explained had become (in the 80's) the most popular class in the entire history department. It was in an older classroom with theater seating for about 300 kids. His explanation was intruguing. "We have a whole generation of kids whose fathers and mothers, aunts and uncles, served in Vietnam and these kids know nothing about it. Our high school text book don't cover it and they want to know about it."     Thus the large enrollment

Note: Later I was shocked to learn later that Watterson's history books at that time (about 1989) did not mention it. Nor did they mention much about the Civil Rights movement - South Africa - Northern Ireland - East Berlin, or Vatican II.

(I was told at the time that the Watteron history texts ended right after the Korean War)

My 4 annual days at Joe's class prooved really interesting. Interesting questions from the kids and even interesting answers used on their exams from my lectures. After my first visit he came up on the stage and said "Wow, that's never happened before." I asked what he meant.  He explained that no one in the room was sleeping, reading a newspaper, or studying another text book. 

And one last intersting point. I did the first two years without any photos. Joe kept saying, "I wish you had some pictures." So I decided to bring maybe a dozen slided the last two years and he was so pleased. And he finally explained that he was so releived that I had brought real proof of my story - not that he doubted me, but that it just gave him some reassurance. Because,,,,,,

He had had another guest speaker who had raised immediate concerns about the facts of his story. Joe grew really suspicious as the guy continued. At the end of each guest speakers time Joe would allow questions from the students. But this time Joe asked several questions of his own. Questions designed to smoke out some suspicious inconsistencies. Joe realized the guy had no idea what he was talking about - that he was lying - a total fake. He went up on the stage afterward and told the guy he knew he was lying and told him never to come back to his class again. I was shocked, but I have since learned that this is not all that uncommon. 

p.s.

Professor Joe Guilmartin flew "Jolly Green" (those big Sikorski helicopters) missions in the Air Force from Thailand into North Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos on rescue missions to extract downed American pilots and he had a few amazing stories of his own. He also was on the History Channel - as author of about 8 books from the Spanish Armada to modern day Vietnam. He was a most interesting guy. I was invited back for a fifth time after I moved down here but Joe passed away before the time arrived - about fall of 2002. I feel lucky to have met him.

Michael McLeod

Damn. When I was teaching at osu I had my nephew, who'd been in 'nam, come in and talk to my journalism class.

They were blown away. So was he - that was the funny part. He had been teaching classes of recruits when he was still in the military. And you know how that goes. Half of the time we slept through a lot of those classes.

So I asked him how he liked the experience after he talked to my osu class and he said: It was amazing! It was so great to talk to a class that was actually listening to me!

Wish I'd had you in there, too, Dave.

Mark Schweickart

Mike -- Going back to your piece about Peter Pan, I liked that the way you slyly slipped in the word tinker to ring a bell  with your readers. Very clever. 

Michael McLeod

Thanks Mark. Of ten people who read that story I'd be happy if three pick it up. And I have no idea of how well peter pan has travelled over the years - whether kids these days are introduced to it or not. It's timeless but it's also corny. 

On another front, if you haven't read Maus you should. 

Harold Clark

this is a salute to casey fredericks.  i remember his eyes, his smile and his voice.   later i'd followed his fishing advice.  he was my scout leader.  loved that old man. david, thanks for sharing

David Fredericks

Hi Harold...thanks for the post. Take care.

Michael McLeod

Nice post on the other side, Dave. My hat's off to anybody who posts over there given that mm has the home court advantage.

just kidding on that regard but on the other point I can't be more serious.

This is a nightmare. I guess the whole country sees what's going on but since I'm down here in the thick of it I can't be sure everybody sees it as stark and as frightening as it is here in the thick of it. 

Maybe I will post in more detail on the other side after all. 

I keep telling myself surely this thing that they are doing down here in terms of revising the history of slavery can't be a matter of calculated shady politics and narrowmindedness and outright brainwashing. That can't happen here, I keep wanting to believe. It's just a publicity stunt, they don't really mean it. Or it's a sincere effort to make sure our children don't "feel bad about themselves." Though I'd argue that one way to feel good about yourself is to understand evil exists and decide to stand up to it, and the sooner you get that notion the better off you'll be. 

I'm thinking our children are in many ways brighter and more innately honest than the grownups who purport to be worried about them. Surely we can make it clear to them how far we've come while informing them of how terrible human beings can be to each other. Racism existed. This country was built on it. We were educated to that extent. What, the kids today are made of porcelain? 

Though I hate to admit it, I think I am too proud of my country to admit it, but it's not just other countries that have fallen prey to calculated, revisionist history. We're not immune.

Thinking of renaming the sunshine state as the shady state, I am.