Perry Noon Lions are Kings

March 8, 2012

Just back from Perry, OK and a "Heartland to Harbor for Hospice" presentation to the Perry Noon Lions.

The family-style meal prepared by the Catholic Altar Society was delicious, and the audience, inquisitive and appreciative; a truly great group of community movers and groovers, including municipal judge Sherry Wallace DeBord; Rena Wheatley, the Noble County Treasurer and Lions program chair responsible for my visit; Ed Malzahn, owner of Ditch Witch (Charlie's Machine Works), one of Perry's prime employers; and other prominent businessmen and businesswomen, as well as pastors, doctors, lawyers, and maybe even the proverbial Indian chief. The latter would not surprise me in this area of the country, but if so I missed the introduction.

Also present was Charles J. Hanger, the officer famous for arresting Timothy McVeigh. For those of you followers who are not from Oklahoma, Timothy McVeigh was the person who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Bldg. in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. The attack, which killed 168 people and injured over 800, was the deadliest act of terrorism within the U.S. prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection in June of 2001.

I don't want to leave you on that sad and ugly note, so shall remark on our remarkable weather. I'm glad I picked a bouquet of daffodils and narcissus yesterday because today it is raining steadily but without the usual woodwinds and cymbals that OK storms generally bring. Temps have dropped from the 70s to the low 30s. This much-needed rain was wonderfully welcome.

I thank Noon Lions President, Ed Cook; Secretary, Sam Ebersole; Treasurer, Lori Pierce; and each of you Perry Noon Lions for contributing so very generously to the Judith Karman Hospice at the end of my talk. You are a fun bunch of Lions . . . and I'm not lyin'.

Susan S. Walker