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Columns:From
Potential Lyrics for a Johnny Cash Loser Tune to A Turned Around Life
5-3-13
Rev.
Al JandlThe
Day Oscar Ekelund and I Met the Hotel’s New Manager 3-18-13
Moments
before, George Mitchell had finished up the stuff necessary for him to buy the
long out of business flop house called the Belmont Hotel...The
English Gentleman and the Beer Joint 2-8-13
Not
one soul thinks he isn’t a better person from having known him. And everyone has
his own story to tell with a smile in remembrance. The
Island’s Domestic Goddess 1-10-13
It
seems to be more generic to Galveston than any other place I know about. I’m talking
about this special breed of people who seem to intuitively know how to make money,
how to contribute to the whole, how to gain and keep self-esteem... “Silent
Night” Revealed a Lot about the Man 12-10-12
It
was in the days when the homeless and bums were classified by the law as vagrants.
One of them stood in vacant downtown Strand building doorways, day and night,
winter, spring and summer. The
Box of Four Kittens 11-12-12
“If
you become a teacher, by your pupils you will be taught.” That’s an ancient saying
that although at first appears somewhat shallow and obvious, is profound in reality.
Joyous
Occasion Taught an Unexpected Lesson 10-12-12
"Sometimes
evidence proves our suppositions of our friends’ well-beings are wrong... What
we do to address it goes a long way in defining for us who we really are."Francisco,
Rudy, and Mr. Russell’s New Adventure 9-6-12
"What’s
the lesson? I’m not sure that I know. Perhaps it is that self-importance often
isn’t as grand in the eyes of the public as it is in our own." Radio’s
Vandy Anderson and Fr. Frank Fabj Had a Common Denominator
8-14-12
If
you were to interview almost any man whose career is in the field of radio broadcasting,
you would find that as a child he was making believe that he was on the air. Vandy
V. Anderson, Jr. was one of those. Joe
Garcia’s Legacy Is a Lesson to All about Dyslexia 7-20-12
I remember people
who couldn’t write their names, who couldn’t read, who hadn’t gone to school at
all, or who had left as early as the seventh grade... Mayor,
Radio Station Owner and Flagpole Sitter Brought Galvestonians to Houston
6-18-12
When
construction on an electric railway was begun March 28, 1910, to connect the two
cities, Galveston had a population of about 40,000. Houston was just twice as
big.Six
Generation Galvestonians Are Hard to Come By 5-23-12
Because
I have written so much about Galveston, her people and her past, most people assume
I’m from a multi-generational island family... Linda
and the Texas City Explosion 4-18-12
It
was Wednesday morning, April 6, 1947, probably about 10. The Moon reading group
was sitting in a circle at the front of the room. Mrs. Carr was in the center.
The children were taking turns reading a story about Dick, Jane and Spot. The
rest of us were supposed to be drawing...Why
Hasn't Dallas Placed a Historical Marker Here?
3-10-12
There
is a historic site in Dallas that isn’t noted on Google, and I couldn’t find any
mention of the man who built from scratch what became an iconic and copied men’s
barber shop. The
Story of Franny Kay’s Bout with Lew’s Piano
2-19-12
Over
the years, Lew Harris’ song, “These Are the Things I Love,” has been recorded
by Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra... But to Galvestonians, the most memorable version
was sung by Robert Goulet, because it was the theme song for Lew Harris’ wife,
Frances’ 54-consecutive year radio program for the Island’s KGBC-AM. The
Night of January 16th
1-20-12
Fifty-five
years of January 16ths have come and gone since then, but the lesson taught on
January 16, 1957 by Ball High School speech and drama teacher, Arthur Graham,
at the old Galveston County Courthouse remain intact to this day with those who
were there.Glendon
E. Johnson 12-10-11
Glendon
Johnson told his granddaughter, Erin Stewart, that “cowboys answer to two people:
their God and their momma.” A
Lesson in the Sociology of Galveston Commerce
11-6-11
A
story of George and Magnolia Sealy's mansion The Open Gates, and Daniel Serrato's
pushcart of freshly made hot tamales...That
I Played the Playboy Club Doesn’t Make Me Elderly 10-2-11
CBS’s
KMOX-AM in St. Louis called. As part of the public’s interest in the new TV show,
“The Playboy Club,” they wanted to interview a musician who had played at the
St. Louis club... Cotton
Gottlob and Coach Red Pierce Were a Heck of a Team 9-7-11
"A
baseball player from Galveston’s Ball High, Don “Cotton” Gottlob, talked Sam Houston
State Teachers College’s coach, Paul “Red” Pierce, into letting him try out for
quarterback..." A
Good Education Often Brings Remarkable Rewards 8-7-11
If
you were to ask educators why they picked teaching for their lifetime contribution
to the world, you would primarily get one of two answers... Jimmy
Beaumont and the Skyliners 7-18-11
"...The
last numbers of the evening were "Since I Don't Have You" with "This I Swear"
as the segue; both were by Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners. It occurred to me
that no two tunes and no vocal group are more reflective of my teen years..."
The
Willie Payne Family’s Famous Himalayan Singing Kitten Enterprise
6-6-11
"Willie
started wondering what common threads run among all of those business people who
amass great fortunes. It turned out it wasn’t excessive education or family money
or luck. The common thread was almost all had been child entrepreneurs..."My
Friend and His Chance New Friend Had Their Faiths Renewed in Little Rock 5-11-11
Throughout
his life, Lloyd W. Criss, Jr.'s faith and the personal directives he has received
from God have led him down many spiritual paths that he knows he wouldn’t have
chosen on his own. Here’s one of those stories. Trinity
Episcopal Church 22nd and Winnie, Galveston 4-8-11
By
the time the Korean Conflict was going strong in the early 1950's, Galveston’s
Trinity Episcopal Church was 109 years old, and it and its congregation had been
through a lot together...UTMB
Professor “Old Test Tube” Took the First X-Ray Ever Taken in Texas
3-4-11
Everyone,
students as well as the medical staff, got to calling him “Old Test Tube” rather
than Dr. Morris. He apparently didn’t mind... Daddy
and His Buckeye 2-1-11
“There’s
only one thing that brings good luck. It’s the buckeye... And it’s even better
if your buckeye was blessed by a voodoo priestess. Sister Veressa in the Des Ourses
swamp of Louisiana has ‘extree’ power.”Joe
Pajucie, His Cheap Looking Girls and Macino Rapuchi, the International Continental
Stylist 1-2-11
Gigs
for Italian singers had been terrible for a long time. But then out of nowhere
came “That’s Amore,” “Mel Blu di Pinto di Blue,” and “Al di La.” And things got
very good for them. And that’s when Macino Rapuchi, with his Maceo-esque billing,
“the International Continental Stylist,” hit Galveston with his guitar and accordion...Ducky
Wucky Was Santa to Crazy Frank, Pee Wee, Dirty Gertie and the Rest
12-15-10
Christie “The Beachcomber”
Mitchell told me this story almost fifty years ago. It happened one Christmas
Eve about 1956, just after the War... A
Young Man, His Kirwin Education, Mike Gaido’s Mentoring & the Fellow with the
$50,000 11-24-10
"It’s
a story about my Galveston friend Benno Deltz. I don’t think I’ve ever told it
to you. Draw close. You’re going to love the ending."Being
Sent to the Abattoir Wasn’t Sam’s Lot in Life 10-13-10
Mr.
Sam, like his brothers, cousins and uncles, worked for the patriarch of the family,
Jasper Tramonte. Mr. Jasper had a meat-packing business on Broadway, near 61st
Street. It was called the High Grade Packing Co... The
Famous Portrait of the Little Girl Named Judy
9-17-10
During the war years, Edolia (Ed) Rees and her daughter, Joyce Crainer,
drove into downtown Houston for Miss Joyce’s appointment with the doctor. His
office was there on Main Street above a very famous portrait photographer’s studio...
Lieutenant
Richard H. Schiebel’s Last Flight
8-12-10
Coach had flown many dangerous missions and had survived a lot of enemy
fire...No
One Called Him Anything But Mr. Russell
8-5-10
You’ve known people like that. It just doesn’t feel right calling them
by anything other than Mr. or Miz So-and-so... No
One Could Out Negotiate Lincoln Dealer, Kyle Gillespie 7-1-10
How
the 1943 Roof of Mike Gaido’s Drive In Helped Him Keep His Feet on the Ground
5-1-10
Mike
Gaido’s first business venture in Galveston was not a big and glorious seafood
restaurant like it is today, but a drive-in...Father
John Caskey - Galveston's Pied Piper 3-21-10All
About Badgett, McCulley and Sis, the Belching Tractor 2-7-10
If
you know anything about Galveston’s past, you surely know that it’s always been
the town’s hobby to cover up one body of water while opening up another... If
He Were to Write His Autobiography, Its Title Would be Dance Hall
1-1-10Every
Year at Christmas Time I Miss My Friend, Mel Torme 12-1-091935
Professional Baseball Pitcher, R.S. Maceo, Sr., Says It’s All in the Olive Salad
11-15-09There’s
a Little Known Story at Haak’s Vineyard and Winery in Santa Fe
11-3-09The
Big Hurt 10-3-09
Even
though it had come out in 1959, seven years later it remained Number 1 on the
Metropole Club Hit Parade, six plays in succession for a quarter. Its title was
“The Big Hurt.” The
Purity Ice Cream Factory and the Ten O’Clock Valve
9-6-09
Like Blue Bell ice cream, until it closed, Purity was so popular in
Galveston County that few drugstore soda fountains or neighborhood grocery stores
carried any other brand...Johnny
Garcia's Flagship
9-1-09
The Twisted Ironies of the Brantly Harris Recreational PierThere’s
Got to Be More to His “Galveston” Than That Glen Campbell Sings It 7-3-09
If
you know singer Glen Campbell’s real relationship with the island...The
Billionaire Developer: George P. Mitchell
6-1-09
George P. Mitchell was born on Galveston Island 90-years ago May 21st.
And for all 90 of those years, he’s been making history, and with a good portion
of that history he has made life better for other people and for future generations...
Play
Misty For Me - A Reprise
5-4-09
I saw the 1971 Clint Eastwood movie, “Play ‘Misty’ for Me” by accident...
But I quickly knew that the tale had to have been conceived by a late-night disc
jockey...Milton’s
Rosenberg Library 4-3-09Leon
Breeden 3-7-09
The Man from Oklahoma and Jazz: They Brought Academic Notoriety to a Podunk Teachers
College The
Island’s Terrain and Hurricanes
2-4-09
Island visitors often comment on how close together the Victorian homes
are in the East End Historic District. But it wasn’t always that way... I.H.
Kempner, Edmund R. Cheeseborough and Billy Cherry Discuss Politics 12-8-08
Galveston
was in a stark raving fiscal and financial mess, and it started at least ten years
before the 1900 Storm.Balinese
Room Had Two Last Hoorahs 11-1-08Webb
and Yankee Had Different Solutions to the Bank's Move 10-5-08An
Irony of Hurricane Ike 9-15-08Souped
Up '49 Mercury Coupe Caused Island's Most Uncool Event Ever
9-12-08Churches
Have Been Doing Their Best to Mask Financial Troubles 8-3-08Christa
Speck Was the Most Beautiful of All 6-23-08Baytown’s
DJ of the ‘50s, Bill “Rascal” McCaskill, Conducts His “Night Train” Once More
4-10-08How
Sam, Rose and Frank Maceo Created the Fabled Balinese Room 3-6-08The
Oryoku Maru and Lieutenant Walter A. Kelso, Jr.'s Journey 2-18-08No
One Who Truly Knows the Mansion Would Ever Call It The Open Gates
1-23-08Slick
the Shoeshine Man, Sam Maceo and Christmas Eve 1949 12-21-07Teacher
Paul Barbuto’s Lifetime Pursuit Was Always Just to Play in the Band 11-18-07Carolyn
and Sammy, Her Daddy's '52 Ford and the Singer Roy Hamilton 11-2-07Champ
Did His Experiment at the State Theater and in the Name of The Enforcer 9-27-07"Set
'em up, Bascigallupi!" 9-3-07George
Roy Clough Invents Call-in Radio 8-15-07One
Time a Kitten Named Elijah Came to the Passover Seder Table to Bring Wisdom
8-3-07The
Magnificent Montague 7-15-07
He’s
probably one of the most important contributors to American black culture that
has ever lived... At
First Galveston's Stewart Beach Was Called the Riviera of the Gulf 6-30-07The
Strand: A Lingering Shadow of Riches Untold, Whispering Night Bay Breezes
6-16-07
Now
that the battle that made Texas a republic in 1836 had ended, the founders of
Galveston were finally able to get down to the business of building the new city...
Jewish
Immigrants Competed with Galveston's Former Slaves in the Beginning 6-4-07
"When the Jews began temporarily
settling in the Galveston, they were faced with a new problem, one that hadn't
existed in New York and Baltimore and Boston and Philadelphia..." The
Korean War Hero Who Swung the Board of Education at Ball High
5-27-07
Lt. Col. Richard
H. Schiebel
"Wanting to defend one's country, even if it cost you your
life, was something his generation understood...."
Cartwright
5-14-07
Mayor Herbie, His
Time in Jail and the Big Downtown Parade that Followed The
Only Only 5-1-07
He
Was the World's Oldest Trapeze Artist and He Lived in Old No. 25
Stanley
Marcus 4-2-07
Copyright William S. Cherry
All rights reserved
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| William
Speakman Cherry He
may not have been vaccinated with a phonograph needle, but his middle name proved
to be prophetic.
"Born on the island" of
Galveston in 1940, Bill Cherry became a R & B disc jockey at the tender age of
14, using the nom d'air "Brokenhearted Bill." When he wasn't talking he was writing,
and at 16 he sold his first feature story to a Houston paper. He has since written
for Fortune Magazine, The Houston Business Journal and numerous other Texas
newspapers including The Victoria Advocate, The Dallas Morning News, and
The Galveston County Daily News.
In the late '50s, Cherry was
attending classes at New Orleans' Tulane University while working for AM radio
station WWL. Broadcasting from behind a plate glass window of a French Quarter
furniture store, Cherry was the tuxedo (and short pants) host of Music 'til
Dawn. He also subbed as host for broadcasts from the famous Blue Room of the
Roosevelt Hotel.
In 1961, he married well-known St. Louis classical and
jazz concert pianist and Vogue fashion model, Judy Fosher. They traveled as a
team, each playing different venues. Cherry performed at the piano at such spots
as the St. Louis Playboy Club, New York's Waldorf-Astoria, LA's Beverly Wilshire
Hotel, Chicago's Blackstone Hotel and St. Louis' Chase-Park Plaza Hotel.
Two years after their marriage, Judy died from a heart attack. She was just
24.
In 1964, Bill returned to the University of North Texas for additional
studies and briefly worked as the second manager of KNTU, the school's FM station.
Cherry became a vice president at Houston's Guaranty Federal Savings and
Loan and headed that company's real estate investment company before moving to
Houston's Columbia Communities where he served as vice president of residential
home building. In the mid 70's, Cherry, with partner Steven Jay Rudy, founded
The Old House Company, a Real Estate company specializing in restoring historical
housing and commercial buildings.
For twenty years, Cherry was the historical
real estate consultant for George and Cynthia Mitchell (who developed The Woodlands,
Texas). The Mitchells restored and leased many of Galveston's 19th century cast-iron
buildings in the historic district now widely-known as the Strand.
Cherry
taught finance, economics and investments at Houston's St. Thomas University and
at Galveston College and even did a brief stint as a high school English composition
and debate teacher at Dallas' Thomas Jefferson High.
Cherry's childhood
memories of life on Galveston Island was the basis for his popular column in the
The Galveston County Daily News. The title Bill Cherry's Galveston Memories
was used again when he assembled 60 of his best columns for his first book: The
book's dedication is to his family, teachers and professors who had influenced
him, and to his friend, commedian-musician Steve Allen, who died just before the
book was published.
Bill Cherry's Memories, also
appeared as a
series of television features in 2001, for News 24-Houston, where it was voted
the station's most popular feature.
Now living in Dallas with his wife
(a former college sweetheart), Cherry remains busy writing, doing voice-overs
for commercial films, and playing piano for weddings, receptions, and dinner parties.
He remains a real estate consultant and tax arbitrator and is a highly regarded
expert witness for real estate and business trials.
Mr. Cherry was inducted
into Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2005 as a Premier Member and his radio experience
has made him a popular after-dinner speaker.
We are proud to include
Mr. Cherry's Galveston Memories as a monthly feature in Texas Escapes.
The abbreviated biography that appears here is paraphased from his Wikipedia entry.
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