Editor:

Short-lived in relation to pioneer families of Woodsboro, the William H. (Bill) Kennedy family has been none-the-less respectably vintage with 60 years of residency here, at least by some of the family.

Now, Tomico and I are in the throes of (horrors!) going through 60 years of not throwing anything away, as we begin our latest lives in a retirement home in League City.

It isn’t with kicking and screaming that we leave since our longevity (84 and 89 years respectively) has allowed us to stay breathing while others of similar age have left because of life’s vicissitudes.

Without rambling, allow me to review, briefly, the few highlights of 60 years of Kennedyism in Woodsboro.

Enlightenments: Far above anything else, Woodsboro provided just about the best place to rear our seven children.

Happiness, contentment, humor and appreciation dominated all my thoughts as I recall how very few instances of crisis that we had to face.

Our living conditions were anything but sumptuous (no air conditioning or central heat); but comfortable enough. We always had plenty to eat, somehow kept warm and succeeded in all respects a a “family.” Well, maybe we missed a couple of successes.

Before the seven children, our wedding must be included in the “enlightenments.” I was undoubtedly the luckiest bride groom ever to come into and out of Woodsboro, and in the process of getting married, maybe moved mankind an inch toward beneficial, sensible, marital progress.

You see, in 1950, the lovely Tomika Kawamuka was teaching school here...and just had to be ogled and desired by some Woodsboro bachelors. (Why they didn’t pursue their dreams was to my supreme advantage.

You see, I fell in love with Miss Kawamuka and was forever blessed by her agreement of marriage. Not your ordinary marriage, understand, but one that broke the back of at least local miscegenation.

Inter-racial marriage became more common after our union. We are proud to be among the very first to prove said marriages work!

Just one more positive in this report. We’re not only of Woodsboro and Refugio County, we were FOR Refugio County. During the 60 years, I estimate we spent $25,000 a year in the county which represents something like $1,500,000, not inconsequential, eh?, for those 60 years.

Now, for the disappointments: Perhaps only one instance will suffice because all else seems nit-picking, in retrospect.

However, there was one (twice, really) that really got to me. (It was some 20 years ago, when I researched and nominated Ms. Josephine Moya, owner of the famous Refugio restaurant twice for the Refugio County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the year.

I thought she richly deserved it, but she didn’t get it that year or the very next year. This broke my heart because it was way past time for worthy candidates, regardless of ethnicity to be civilly recognized.

Any remembrance must have a few Woodsboro names who are fondly recalled by Woodsboro repartees. Mine include Rev. Deane, Zeke Jordan, Nat Sanchez, Ms. Dorothy Welfel, Roy Hayes, Joyce Breaker, Pilah Romo, Glen Harsdorff (our 1950 best man at our wedding) Dr. Arch Koontz, Jerry Rooke, Lanny Toliver and Bob Hudler.

Ms. Kennedy ads her particular fondness – Sidney Tom Culp, W.A. Reeves, Ricky Pewitz, Mary Cummins, Boyce Wimberly, Addie Presley, Ron and Addie Hicks, Ann Lopez, Marvin Renfrow, Kathy Feuerbacher, Thelma Toliver and Alice Speis.

And, in the “all-embracing Woodsboro category, we both fondly recall the best Texas eatery, Tuttle’s; the Fast Break; and the nation’s best Dairy Queen.

Also, and this one cannot possibly be committed by a former newspaper publisher/editor (me) – our prize-winning Refugio County Press and its truly outstanding editor, Kenda Nelson.

Oh, lest we forget – the emergency room at Refugio County Hospital which kept me alive long enough 21/2 weeks ago to get to Spohn to at least live a little longer.

So, it comes to our end in and for and with Woodsboro.

Ms. Kennedy (Tomi) and I thank all for being fine fellow citizens. We leave with no malice toward anyone and would be proud to have as neighbors.

Goodbye, and may Woodsboro always be know as “The Friendly City.”