As reported here last week, Nevada lost its greatest-ever journalist 10 days or so ago. The Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), Tribune alumnus and Reno News & Review News Editor Dennis Myers, was taken off life support on August 26 to begin organ harvesting.
Brainwaveless since a stroke the previous week, the actual date and time of his departure from this plane are thus known only to God.
It is always difficult if not impossible to replace an innovative champion.
When 1972 Indianapolis 500 winner Mark Donohue was killed at the 1975 Formula One Austrian GrandPrix, one of Myers’ TV colleagues ironically raised a question that applies to Myers today.
The late Autoweek Editor and Myers Channel 2 associate Leon Mandel noted that Donohue was such a brilliant constructor that NASA engineers once came to Road Atlanta to inspect and marvel at his CanAm Porsche 917. (State Sen. Randolph Townsend, D- and R-Reno, later competed in Donohue’s masterpiece.)
Asked why they came to an auto race, the NASA heavyweights responded “Because Mr. Donohue’s car does what it’s designed to do so perfectly well.”
Such was Dennis Myers. Mandel concluded his retrospective quoting another motorsport designer: “I know this will work because Mark Donohue said it would. Now who do I ask?”
That is exactly where Dennis Myers’ death leaves his Nevada. It hit me in the face in the most mundane of places last week.
On a routine trip to the Vassar Street post office, I saw some people out on the sidewalk. Turned out to be a group of very confused sorta-liberals waving flags and signs in front of tables full of literature supporting Czar Donaldov. Huh?
When I saw the zealots, my first thought (as always, like Pavlov’s dog) was “I have to call Dennis about this.”
Then reality obtruded and I had to take a minute to regain my composure before talking with those benighted souls. There in the high desert heat was political performance art, a real-life version of Pirandello’s “Six Characters in Search of an Author.” Or perhaps they were merely waiting for Godot.
For one brief sunshiny moment, we were the same, all waiting in vain.
Paraphrasing Editor Mandel, “who do I call now?”
I weep the tears of transfiguration for my old friend.
His full obituary resides at NevadaLabor.com. A memorial is being planned. Watch NevadaLabor.com for information.
LABORIOUS DAY. The Reno Gazette-Journal went one-for-two on Labor Day. They ignored the one day American workers are celebrated, albeit with ads to buy cars and furniture. Pressing on regardless, they managed to publish a front page piece about the paucity of minorities at the Burning Man love fest.
While laudable, even that fell a bit short. About two weeks ago, Reno-Sparks NAACP President Lonnie Feemster informed me that a bunch of his relatives from all over the country would be assembling at his house to head for the desert dust eatery.
I casually mentioned Feemster’s sojourn to someone who surprised me by stating “I thought THEY didn’t go in for that sort of thing.” They? Them?!
I replied that Mr. Feemster told me his crew would be out there representing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Burners.
Makes sense to me. From photos I’ve seen, people in them parts wear so much body paint to go along with wigs and multiple tattoos that it’s often difficult to tell whether someone is wearing clothes, let alone their natural skin color.
A more urban celebration will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Grand Sierra as the NAACP hosts its 74th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner. I don’t know how I’m going to top last year’s Aretha Franklin musical tribute complete with 1965 pink Cadillac convertible, but I’m working on it. Reserve early. It’s cheaper. Info at RenoSparksNAACP.org/
ANOTHER ADIOS. Sparks resident and longtime Sparks Sheet Metal Workers Local 26 Business Manager Dave Peel, 82, departed for the big picket line in the sky on July 26. His adios will be celebrated where oldtime Nevadians have oft conducted proper sendoffs, Reno’s Coney Island Bar on E. 4th Street, between the IBEW 401 Hall and the Sparks City Limits; 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8.
Be well. Raise hell. Esté bien. Haga infierno.
Andrew Barbano is a 50-year Nevadan, editor of NevadaLabor.com and first vice-president of the Reno-Sparks NAACP. As always, his comments are strictly hiw own. E-mail Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since 1988.
John sebastian says
We finally agree on one significant point: the existence of God. Thank God for that because that’s it. And referring to me (us) as “American workers” is, at best, a condescending insult. To say someone is a “worker” is reduce them to the lowest common denominator. How about citizen? Or entrepreneur? Or father, mother, etc.. Of course, referring to people as people would destroy your precious Socialist Workers party holiday.