Watching Nancy Reagan’s funeral last week and the many photos of her famous husband Ronald Reagan, it is interesting to note that a key member of the Reagan Administration currently lives in Reno. Tyrus Cobb, the son of the legendary northern Nevada newspaper icon the late Ty Cobb, is that person. The career referred to above is the six-year stint, from 1983 to 1989, he had … [Read more...]
River of Grass
The title of this column was originally coined by one Marjory Stoneman Douglas. It refers to the famous Florida Everglades. When we left you last week, I was recovering from an unscheduled dip in the main canal that ran through the Everglades during my summer employment with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. Little did I know that this would the first of a series of … [Read more...]
Gallivanting through the Glades
A wide swath of land and water that occupies the southern half of Florida is commonly known as the Everglades. But to people who live in the region, it is more commonly referred to as the ‘Glades. For me, my experience there occurred in the summer following my junior year in high school. Since I had recently turned 16, I was able to obtain a commercial drivers’ license, … [Read more...]
Scalia’s passing will affect presidential race
With the Nevada and South Carolina results in the rear-view mirror, the chief topic of the presidential campaigns now will probably focus on the nomination of a Supreme Court justice to replace the recently departed Antonin Scalia. The lines on both sides have been drawn with President Obama announcing that he will “in due time” forward a nominee to the Senate. As for the … [Read more...]
Former Sparks resident’s photos on display
Currently at the Nevada Museum of Art, 60 W. Liberty St., there is a display of a small part of iconic photographer and former Sparks resident Don Dondero’s work. It is labelled “The Dondero Collection” and will be available for viewing until July 10. The exhibit is located on your left as you enter the building and is juxtaposed to the gift shop. The exhibit will be up in … [Read more...]
Super Bowl I and presidential politics
This week marks the best and worst of television as it started with Super Bowl 50 and ends today with the New Hampshire primary election. As far as Super Bowls go, I remember attending the first one in Los Angeles between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. A contingent of Northern Nevadans, numbering about a dozen, made the trip and stayed together at the same … [Read more...]
Horrible nights on the hardwood
After retrieving my footlocker from the Greyhound Bus station on my first visit to Reno, I wrestled it up to the top floor of Lincoln Hall at the University of Nevada where I had a panoramic view from a large room in the northwest corner. When I returned Coach Aiken’s car keys, I figured it was best to tell him that I had caused a rip in his rumble seat leather. He said, … [Read more...]
Memories of crusty coach Aiken
When we left you last week, we were on our way to Lincoln Hall in the wee hours of a very cold January morning. Having obeyed Coach Jim Aiken’s instructions to go to the Hall, find a bed and call on him in the a.m., I was surprised to find the main door locked. Looking down the covered porch, I saw a single door so I proceeded to bang on it until I had roused Dean Robert … [Read more...]