BRUSHES WITH FAME
Jan
11
My late husband Sam and I are third generation American’s of Japanese Heritage. We lived and grew up east of the 400 mile restricted zone and were not incarcerated with Executive Order 9066. We had our own WWII issues, but we also integrated into that farming community of Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho.
As I Covid-Isolate I am looking at this picture we blew up for my husband’s memorial 3 years ago.
I like this picture, I call BRUSHES WITH FAME because what I want to remember is our American stories of how we all come from multiple heritages and are connected.
First, let me tell you about Nampa and Caldwell, ID, where Sam and I grew up and Sam’s first brush with fame. Sam did some sign painting for one of first Albertson’s stores in Boise and Nampa, Idaho. Sam said, “One time Joe Alberson grabbed some sliced bologna and bread. We sat in the back storage room on the wooden coke bottle crates, had boloney sandwiches for lunch and talked.”
This picture was taken when Sam was at College of Idaho in Caldwell, ID a little over five miles from the Goto Onion Farm. The college was called Albertson College from 1991-2007. Sam also knew Joe Alberson’s daughter, Barbara Jean “Bobbi”, who was at College of Idaho at the same time.
That’s not RC Owens in front of Sam as I assumed when first writing this blog. As I look at how they are a relay team, closely holding the baton and smiling, my tears become smiles as well.
It is still true that on Sept. 23, 1952 the team went to Oregon State for a track meet. Sam said, “That night at the motel, we watched.Rocky Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott in 13 rounds.”
Back at the College of Idaho Elgin Baylor was RC Owen’s roommate. We know the name “Baylor” here in Seattle because he brought fame to Seattle University playing basketball. He went on to play 14 seasons with the NBA, ending with the LA Lakers.
RC later played NFL football from 1957 - 1964 with SanF 49ers.
This picture symbolizes a “relaying” of participants from east to west, and with the vintage car in the background signifies almost a 100 year legacy.
Famous people, with their God-given talents, heritages and incredible work ethics, bring out the best in themselves.
Let us similarly motivate OURSELVES into “relaying” our skills past things like the 9066 Incarceration and the Covid Pandemic into the next 100 years.