Groundbreaking....

The Springboard Center groundbreaking ceremonies, luncheon and celebrity events were a great success, highly entertaining and very touching. Thanks to all those who made it possible; especially the staff and talent at CBS7 and The Young and the Restless! Here are some photos of the day.

Ya'll Come.....!

The Springboard Center is a community based not for profit substance abuse counseling center. We have been operating out of cramped rented quarters downtown since 1999. As a board member I'm pleased to say that with more than generous financial support from the community we've raised about half of the $3 million+ cost of our new medical detox and treatment facility. And we're ready for the groundbreaking this Friday, snow or not!

The public is invited.....which means you! Our special guests will be soap opera diva Ms. Jeanne Cooper of The Young and the Restless, along with Josh O'Connell, producer of this long running CBS daytime drama. Other cast members in attendance is a distinct possibility. Ms. Cooper is our national spokesperson and Josh has told us that he is looking for ways to incorporate The Springboard Center into the Y&R storyline.

The Springboard Center facility is a long needed resource in Midland offering medical detox and substance abuse treatment to every member of the community no matter of their financial situation or ability to pay. There is no such facility in the area currently.

The groundbreaking will be at 11 a.m. this Friday at our site on Corporate Dr. off of N. Big Spring St., behind the First National Bank branch. Thankfully I ordered a tent....and today I asked them to throw in a heater. Please come say hell-o to Ms. Cooper, she's a captivating, caring and very sweet lady. Her Young and Restless fame not withstanding, I'm equally impressed that she has appeared in many of my favorite old time TV classics like Perry Mason and films like The Kansas City Bombers.

Photo Op's.....

One of the secrets of photography, I've learned, is just to keep plugging away, let people know of your interest and show them your work. Some interesting upcoming opportunities generated this way:

‡While in Boerne last weekend I met some very caring folks who run a weekend camp for severly handicapped kids. They asked if I'd be interested in coming down soon and photographing one of their weekends for use in presentation materials. A privelage!

‡This Friday, The Springboard Center will have the groundbreaking for our new $4 million facility. Attending will be our national spokesperson Jeanne Cooper, star of the CBS soap The Young and the Restless. Associate producer Josh O'Connell, having seen my shots of Ms. Cooper on a previous visit, has asked me to generate a portfolio that they can use in their national promotion of Ms. Cooper's involvement.

‡The best! Last fall I sent some photo samples to my alma mater, Trinity University, as a preliminary to entry in their alumni art show. Today I received a letter from Trinity asking me to be one of several "event" photographers documenting the visit of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who will speak at Trinity in March. An honor!

Honor Flight.....

In my army career, and during the last several years in Midland, I have 100's of hours flying in helicopters; parachuting out of some of them too. I'm one of those whacko's who really loves flying in them with the doors open at low altitude. Except when getting shot at, it's great fun to me. But I don't think I've ever had as much fun, pleasure really, as I did today while flying in a Huey with my good friend Bruce Crandall. His face lit up like a kid at Christmas when he took over the controls of Gregg Baiano's huey.

Bruce was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery while flying a Huey almost exactly like the restored Vietnam era model we were in today for three hours. Though he has briefly flown a few helicopters since his army days he basically stopped flying Hueys after a serious crash in 1968. Today he flew us all the way back from Iraan, Texas...a 45 minute flight. Like riding a bike, you just never forget how.

Several days ago when my friend Gregg heard that Bruce was in town, he said he would deem it a great honor if Bruce would take a flight in one of Gregg's three restored Hueys. So, today that's what we did, flying to Iraan to eat one of the best barbeque lunches I've had in Texas. Along with us was the new director of the Commmemorative Air Force, a fomer Army chopper pilot himself and Bruce's son Donovan who flew up from Houston today just for the event. Also I had called my friend Jose, the news director at CBS7 News, to see if they might like to send a reporter along. Jose called me back to say that no, he didn't want to send a reporter, he was going along himself and bringing their dirctor of photography to film the trip. So, next Monday, I understand, look for our trip and interviews with Bruce on the news at 6 and 10. And if you are in Iraan, try the barbeque joint, it's better than anything in Midland.

Online interview with Jimmy Patterson [click on icon at right]

Visitations....

It's odd sometimes how things work in life.

It seems like seeing old friends suddenly comes in a torrent. As the New Year approached I was invited to Boerne, Texas to be the guest of my good friends Gen. Tom and Toni Hill. Tom was a fraternity brother and I met Toni my freshman year at Trinity University also. I lived with Tom and Toni for four months when we all were in the army at Ft. Benning and after 40 years they are like family to me. Since our last visit together in 2003, we had a lot to catch up on. And with their extended families, their big gold dog and my Daphne in their large country home, it was a great time for us after a somewhat downsized Christmas.

On New Years Eve several other fraternity brothers who live in San Antonio came out for the day as well as my old high school classmate Bonnie who I haven't seen in decades. Laughter and remembrances were non stop while my friend, the other Pancho, and I took photos. It was tough to leave.

And so today I was pleasantly surprised when I received a phone call from two other dear friends, Bruce and Arlene Crandall. As you may recall Bruce is a recent Medal of Honor recepient, a ceremony I was honored to attend at the White House last February. Bruce and Arlene have been on a whirlwind appearance schedule since then, but are slowing down to spend three days in Midland. I think, perhaps, the invitation from my friend Gregg Baiano to spend two days flying in his restored Huey helicopters may have swayed Bruce to take this break from his rapid paced schedule. More fun will now, undoubtedly, ensue!