Besides the sun and surf, the greatest thing about being a young newspaper reporter on tony Hilton Head Island, S.C., was the opportunity to meet with and write about the various celebrities that came through or had vacation homes on the famed resort island.
Despite interviewing or covering the likes of Muhammad Ali, Bill Clinton, G. Gordon Liddy, Michael Jordan, John Mellancamp, and a host of others, none can touch the day I got to spend with humorist, satirist and journalist Art Buchwald, who died Jan. 17 at the age of 81 from kidney failure.
This blog format doesn’t allow for the royal treatment he deserves (just click on the link above for a taste). But, Art, if you’re up there (and I’m sure you are), I will always appreciate the honor of driving you around in my crusty old Volvo, talking about your time in Paris and Nixon and the newly elected President Clinton (who also was attending the island’s annual touchy-feely wonk-fest known as Renaissance Weekend). And, of course, it’s not everyday you get to take a titan of journalism to the local Wal-Mart – especially when you’re on a mission to buy an egg timer to shut up long-winded folks like Clinton that hog all the panel discussions.
But mostly, sir, I’ll forever remember your final words to me, which resonate to this day: “Well, Hal, time for tennis and some drinks with Harry [Blackmun – the Supreme Court Justice].” I had a helluva swell time with you today, kid. Nice little island you got here, real nice – could use more Jews, though. “
That’s Art. R.I.P.
– Hal L. Millard, staff writer
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