JOHNNY AND JUNE

The recent TV show on June Carter Cash caused me to remember the time I met June and Johnny in person. It was probably the late 60s while I was still working in news at KYTV in Springfield, Missouri. At that time the Easter Seals Society held its annual telethon at the station. I worked on that telethon and subsequently helped the organization with other telethons over the years at several other stations. On that particular day the entertainers had come through town headed somewhere. At the time Springfield was very active in the country music scene hosting Ozarks Jubilee a weekly show telecast from a theater in the city (at the time the only live program being televised from anywhere but the east and west coasts). Many famous country stars performed there and a fellow named Si Simon knew them all. I'm sure he had a hand in convincing the couple to stop in and support the telethon. They did make a nice contribution on that day to help those with disabilities. I know I took a photo but don't know what happened to it. That began my work with Easter Seals which lasted for about the next ten years. That association let me have contact with other celebrities such as writer Janet Dailey, actor John Goodman, and actress Tess Harper. It was a very rewarding time in my life.