Veteran readers of this site will appreciate, I hope, some re-runs this holiday season of some of the best columns posted from seasons past…and sadly, from those whose chairs now sit empty around the Press Pros table.
It was suggested last week from a reader and long-time friend from eastern Pennsylvania.
“Do you ever re-run some of the old articles from the past?” asked Jack Heineman, from Adams County, Pennsylvania.
“I enjoy reading some of the old stories, especially about baseball and bird hunting. Old gifts are the best gifts.”
Publisher Sonny Fulks writes OHSAA and Ohio State sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
Jack, by the way, is a retired United States Marine, as well as a retired hunter.
“Don’t get around as well as I used to,” he claims. “But I still enjoy reading about it.”
An eclectic if there ever was one, Heineman has one of the country’s best collections of Nikon camera equipment, mostly the old stuff; and he claims playing the clarinet among his various hobbies. In fact, for years he played clarinet in the Marine Band stationed at the White House.
“I was Nixon’s first chair guy,” he laughs.
But to his suggestion about nostalgia from the past…yes…between now and Christmas we will post some of our favorite stories from some of our favorite story tellers from the past, including those early Reds and other baseball stories from Greg Hoard, Hal McCoy, and a name you may have forgotten…outdoors writer Tom Cappell, who took the position vacated when Press Pros original Jim Morris passed away in 2018.
Cappell, an award-winning author and columnist, wrote for almost three years before being forced to retire due to health reasons in 2020.
His best tales were those that involved ‘Uncle Mel’, a family member who he credited for teaching him an appreciation of the outdoors, and how to hunt and fish. One of his absolute best, The Last Hunt, will be posted as an encore later this week.
Greg Hoard was particularly popular for his stories of popular Reds figures during the demise of the Big Red Machine. And his story about how he met hall of famer Stan Musial is one of the funniest baseball stories you’ll ever enjoy…published many times previously, and still requested.
Hal McCoy’s epic yarn about how he met NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain has a surprise ending that you won’t soon forget.
And we can’t do nostalgia without some of our stories behind the songs of Christmas…and we’ll include a couple of those personal favorites, as well. My own pick would be the story about my dad and his listening to the old Walter Brennan record, Old River. Bing Crosby and the story behind Do You Hear What I Hear makes the list, too.
If you’re prone to a Chevy Chase moment during the holidays, we hope you’ll enjoy looking back at 16 years of Press Pros.
Happy Holidays..!
Kremer Roofing supports University of Dayton sports on Press Pros Magazine.com.