My Personal Tower of Fame
Making America safe for democracy

1954. 8 PM.
I climbed the ladder to the observation tower. “Ike” called it our American responsibility. To my imagination, America was one point behind: ninth inning, Jay at the plate, bases loaded, 3 and 2. The whole world was cheering around their TVs. “Go, Jay! Make Democracy safe again.”
Binoculars hanging from my neck, I entered the tower.
The radio had been left on a classical station. Changing it to KSMA “All dedication Friday,” I phoned in my request: “If… You … See … Kay — tell her I love her.”
And then, this 15-year-old, began scouring the nighttime sky, a smile on my face, waiting to hear “Hank the Howlmeister” read it aloud ….
Life was good!
