I attended my cousin Don’s memorial service today. Don worked for WSB radio and television many years ago. Then he went on to work for CNN for about fifteen years after that. During his early years at WSB he made some great friends, and several of his WSB friends spoke at his funeral today. One of those friends was Don Kennedy. I didn’t realize that my cousin Don was good friends with Don Kennedy. If I had known that when I was a kid, I probably would have begged cousin Don to introduce me to his friend. Don Kennedy was one of my childhood heros. I didn’t know him as Don Kennedy, though. To me - and to thousands of other children in Georgia - he was Officer Don, the energetic and kind and funny host of the Popeye Club.
Once Officer Don brought his traveling Popeye Club to our little town of Ellijay, Georgia. Out of all the children in the audience, I was one of the lucky ones to be chosen to play one of the games on stage. My game was musical chairs, and I WON! My prize was a white cowboy hat with Officer Don’s autograph. I remember getting the cowboy hat, but I have no idea what happened to it afterwards. It was truly a high point of my childhood. Thanks for the memory, Officer Don!
April 8th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I remember Officer Don coming to Cedartown. I was so excited to get to meet him.
I am so sorry I had to miss the service. I had been sick for several days and was hoping I would be well enough to go, but I wasn’t. I wish I could have been there.
Thanks for sharing and I would love to see some of the pictures of you, your mom and siblings!
April 8th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I remember meeting Officer Don in Cedartown. I was so thrilled to meet him. I didn’t realize he was a friend of Don’s either.
I was so sorry to miss the service. I had been sick for several days and thought I would feel well enough to come but I didn’t. I wish I could have been there.
Please share some of the pictures of you and your siblings. I would love to see them.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
OOPS, sorry about the double comment.
April 8th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
that was a very nice service I thought.
I enjoyed seeing Officer Don too. I shamelessly gushed over him at the reception. He really was a part of the lives of the children of Georgia there for a long time.
April 27th, 2008 at 10:56 pm