A True Oklahoma Treasure: Brian Kelly Burden
Brian Kelly Burden on the right. 1st Oklahoman to fight for a World's Championship Title. (photo by Charolet Pahlke)
I was driving through Drumright, OK a few years ago and as I looked over to my right going east on the state highway that ran through the neat little city. I saw the large high school building/auditorium and what actually caught my eye. An older man running down the hill on the street that the school sat. He was running toward me in a steady but strong jog. Immediately, I said to my wife that I knew that man. I pulled the car over, got out, and greeted the him.
Surprised in seeing him, I called out and said, "hey, where you going." The man didn't immediately recognized me but I again called out, Mr. Burden, "how you doing. Remember me, Mr. Pahlke, Principal at North Highlands Elementary?"
After a second or two or more (it wasn't immediate), the man gathered his mind and then said, "Sure. Mr. Fred." "Yes".
I responded, "Fred Pahlke. What are you doing in Drumright?"
I was very glad to see the man after so many years. We visited for about ten minutes about old times; I introduced him to my wife. After about ten minutes or so we said our goodbye's and I got back in the car. I knew that I would probably never see the man again, as he was much older than his age, and the years of his profession had caught up with him. I learned, from our conversation, he had a great family living in the area, with one son coaching at Drumright, another at Cushing, his birthplace. He was proud of his children and his grand children and such. Before we drove off I had my wife snap a picture of the man standing next to me. Back in the car I gave my wife a little history I had of the man and how I was to know him.
Brian Kelly Burden grew up in Oklahoma, Cushing to be exact. He was a college graduate, was the former School superintendent at Thackerville, OK, a long time educator. I met him later in life when he was a substitute teacher in Oklahoma City, mostly at North Highlands. Mr. Burden was a gentle man, a man really too good for children. The youth, they could do no wrong. I am sure he never met a child that couldn't learn. He believed them, literally, no matter what they said. He taught PE for me. He officiated my children at the Edmond YMCA when they played sports there. He apologized when he called a foul on a child, trying not to hurt their 5 year old's feeling. Get the picture. Mr. Burden is a unique individual, a exquisite example of a human being.
Mr. Burden is one of the best people I have every run the same path with. I have a list of my all-time best people I have ever met, associated with, personally known. My list currently stops at four. One day I hope to run into number five, something I think about a lot as I get older. Yes four. My list only includes people that I have met and I have nothing negative about the person. People I call "perfect human beings." (Yes, I know that the perfect human being line ended with you know who if you are a believer). Yet, Mr. Burden is on my list and unless I hear something or witness something he will always be on my list.
I told my wife he was physically doing great. Running miles a day, still in great shape. Strong as an over sixty year old man could be.
Brian Kelly (Burden) was the first Oklahoman to fight for a World's Boxing Championship. He lost, in Dec. 1971, at the Fairgrounds Arena to Bob Foster, a 3rd round TKO. The fight was for the WBC Light Heavy Weight title. He was a game fighter that night, being knocked down twice in the 2nd round, getting up each time. At the end of his career he was 45-12-0 with over 300 hard rounds. Those rounds took some of the spark out of him, but he would never tell you that.
Kelly Burden was the forerunner for Sean O'Grady, I haven't seen Mr. Burden for a long time since that meeting in Drumright. Currently (2015) I understand he is under supervisory care for his mental disabilities from boxing. No matter about that, even as sad it is. Mr. Burden has no worry about his eternity. God takes care of the good ones, It was an honor to know him and be on his path.
(A story published a few years back that gave me the idea to write this brief history I had with Mr. Burden. The story about young children boxers on the south side touched my memory. Mr. Burden started/worked that gym in the beginning. He loved to help children). The pic was the one my wife took that day when we met in Drumright.
http://www.chsclassof1963.org/kellyburdentribute.htm
Surprised in seeing him, I called out and said, "hey, where you going." The man didn't immediately recognized me but I again called out, Mr. Burden, "how you doing. Remember me, Mr. Pahlke, Principal at North Highlands Elementary?"
After a second or two or more (it wasn't immediate), the man gathered his mind and then said, "Sure. Mr. Fred." "Yes".
I responded, "Fred Pahlke. What are you doing in Drumright?"
I was very glad to see the man after so many years. We visited for about ten minutes about old times; I introduced him to my wife. After about ten minutes or so we said our goodbye's and I got back in the car. I knew that I would probably never see the man again, as he was much older than his age, and the years of his profession had caught up with him. I learned, from our conversation, he had a great family living in the area, with one son coaching at Drumright, another at Cushing, his birthplace. He was proud of his children and his grand children and such. Before we drove off I had my wife snap a picture of the man standing next to me. Back in the car I gave my wife a little history I had of the man and how I was to know him.
Brian Kelly Burden grew up in Oklahoma, Cushing to be exact. He was a college graduate, was the former School superintendent at Thackerville, OK, a long time educator. I met him later in life when he was a substitute teacher in Oklahoma City, mostly at North Highlands. Mr. Burden was a gentle man, a man really too good for children. The youth, they could do no wrong. I am sure he never met a child that couldn't learn. He believed them, literally, no matter what they said. He taught PE for me. He officiated my children at the Edmond YMCA when they played sports there. He apologized when he called a foul on a child, trying not to hurt their 5 year old's feeling. Get the picture. Mr. Burden is a unique individual, a exquisite example of a human being.
Mr. Burden is one of the best people I have every run the same path with. I have a list of my all-time best people I have ever met, associated with, personally known. My list currently stops at four. One day I hope to run into number five, something I think about a lot as I get older. Yes four. My list only includes people that I have met and I have nothing negative about the person. People I call "perfect human beings." (Yes, I know that the perfect human being line ended with you know who if you are a believer). Yet, Mr. Burden is on my list and unless I hear something or witness something he will always be on my list.
I told my wife he was physically doing great. Running miles a day, still in great shape. Strong as an over sixty year old man could be.
Brian Kelly (Burden) was the first Oklahoman to fight for a World's Boxing Championship. He lost, in Dec. 1971, at the Fairgrounds Arena to Bob Foster, a 3rd round TKO. The fight was for the WBC Light Heavy Weight title. He was a game fighter that night, being knocked down twice in the 2nd round, getting up each time. At the end of his career he was 45-12-0 with over 300 hard rounds. Those rounds took some of the spark out of him, but he would never tell you that.
Kelly Burden was the forerunner for Sean O'Grady, I haven't seen Mr. Burden for a long time since that meeting in Drumright. Currently (2015) I understand he is under supervisory care for his mental disabilities from boxing. No matter about that, even as sad it is. Mr. Burden has no worry about his eternity. God takes care of the good ones, It was an honor to know him and be on his path.
(A story published a few years back that gave me the idea to write this brief history I had with Mr. Burden. The story about young children boxers on the south side touched my memory. Mr. Burden started/worked that gym in the beginning. He loved to help children). The pic was the one my wife took that day when we met in Drumright.
http://www.chsclassof1963.org/kellyburdentribute.htm
Kevin Durant
What Kevin Durant said yesterday in accepting his MVP award will go into history as one of the greatest speeches ever given by an athlete. His words ring true about his love of his family, his teammates, his coaches, his fans, and all those who consider him as their favorite basketball player. The following says it all:
Durant a True MVP, Leader By Nick Gallo | Thunder Basketball Writer
[email protected]
May 6th, 2014
In the building where the first drops of sweat in Thunder team history splashed onto the basketball floor, only tears of joy and love fell on Tuesday.
In front of 2,000 Oklahomans at the Thunder Events Center, and the Thunder’s original practice facility, Kevin Durant accepted the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for the NBA KIA Most Valuable Player Award.
Your browser does not support iframes. During his emotional, 25-minute MVP acceptance speech, Durant went down the line to personally and specifically thank everyone who made the award possible. From poignant, heart-felt memories with family to hilarious ribbing of his teammates, Durant turned an award signifying his own personal achievements into one shared by everyone in his family, the Thunder organization, and in the state of Oklahoma.
“I’ve put in so much work and so many people have helped me out,” Durant said. “I feel like we all won.”
“It feels like a group award and it feels great to celebrate it with such a good group of guys,” Durant continued.
With his teammates and coaching staff seated behind him, the basketball support staff to his right and Thunder General Manager Sam Presti and Head Coach Scott Brooks sitting to his left, Durant ensured that Tuesday’s event would signify the value and importance he places on those around him in the organization.
The seventh-year forward’s humility, passion and dedication to others was on full display not just during his speech, but in the execution of the entire afternoon, as he made sure to include everyone who has helped him become the player, and more importantly, the man that he is today.
“He just won the highest individual award that the NBA can offer, the MVP of the National Basketball Association,” Brooks said. “The first thing he mentioned was that it’s our trophy. That’s who he is. That’s the person we’ve all grown to love and have seen grow up in front of our eyes.”
“He’s an authentic person,” Presti said. “When you go through the ups and downs that we have as an organization, everyone wears the same scars. I think it brings people closer together and most of all, we understand that it’s a special time and place and you have to celebrate that when you can.”
Russell Westbrook said earlier in the day that, “actions speak louder than words,” and it is for that reason that Durant has the ultimate respect from his teammates. Through his daily work ethic since the moment the Thunder arrived in Oklahoma City and stepped inside that old practice facility, Durant has helped set the standards for determination, consistency and commitment that players in the organization hold themselves to and will continue to be held to for years to come.
While this is Durant’s first MVP award, it has been percolating for years. All of the late night sessions at the gym on the road with teammates, early morning competitions with Westbrook to see who could get to the practice facility earliest and inspiring messages from coaches and staff have culminated to create the 2013-14 season the Durant put together.
He is being recognized by the NBA for his remarkable ability to lead the Thunder through adversity to a 59-win season while averaging a staggering 32 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game on over 50 percent shooting.
Durant truly earned this MVP award, however, in all of the countless days over the seven years of his NBA career and even before that, at the University of Texas and in Prince George County, Maryland, when all he had was his internal drive, the support of his family and a basketball.
“It’s really refreshing that this award was given to Kevin through just doing his work and committing to the things that are most important to the team,” Presti said. “I don’t think it could have been earned any more purely.”
“It’s his work ethic and his commitment,” Brooks said. “He strives to be the best possible basketball player he can possibly be. In that pursuit, it is relentless. He does it with such a pure heart that it inspires all his teammates and coaches alike. He gives everything to his team, he gives everything to his community and that’s something, to me, that is inspiring.”
Durant can create awe inspiring moments on the court, but his reputation and commitment off the court is just as sparkling. After completing his speech and press conference inside to half of the crowd in attendance, Durant stepped outside to greet the other half of the fans, who were eagerly watching the broadcast of the speech on a video screen and awaiting his arrival.
Durant thanked them for all of their support, then donated the SUV that KIA gives to MVP winners each year to Moore Youth and Family Services’ Executive Director Lisa Williams, who was “speechless” and “overwhelmed by the compassion and generosity”. Nearly a year after donating $1 Million to the victims of the F5 tornado that ravaged Moore, OK, Durant again made sure to give back to those in the area who are still recovering.
For all that Durant does on the court, it is his presence off of it that is just as integral to why, in Oklahomans’ eyes, he is always their MVP. As a touching tribute video that was played before Durant’s speech showed, Oklahoma City's citizens and Durant's teammates alike understand the immense contributions Durant has made during his time in Oklahoma City. The trajectories of his personal career, the Thunder organization and the city have all steadily risen together, and for that, all of Oklahoma is grateful.
“I feel like us being here as the Thunder, we just try to shine a bright light and bring life to people,” Durant said. “Having something like this represents what we’re about. If we fall down, we get up. We may finish second, but we keep fighting until we finish first. That says a lot about the city. It’s the perfect place for me.”
Fortunately for Thunder fans not only in Oklahoma, but all over the world, Durant will treat his first MVP season with the same regard as every one of his others – as a stepping stone towards continued improvement. Coming into each season, Durant has found ways to come back a better player, and managed to develop his game during the course of the regular season and even during this current postseason run.
While Durant, his family, the Thunder and Oklahomans will all celebrate his MVP award, it should be noted that the 25-year-old star is far from done becoming the best all-around player that he can possibly be.
“I always feel that there is another level that I can go to,” Durant said. “I think the hardest thing in this league is being consistent. I just try to be consistent in my effort, leadership, attitude, being coachable and learning.”
http://youtu.be/UvKDw-EkfYg
Durant a True MVP, Leader By Nick Gallo | Thunder Basketball Writer
[email protected]
May 6th, 2014
In the building where the first drops of sweat in Thunder team history splashed onto the basketball floor, only tears of joy and love fell on Tuesday.
In front of 2,000 Oklahomans at the Thunder Events Center, and the Thunder’s original practice facility, Kevin Durant accepted the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for the NBA KIA Most Valuable Player Award.
Your browser does not support iframes. During his emotional, 25-minute MVP acceptance speech, Durant went down the line to personally and specifically thank everyone who made the award possible. From poignant, heart-felt memories with family to hilarious ribbing of his teammates, Durant turned an award signifying his own personal achievements into one shared by everyone in his family, the Thunder organization, and in the state of Oklahoma.
“I’ve put in so much work and so many people have helped me out,” Durant said. “I feel like we all won.”
“It feels like a group award and it feels great to celebrate it with such a good group of guys,” Durant continued.
With his teammates and coaching staff seated behind him, the basketball support staff to his right and Thunder General Manager Sam Presti and Head Coach Scott Brooks sitting to his left, Durant ensured that Tuesday’s event would signify the value and importance he places on those around him in the organization.
The seventh-year forward’s humility, passion and dedication to others was on full display not just during his speech, but in the execution of the entire afternoon, as he made sure to include everyone who has helped him become the player, and more importantly, the man that he is today.
“He just won the highest individual award that the NBA can offer, the MVP of the National Basketball Association,” Brooks said. “The first thing he mentioned was that it’s our trophy. That’s who he is. That’s the person we’ve all grown to love and have seen grow up in front of our eyes.”
“He’s an authentic person,” Presti said. “When you go through the ups and downs that we have as an organization, everyone wears the same scars. I think it brings people closer together and most of all, we understand that it’s a special time and place and you have to celebrate that when you can.”
Russell Westbrook said earlier in the day that, “actions speak louder than words,” and it is for that reason that Durant has the ultimate respect from his teammates. Through his daily work ethic since the moment the Thunder arrived in Oklahoma City and stepped inside that old practice facility, Durant has helped set the standards for determination, consistency and commitment that players in the organization hold themselves to and will continue to be held to for years to come.
While this is Durant’s first MVP award, it has been percolating for years. All of the late night sessions at the gym on the road with teammates, early morning competitions with Westbrook to see who could get to the practice facility earliest and inspiring messages from coaches and staff have culminated to create the 2013-14 season the Durant put together.
He is being recognized by the NBA for his remarkable ability to lead the Thunder through adversity to a 59-win season while averaging a staggering 32 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game on over 50 percent shooting.
Durant truly earned this MVP award, however, in all of the countless days over the seven years of his NBA career and even before that, at the University of Texas and in Prince George County, Maryland, when all he had was his internal drive, the support of his family and a basketball.
“It’s really refreshing that this award was given to Kevin through just doing his work and committing to the things that are most important to the team,” Presti said. “I don’t think it could have been earned any more purely.”
“It’s his work ethic and his commitment,” Brooks said. “He strives to be the best possible basketball player he can possibly be. In that pursuit, it is relentless. He does it with such a pure heart that it inspires all his teammates and coaches alike. He gives everything to his team, he gives everything to his community and that’s something, to me, that is inspiring.”
Durant can create awe inspiring moments on the court, but his reputation and commitment off the court is just as sparkling. After completing his speech and press conference inside to half of the crowd in attendance, Durant stepped outside to greet the other half of the fans, who were eagerly watching the broadcast of the speech on a video screen and awaiting his arrival.
Durant thanked them for all of their support, then donated the SUV that KIA gives to MVP winners each year to Moore Youth and Family Services’ Executive Director Lisa Williams, who was “speechless” and “overwhelmed by the compassion and generosity”. Nearly a year after donating $1 Million to the victims of the F5 tornado that ravaged Moore, OK, Durant again made sure to give back to those in the area who are still recovering.
For all that Durant does on the court, it is his presence off of it that is just as integral to why, in Oklahomans’ eyes, he is always their MVP. As a touching tribute video that was played before Durant’s speech showed, Oklahoma City's citizens and Durant's teammates alike understand the immense contributions Durant has made during his time in Oklahoma City. The trajectories of his personal career, the Thunder organization and the city have all steadily risen together, and for that, all of Oklahoma is grateful.
“I feel like us being here as the Thunder, we just try to shine a bright light and bring life to people,” Durant said. “Having something like this represents what we’re about. If we fall down, we get up. We may finish second, but we keep fighting until we finish first. That says a lot about the city. It’s the perfect place for me.”
Fortunately for Thunder fans not only in Oklahoma, but all over the world, Durant will treat his first MVP season with the same regard as every one of his others – as a stepping stone towards continued improvement. Coming into each season, Durant has found ways to come back a better player, and managed to develop his game during the course of the regular season and even during this current postseason run.
While Durant, his family, the Thunder and Oklahomans will all celebrate his MVP award, it should be noted that the 25-year-old star is far from done becoming the best all-around player that he can possibly be.
“I always feel that there is another level that I can go to,” Durant said. “I think the hardest thing in this league is being consistent. I just try to be consistent in my effort, leadership, attitude, being coachable and learning.”
http://youtu.be/UvKDw-EkfYg
Coach Mack Brown Is One Hell of a Football Coach
The University of Texas replaced the resigned Mack Brown yesterday with Louisville head coach Charlie Strong, the first black man to head one of the four major programs in the Longhorn barn (football, basketball, baseball, women's basketball). I have dished on Coach Mack for many years as he, at times, was the brunt of jokes. Mack Brown coached at Texas for 16 years, winning one BCS Championship in those seasons in Austin. One BCS title you might say is not enough for a program like Texas, but as we all know, if your name is not Saban or Meyer, multiple titles are hard to come by. I will state flatly that Texas needed to make a change, not that Coach Mack wasn't an effective man on the job, but that there comes a time in which a coaching change is good not only for the school but for the out going coach as well. Coach Brown had some tough times in his final few seasons, and a possible continuing of those tough times looked very possible. Still, one must not, can not, over look the job that Coach Mack did in his run, and his coaching record, not as great as Daddy D , but better than D.X Bible's tenure at the school. Brown will go down as a legendary coach at the school.
Least we forget, the Univ. of Texas's football program has been touted at the best coaching job in America. Brown commanded a top salary, as will the new coach. Texas has more funds to support their programs than anyone. Their facilities are superior. There donors and supporters as numerous as any school in college athletics. And one must not forget, the little rabbit of politics runs around the program and the Athletic Director like no other program in the country at UT. Explore the job at Oklahoma with Texas. No comparison. Yes, you have to win at both places. But the extra duties that the Texas job requires is enormous. At OU, Stoops can live a life of not having to be out front 365 days a year. The Texas Head Coach cannot. Coach Brown excelled at that like no one else. Coach Mack as the administrator of the football program at Texas is unparalleled. He is a nice man, a giving man, a players man, and most importantly, an honorable man. Sure, he could fire a coordinator with the best of them, but he did it with the program in mind. And he did it with his job in mind also. Top CEO's have what Brown exhibited at Texas, They had the guts do what they thought had to be done. Yet he did it with class. Texas never had a problem finding people to coach, to replace those let go. His stamp on the program was his. In the finality of his passing the torch to Charlie Strong, we shall see how being a "hard ass" coach fits in the politics that is Texas football. Strong has to win, immediately, or he won't finish out his five year contract. I suspect that he must win the Big 12 Football title by 2015, two years. If the Horn's are still mired in a fight for a top five in the league, Coach Strong's past disdain for putting out, giving of himself in the little things, such as Coach Mack did for so many years, will end with a new coach by 2016. Hard no non-sense coaches like Strong, like Pollini at Nebraska, like Stoops at OU, have to win immediately, or there will be trouble. Look for immediate success at Texas for Coach Strong or look for a new program starter soon, very soon.
(If an AD was smart, the first person that he should contact to coach his program would be Mack Brown. At his age, Coach Brown has years of coaching ahead and would make one hell of a good coach)
Least we forget, the Univ. of Texas's football program has been touted at the best coaching job in America. Brown commanded a top salary, as will the new coach. Texas has more funds to support their programs than anyone. Their facilities are superior. There donors and supporters as numerous as any school in college athletics. And one must not forget, the little rabbit of politics runs around the program and the Athletic Director like no other program in the country at UT. Explore the job at Oklahoma with Texas. No comparison. Yes, you have to win at both places. But the extra duties that the Texas job requires is enormous. At OU, Stoops can live a life of not having to be out front 365 days a year. The Texas Head Coach cannot. Coach Brown excelled at that like no one else. Coach Mack as the administrator of the football program at Texas is unparalleled. He is a nice man, a giving man, a players man, and most importantly, an honorable man. Sure, he could fire a coordinator with the best of them, but he did it with the program in mind. And he did it with his job in mind also. Top CEO's have what Brown exhibited at Texas, They had the guts do what they thought had to be done. Yet he did it with class. Texas never had a problem finding people to coach, to replace those let go. His stamp on the program was his. In the finality of his passing the torch to Charlie Strong, we shall see how being a "hard ass" coach fits in the politics that is Texas football. Strong has to win, immediately, or he won't finish out his five year contract. I suspect that he must win the Big 12 Football title by 2015, two years. If the Horn's are still mired in a fight for a top five in the league, Coach Strong's past disdain for putting out, giving of himself in the little things, such as Coach Mack did for so many years, will end with a new coach by 2016. Hard no non-sense coaches like Strong, like Pollini at Nebraska, like Stoops at OU, have to win immediately, or there will be trouble. Look for immediate success at Texas for Coach Strong or look for a new program starter soon, very soon.
(If an AD was smart, the first person that he should contact to coach his program would be Mack Brown. At his age, Coach Brown has years of coaching ahead and would make one hell of a good coach)
Follow this Pope and the Teachings of the Church;
Francis is the Man the Church Needed
It is an exciting time for the Catholic Church. With a new Pope in place, it is hoped we will see his mark on the Church in a positive way. His leadership and total devotion to God will make this world a better place for not only Catholics but all mankind. Following the Church in teachings and beliefs through his leadership has begun. Lord be with our new Pope Francis.
For additional information: http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/heresy_schism_apostasy.htm
For additional information: http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/heresy_schism_apostasy.htm
Texas Coach Mack Brown Certified CRAZY!
University of Texas football coach Mack Brown has been certified CRAZY. Looney Mack will remain head coach of the Steer Program. Thank god!
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Bill Snyder
Is the Greatest College Football Coach of Our Time
Bill Snyder-KSU
Photo: ESPN.GO.COM
I have followed college football from my crib to my lazy boy, fifty-nine seasons long, and I do think I know a little about the game. As a child of six or seven I read old (and I do mean old-is 1932 old enough?) football magazines that my dad had collected as a boy himself. I know the history of the game enough to tell you that in my opinion current Kansas State Head Football Coach Bill Snyder is the greatest football coach of our time and quite possibly the best in history. His turn-a-round of the worst college football program in history (up to his hiring) is the most significant and greatest job in the history of the college game. Not only did he turn the culture at Manhattan,( from one of a major college sisters-of-the-poor program to a winner), he brought what college football needs the most right now, a honorable man that has a work ethic to do things right. Don't count out the Cat's this season. They will be a tough out.
Dale Kreimeyer Makes Canadian History
My brother-in-law Dale Kreimeyer made history when he became the first American citizen allowed keep his family's homested land in Saskatchewan. This ruling by the Saskatchewan Farm Land Security Board was a first. You can read the story from the sites that follow. Dale recieved a call from the office of the Prime Minister of Canada congratulating him on the historic ruling.
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/business_agriculture/story.html?id=942d4433-7ab3-4686-881d-5c7a07037574
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2008/08/20/oklahoma-farm.html
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/business_agriculture/story.html?id=942d4433-7ab3-4686-881d-5c7a07037574
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2008/08/20/oklahoma-farm.html
Jack Roland Murphy Aka Murph-the-Surf
One Hell-of-a-Guy
Back in the middle 1970's I attended a movie preview at Shepard Mall of the film "Murph-the-Surf" staring the fine actor Robert Conrad (from the TV series "The Wild Wild West.") Mr. Conrad made an appearance at the movie and I still remember how short the man was. The movie was about the most famous jewel theft in the world at that time, the heist of the Star of India, the Eagle Diamond, and the de Long Ruby. The robbery took place on Oct. 29, 1964 at the the J.P. Morgan jewel collection from the display cases of New York's American Museum of Natural
History. Jack Roland Murphy (Don Stroud played him in the movie), along with his accomplices, Alan Kuhn (Robert Conrad played him in the movie) and Roger Clark.
This robbery was called the "Jewel Heist of the Century." "The museum's security was lax to non-existent. The burglar alarm system was non-operational, and a second story window in the jewel room was usually left open to aid in ventilation. The thieves climbed in through the window and discovered that the display case alarms were non-functional as well. The stolen jewels were valued at more than $400,000." (Wikipedia). The robbers found out that they couldn't pass the The Star of India a 563.35 carat (112.67 g) star sapphire, one of the largest such gems in the world. It was, as in the movie, priceless, but also worthless. Jack Roland Murphy and his helpers were caught and sentenced to three years in jail. The movie "Murf-the-Surf" was made and told the story of the man and his heist. Yet, that was just he beginning of Jack Roland Murphy's story. A first-degree murder conviction in 1968 put the man in jail for life.
"When Bill Glass, Roger Staubach and McCoy McLemore visited Florida State prison in 1974, as part of a Bill Glass Champions for Life weekend, Murphy was impressed with the visitors, both world champion athletes and local businessmen. At that time Murphy had an earliest parole date of Nov. 2225, but that weekend changed his attitude and he devoted his future time spent in prison to serving a higher cause. His service in the chaplaincy program, leading Bible studies and mentoring other men in prison led the Florida Parole Board to release him on "parole with lifetime monitoring" in 1986.
In 1986, Murphy began going back into prisons and jails all over the U.S. as a platform guest with Bill Glass. In 1990, he was hired on staff with Bill Glass Champions for Life. Murphy has also been a featured speaker for Kairos, Coalition of Prison Evangelists, Int'l Prison Ministries, Time for Freedom and Good News Jail & Prison Ministry. After visiting over 1,200 prisons, and recognizing the incredible change apparent in this man's life, the FL Parole Board terminated his "lifetime parole" in 2000.
Murphy is now international director for Champions for Life, visiting prisons, jails, and youth detention facilities all over the world. Murphy authored a book of his experience and testimony "Jewels for the Journey". (Wikipedia)
One day I hope to meet the 73 year old Jack Roland Murphy. Some people do change from bad to good. http://hamptonroads.com/2006/10/murph-surf
This robbery was called the "Jewel Heist of the Century." "The museum's security was lax to non-existent. The burglar alarm system was non-operational, and a second story window in the jewel room was usually left open to aid in ventilation. The thieves climbed in through the window and discovered that the display case alarms were non-functional as well. The stolen jewels were valued at more than $400,000." (Wikipedia). The robbers found out that they couldn't pass the The Star of India a 563.35 carat (112.67 g) star sapphire, one of the largest such gems in the world. It was, as in the movie, priceless, but also worthless. Jack Roland Murphy and his helpers were caught and sentenced to three years in jail. The movie "Murf-the-Surf" was made and told the story of the man and his heist. Yet, that was just he beginning of Jack Roland Murphy's story. A first-degree murder conviction in 1968 put the man in jail for life.
"When Bill Glass, Roger Staubach and McCoy McLemore visited Florida State prison in 1974, as part of a Bill Glass Champions for Life weekend, Murphy was impressed with the visitors, both world champion athletes and local businessmen. At that time Murphy had an earliest parole date of Nov. 2225, but that weekend changed his attitude and he devoted his future time spent in prison to serving a higher cause. His service in the chaplaincy program, leading Bible studies and mentoring other men in prison led the Florida Parole Board to release him on "parole with lifetime monitoring" in 1986.
In 1986, Murphy began going back into prisons and jails all over the U.S. as a platform guest with Bill Glass. In 1990, he was hired on staff with Bill Glass Champions for Life. Murphy has also been a featured speaker for Kairos, Coalition of Prison Evangelists, Int'l Prison Ministries, Time for Freedom and Good News Jail & Prison Ministry. After visiting over 1,200 prisons, and recognizing the incredible change apparent in this man's life, the FL Parole Board terminated his "lifetime parole" in 2000.
Murphy is now international director for Champions for Life, visiting prisons, jails, and youth detention facilities all over the world. Murphy authored a book of his experience and testimony "Jewels for the Journey". (Wikipedia)
One day I hope to meet the 73 year old Jack Roland Murphy. Some people do change from bad to good. http://hamptonroads.com/2006/10/murph-surf
Jack Roland Murphy-Jewel Thief, Murderer, Motivational Speaker
AL Eschbach-Oklahoma's Best Sports Talk Radio Personality
Some of my friends don't listen to Al Eschbach on WWLS Radio (The Sports Animal 98.1 in the Oklahoma City market) and that's just fine with me. Some of my friends listen to him everyday and don't particularly like his on air personality either. That's OK also. What matters to me is that if I am not engaged in something that takes me away from the radio on most afternoons I will tune to WWLS and listen Oklahoma's best sports talk radio personality, "and I might add" an Oklahoma Treasure, in the same mold as Bob Barry Sr was in his niche. The little German from the East Coast (through Oklahoma Univ. the Oklahoma Journal, KTOK, whatever that Kansas city radio station was, and WWLS) is simply the best.
Some complain about Al and his act on air. This is, as Baarrrie Twammell, would say, "just plain kwayzie." Anyone saying bad things about Al should remember Big Bob Barry. One day Al won't be with us and that will be a really bad day. As great as Big Bob was, Al is in the same class. Well, maybe Al has some, what you call it, skeletons in his closet, but just the same, Al is an Oklahoma treasure, or jewel, or what ever you call it. I have been around Al, at various games, etc for many many years and have never stopped him and said how much I have enjoyed him, listening to him, etc. Next time I have a chance to do so, I will say, you are special. The best radio talk show host I have ever heard.
Some complain about Al and his act on air. This is, as Baarrrie Twammell, would say, "just plain kwayzie." Anyone saying bad things about Al should remember Big Bob Barry. One day Al won't be with us and that will be a really bad day. As great as Big Bob was, Al is in the same class. Well, maybe Al has some, what you call it, skeletons in his closet, but just the same, Al is an Oklahoma treasure, or jewel, or what ever you call it. I have been around Al, at various games, etc for many many years and have never stopped him and said how much I have enjoyed him, listening to him, etc. Next time I have a chance to do so, I will say, you are special. The best radio talk show host I have ever heard.
Al Eschback of WWLS
