<font face="Verdana" size="2" color="Black"><P><FONT face=Tahoma>You all are really important to me. Even if we're not in touch, I like knowing you're in the world. It was hard to lose Toomer and Zongker this year. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>____________________________________________________</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>After Rogers, I went to OSU for degrees in advertising and mass communication. I loved advertising, and besides, I figured it was a great way to meet more journalism chicks like Jan Kizziar. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>I spent a lifetime one year in Ft. Smith working for Donrey Media Group. Then I worked at a couple of big ad agencies before opening my own in Dallas in 1979. We won awards and worked on some good things like Goodrich Tires, Haggar Slacks and Southwest Airlines, but the highlight was heading the group that invented McDonald's Happy Meal. Yes, you can thank me for all those little toys cluttering up your drawers.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>Along the way it ocurred to me that advertising was pretty much lying, exagerrating and manipulating people, so I decided that wasn't a very good way to spend my time. I moved to Nashville to make music, and have somehow around this business for 20 years. I write, produce and publish music. It's fun, we've won awards and had some hits. Most of my work is in Gospel music.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>I've continued to draw and paint, and still do some graphic art work, so I've decided my career is creating things.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>I hike and camp. A lot of my life now revolves around helping people in a spiritual way. I'm a Cub Scout leader, an activist for environmental and Native American issues, and a little league coach. I wrote a book on environmental issues that'll be released by Cowley Publications in 2007.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>I'm blessed with two sons. Luke is working on his doctorate in Religion and Nature at Florida. He's one of those guys who starts scientific journals and societies, and organizes symposiums. What a brain. What a heart. </FONT></P>
<P>Will, at age ten, is an amazing drummer. He's been playing in front of huge crowds since he was 5, has played on live television, and is now in the studio with us playing on his first record. With his work in Gospel music at such a young age, he's very inspiring.</P>
<P>Life's good.</P>
<P>Joe</P>
<P> </P></font>
|
