Don Keefer- All he wanted was to listen to Perry Como!

Well known for playing Bernard in the stage and film version of "Death of a Salesman," character actor Don Keefer is best remembered by me for playing Dan Hollis- the subject of Anthony's frustration in the classic Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life." Little Anthony has the power to bring things to life, make television, basically make anyone or anything do whatever he wants. When someone upsets him, he sends them to "the cornfield." Poor Dan Hollis is celebrating his Birthday, and all he wants is to be able to listen to the Perry Como record he got as a present. He finds out the hard way that he shouldn't tangle with little Anthony. I had heard that in his 90's, Don Keefer is now virtually blind. His signature as he writes it now is in the lower left corner.

Janette Carter- Preserving the Legacy of The Carter Family

Janette Carter was the daughter of Sara and A.P. Carter, who along with A.P.'s sister-in-law Maybelle, became one of the icons of Country Music- The Carter Family. She and her brother Joe performed with their parents in the later years of the group, much of which was spent on the border stations on the US-Mexican border. A.P. passed away in 1960, and since 1976 she and her brother Joe spent countless hours helping to preserve the rich musical legacy of their family in an amphitheater they built called "The Carter Fold." This was where Johnny Cash gave what would turn out to be his final public performance. She and Joe both continued to perform for fans until they were physically unable to do so.

Her daughter wrote me a nice letter, thanking me for the drawing for her mother. Janette at the time was not in good health, and was not always able to write due to Parkinson's Disease. She managed to write her name on it as best she could though. Just three months after she signed this for me, on January 22, 2006, Janette Carter passed away.

John Wooden, Legendary Basketball Coach

John Wooden recently turned 98 years old, and still regularly attents UCLA Basketball games. I am not a Basketball fan by any means. Why would I draw him? I have a lot of respect for someone like Coach Wooden. His coaching skills have helped countless students to not only become better players, but better people as well. Many of the things he learned growing up, such as his father's "Seven Point Creed" were passed on to his players, instilling in them the skills they would need to become better citizens. Whether or not you like Basketball, John Wooden is a man to be admired.

The Gerber Baby (Ann Turner Cook)

For 80 years, her face has been one of the most recognizeable faces in American grocery stores. Go down the aisle where the baby food is, and you'll see her face looking at you from hundreds of tiny jars. Her name is Ann Turner Cook, but we all know her as "The Gerber Baby." A neighbor of her parents, Dorothy Hope Smith, penned the now famous portrait that became the logo for Gerber baby foods. She grew up to become an English teacher, and after retirement, a successful mystery writer.

Fritz Weaver, Veteran Character Actor

Fritz Weaver has been acting in films and television for over 50 years. He is a commanding presence and his voice is unmistakeable. He appeared in two classic Twilight Zone episodes; "Third from the Sun" and "The Obsolete Man." He also starred in an episode of Tales From the Darkside called "Inside the Closet." I remember watching that episode as a kid, and it scared the Hell out of me! I would always watch it though whenever they showed it!

It's well-known that he was a conscientious objector during WWII. I asked him why this was (as it just seemed illogical to me that anyone wouldn't want to fight to stop the advancement of the Nazis). He wrote me a very personal letter, explaining that his father had become a Quaker in 1938, and he and his brother were both strongly influenced by him. He admitted that in retrospect it caused him much anguish then, but the wars the US has fought since then have only reinforced his father's rightness.

The Armistice- 90 years ago

Exactly 90 years ago, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, one of the most horrific war's the world has ever seen came to an end. In the United States anyway, today this "War to end all Wars" is largely forgotton. Mention Passchendaele, Flanders, Jutland, etc to any passer-by and they'll probably look at you like you should be in an institution. Its sad that an entire generation of men was virtually wiped off the face of the Earth, and school children are taught very little about it. Only when I was in college and took a class on WWI did I really understand how it happened and what it was all about.
"Veteran's Day" now honors all Veterans, and rightly so- but on this, the 90th Anniversary of "Armistice Day" we should especially pause and remember the millions on both sides who gave their lives from 1914-1918. There are just a handfull of men left who served in the military during this time. The youngest is 107, the oldest is 112. There may be several more Armistice days yet where there are WWI Veterans still living, but the likelyhood of that grows less and less with each passing year. Remember them today.

William Young, Last of the Royal Flying Corps

William Young was 107 when he passed away in 2007, and was the last Veteran who served in the Royal Flying Corps. He had actually signed up for service before he was 18, but could not actually serve until his 18th Birthday. During WWII he was working in Borneo when the Japanese invaded. He was imprisoned in a Japanese Camp from 1942-1945. At the time of his death he had been living in Australia for 60+ years. I never got to have him sign this. It was sent back to me return to sender, and before I could try again, he passed away.

William Stone, Britain's Royal Navy

William Stone was born in 1900, and is one of three surviving WWI Veterans living in England. He served as a stoker on H.M.S. Tiger. In the 1920's he served on board H.M.S. Hood. He was Chief Stoker aboard the H.M.S. Newfoundland and aided in the massive evacuation operation at Dunkirk. On the 90th Anniversary of the end of the war, Bill Stone, Harry Patch, and Henry Allingham are expected to be present for a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in London. This will probably be the final major anniversary of the Armistice where there are any Veterans of the War still living

Robley Rex, WWI- Era Veteran

Originally there were newspaper articles etc. about Robley H. Rex touting him as a WWI Veteran. He claims to have enlisted in 1918, but records seem to show he enlisted in 1919, making him a WWI Era Veteran instead. He is 107 and still going strong. When I wrote to him, he was 104 and was still volunteering at a local V.A. Hospital. At the time he had logged thousands and thousands of hours helping his fellow Veterans. For that alone he is quite an inspiration.

He added a post-it note with his middle initial, and wrote me a short letter as well. WWI Veteran or not, he did serve his country about 90 years ago and for that he should be admired.