The big news nationally is the death of Congressman John Murtha. Closer to home, I've been saddened by the death of a fellow blogger, gadfly and a friend - Billy Givens. My Lehigh County and Allentown readers know very little about this remarkable man, but those of you who work in downtown Easton or at the Northampton County Courthouse will remember Billy, his newsletters and that damn bullhorn.
One of his frequent targets was The Express Times, which he always referred to like this - "The Excess-Times (bows and scrapes to excess before officialdom at all times)." Yet today, that noble paper has bowed to this colorful Alabaman.
I'll tell you one more Billy story. He used to bring John Todaro, who is blind as a bat, to County Council meetings. He'd have to hold this guy's hand to keep him from walking into walls or tripping over something, and he sometimes blew it.
One night, after a particularly contentious council meeting, as Billy was walking John from the Courthouse to the parking lot, he spotted a Council member who was trying to get the hell out of Dodge. He started moving faster and faster, but so did the Councilman. Eventually, they were both in a sprint, with blind John trying to run alongside Billy. He ran smack dab into a light pole.
Bong!
Todaro was knocked loony, the pole was dented, and Ron Angle was laughing so hard I thought we'd have to take him to the hospital.
Billy could be rude and obnoxious. But as Reverend Mike Dowd told "The Excess Times," "I think the people who started the revolution weren't always polite."
Cartoon Credit: Artist Nancy Marshall always did Billy's cartoons. This one feature's Ron Angle's 2000 prediction of a massive tax increase.
Update: The Morning Call's Bill White, who has a few funny Billy stories of his own, pays a touching tribute today. "Heck, I admired him myself. Not for some of the things he did or said, but for caring so much and for being brave enough to express it."
11 comments:
And Angle was right!
Very funny post; by the way,last night, Channel 69 News had a short segment on Billy- and their source- "local blogger Bernie O'hare"
So now Villa is going to sue WFMZ?
Anon 10:46,
Channel 69 is being very kind, but the biggesdt kindness is to Billy's family. This tribute from three local media sources (ET, MC & 69) tells them just how much Billy meant to us.
Sal Panto says:
Bernie, I was saddened by the news of Bill E.'s passing. Everyone remembers him for his demonstrations, opinions and vocal outburst. As a public official when Bill E. started I remeber that side of him as well, sometimes, but not very often, being the subject of his rhetoric. But i will remember Bill E. most by his daily visits to our family's store --Sal's Meat Market -- where he would come and read the papers, talk to my brother Paul and then on weekends he would come back to find me in the meat department to speak about issues important to him. These were conversations and I will remember them well. Yes he would later run against me for Mayor, yes he would sometimes rip me apart on his blog or standing in front of City Hall with his bullhorn, but I will remember him as the individual with whom I had many conversations.
Bernie, i never knew Billy Givens, but have heard enough to get a pretty good idea of the kind of person he was.
My condolences to his family for their loss, and to the community for ours.
The Banker
Wow, Sal, what a nice thing to say! And yet another Billy story.
His wife and children are shocked by the encouraging words they have read from so many different sources.
Banker, He was the real deal. Never politically correct. Wildly liberal in some ways, and just as wildly conservative in fiscal matters. He was a moderate extremist, if there is such a thing.
Sounds like a hell of a guy. I'm glad he's being remembered well, and it sure sounds like we need more of him around here.
The Banker
blowhard billyG why do people think being a lib is a good thing? It just means you have some growing up to do.
A guy with the character, conviction and personal integrity of Billy Givens paints the shameful fraud of John Murtha's political life in stunningly stark relief. RIP Billy. Thanks for your touching and fitting tribute, Bernie.
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