Steve Walker's memory of KENS-5 Sportscaster Dan Cook

Dan Cook (photo)

former KENS-5 Sportscaster

Sports Icon Dan Cook is dead @ age 81. It is hard to believe he is gone. He will be sorely missed.

My own personal and professional encounter with Dan Cook thirty years ago in 1978 came when I was a part-time news guy @ KONO Radio. I worked from 6 p.m. to midnight, five days a week. It was my job then to interview newsmakers in San Antonio @ night, tape them and edit the sound bites for the morning drive time.

Mayor Lila Cockrell was the current mayor at the time and I called her and numerous other officials to get their take on the days news.

Dan Cook also served as the sports guy for KONO radio as well. Each night Mr. Cook would call in at a designated time and I would tape his sports casts to be replayed later in the evening and early drive time in the morning. Remember those were the days of reel to reel. The reports had to be transferred to cassettes so the D.J. (Rudy Rocha) or day newsman could insert them into the cassette players for future transmission.

Mr. Cook had his own recording studio in his house, and when he was ready he would give me the signal and count backwards from five and I would hit the play button and tape his sportscast.

In the six months I taped Mr. Cook, only once did he have to do a second take. He had it down to science, except the one time in question.

On that rare occasion, he was half way through his sportscast when the forces of gravity took over and he spilled his beer on his script as he was reading. Needless to say, it was a shock for me. Out of nowhere, he uttered an expletive and stopped recording.

Once he composed himself and wiped away the beer from his script, (his words) he did the second take perfectly. I only wish I had kept that tape for posterity's sake and fodder for a future radio blooper.

In 1982, I was hired @ KENS-5 as a weekend reporter and Summer fill-in for vacationing reporters. I was then able to work with him for another six months before I left for the valley in pursuit of a short-lived reporting career.

During my time @ KENS-5, I didn't see too much of him because of my schedule, but I did mention the blooper to him during that time. He was gracious and good natured about it. He did ask me if I kept the tape. God only knows, I wish I had. What a memory of a great Sportscaster. Dan Cook, we will miss you and look forward to seeing you when the fat lady sings!!

Steve Walker

Walker Report Publisher

Former KENS-5 Sportscaster Dan Cook passes away @ 81

Dan Cook (photo)
Former KENS-5 Sports Director

(Express-News file)
Dan Cook, 1926-2008

Local sports icon Dan Cook dies Dan Cook, a San Antonio legend whose career as a sports columnist and broadcaster spanned more than a half-century, died Thursday.

Gary DeLaune: “Tell Her She Can Stop Singing Now”
Buck Harvey: Dan Cook — snapshot of a full life
Forum: Share your memories
E-N video: A retrospective
KENS video: A look back at Dan Cook's career Complete Dan Cook coverage

A Fourth of July Message from Senatorial candidate Noriega

Rick Noriega (photo)

State Rep.

Army National Guard Lt. Col.

Senatorial candidate

This Independence Day reminds us not only of where we come from, but also of the opportunity that lies ahead for the great state of Texas. I'd like to thank you for your continued support this quarter. Click here to watch our new video today!

Today, as we enjoy fireworks and barbeques with our friends and families, we recognize the freedoms that we hold dear to our hearts. Melissa and I also remember the sacrifice of our troops at home and abroad, and our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with those who serve.

Independence Day celebrates the core of who we are as a nation -- a nation that fought bravely for the freedom of its citizens and gave birth to one of the most extraordinary documents in history. The Declaration of Independence represents everything that we stand for and must continue to protect -- our democracy, our values and the freedoms that we won over 200 years ago.

But this Independence Day reminds us not only of where we come from, but also of the opportunity that lies ahead for the great state of Texas. This July 4th, all of us are standing up for independence -- independence from the special interests of Washington D.C.

Click here to watch our new video, thanking grassroots supporters like you for your help!

Our campaign wouldn't have made it this far without the help of people like you -- and thanks to our www.RickNoriega.com community, we broke our online fundraising goals twice this quarter! Thank you so much for your continued support. I hope you have a safe, healthy and happy Fourth of July.

Sincerely,

Rick Noriega (State Rep)

Democratic Senatorial candidate

Councilwoman Herrera: Fourth of July schedule of city services

Councilwoman Delicia Herrera (photo) and staff would like to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July!!!

Independence Day holiday schedule of City services

• Garbage, recyclables and brush will be collected on Friday, July 4, while City Hall and most municipal offices will be closed to observe the Independence Day holiday


• Other City services will operate as follows:


• Central Library and all branch libraries will be closed


• Municipal Court, 401 S. Frio, will be closed


• Downtown parking meters will not be enforced


• City Base, Las Palmas and Valley View Community Link Service Centers will be closed.
  South Park Mall Community Link Service Center will be open until 7:00 p.m.


• All municipal golf courses and facilities will be open


• The Bitters Brush Recycling Center, 1800 Bitters Road, will be open


• Dead animal collection crews and police, fire and EMS personnel will be on duty as usual.

4th of July celebration @ Woodlawn Lake to include fireworks

Councilman Justin Rodriguez (photo)

Dear Friends,

As we prepare for the July 4th holiday, we are reminded that the patriotic spirit of America is alive and well in the City of San Antonio. Please pause today to remember the many men and women who have fought for our freedom. On this day of celebration, we must also acknowledge and thank those who cannot be with us...our brave troops all across the world who continue to protect the American ideals of liberty and opportunity.

For the past nine years, our community has celebrated our nation's independence in a big way at Woodlawn Lake Park in the heart of District 7. Please join us in the many festivities taking place at Woodlawn Lake today, the Fourth of July, including the Fireworks Spectacular at 9 p.m. tonight.

If you cannot make it, please remember to celebrate responsibly at home as it is illegal to use fireworks anywhere within the city limits other than the designated Safe Zones.We hope to see you at Woodlawn!

Justin Rodriguez

District 7 Councilman

Former Senator Jesse Helms passes away at age 86

Former Sen. Jesse Helms (photo) dies at 86
Republican known as 'Senator No' served 30 years before retiring in 2003

View related photos

Raleigh, North Carolina - Former Republican Sen. Jesse Helms, a leading conservative from North Carolina who served 30 years in the Senate before retiring in 2003, has died, the Jesse Helms Center said Friday. He was 86.

"Former United States Senator Jesse Helms died at 1:15 a.m. this morning in Raleigh. Helms, a blunt-talking product of the Old South, was known as "Senator No" for opposing just about anything that obstructed his conservative view of the world.

A Fourth of July Message from local CEO T.J. Connolly

T.J. Connolly (photo)

Happy 4th of July.

Today America celebrates it’s 232nd birthday. As she celebrates her birthday, our nation finds itself fighting two wars, both which over the past 5 years have claimed over 4,500 American service men and women’s lives, and returned over 18,000 American troops to the U. S. missing a limb...or two.

The economy has stalled, the Dow Jones has gone from a Bull Market to a Bear Market. Unemployment is at it’s highest rate in 4+ years. Mortgage rates are on the rise. A gallon of gas, since America’s last birthday in 2007, has jumped $1.20 a gallon, to over $4 per-gallon. With future increases assured.So, with all the doom and gloom, why do presumptive presidential nominees Sen. Barak Obama and Sen. John McCain find themselves in such a close race for the Presidency, just 124 days from Election Day?

Based solely on the economic woes we are facing, Sen. Barack Obama should be enjoying a 10% - 15%+ lead on Sen. John McCain. What is keeping Sen. McCain within striking distance of Sen. Obama? McCain’s personal character. What will keep Obama in the lead, at least until mid-October? Sen. Obama’s personal character. Far too many presidential elections have come and gone over the past several decades where Americans could stand back, look at the two nominees, and be proud of both.

In 2008, while both Obama and McCain have strikingly different positions on many key issues, both men possess personal character, and both possess a personal story that should make us all proud.

We know McCain’s outstanding military service to our nation. Shot down over Vietnam, as a POW for over 5 years, he was offered an early release. He turned it down, electing to stay imprisoned with his fellow servicemen. For that decision, he earned a couple of broken arms and other physical abuses. Once the war was over and he was freed, he went on to serve 8 more years in the military. He then elected to continue in public service, spending over 25 years in the U. S. House and U. S. Senate.

Along the way, he adopted and help raise two boys from his first marriage. With his current wife of over 25 years Cindy, they had and raised four children, and in the mid-1990’s adopted an African American baby that was thrust into Cindy McCain's arms during a visit with Mother Teresa at her orphanage. Sen. McCain is a man of true character, with a compelling personal story.

We know that Barack Obama was born to an African American father, and a Kansas-born Anglo Mother. His father was pretty absent from his life. His mother too was gone often, leaving Obama to be raised by his Anglo grandparents. In the late 60’s and early 70’s, a young Black boy being raised by two elderly Anglos was not too common in Kansas.

Obama went on to sail through Harvard Law School, and moving to Chicago, rather than taking a six-figure job that was offered to him at a number of the top law firms, Obama elected to work in his community. He provided low cost legal advice, helped organize his community for reform and better housing. He married his law school sweetheart Michele, and together they are raising two daughters. Like McCain, Obama passed on the road to money, and sought public service. First, as a State Senator in the Illinois Legislature, and then, in 2004, he was elected to the United States Senate.

Over the next 124 days, the campaigns of both men, as well as their political parties, will paint both men far different from who they truly are. It will be rough, at times disgusting. That’s politics. But on Wednesday, November 5th, the morning after the election, both men will wake up with their personal stories, their personal characters intact.

One will be the new President-Elect. The other will return to the U. S. Senate. And America will have had, for the first time in decades, an election between two candidates of strong character. Two candidates that we can be proud of. We have done so far worse in past elections. Happy 4th of July

T. J. Connolly

President & CEO

Connolly & Company, Ltd.

Happy early Fourth of July to everyone from Walker Report

I Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,

of the United States of America,

and to the Republic for which it stands,

one Nation under God,

indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for ALL.

Lourdes Galvan celebrates another birthday at Sandy's

L-R: Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan & friends, staffer Leticia Cantu, Charlie Jones, sisters, mother, father, son, & husband, Bobby, La Prensa Photographer Rose Marie Galvez, Media Consultant Alice Guerra & husband, Andrew, Jeannette Hernandez, Dr. C.P. Garcia & wife, Henry Rodriguez & girlfriend, Cindy, Marachis, attendees, Sandy's Restaurant, Birthday cake

An excited crowd turned out for Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan's birthday@ Sandy's Restaurant on Guadalupe Street, Thursday, July 3rd.

Three Flags-Honor-Duty-Country press conference- July 3rd

Lourdes Galvan (photo)

Distrrict 5 Councilwoman

Press Conference
Thursday, July 3rd, 9:30 a.m
Elmendorf Lake Park, 3700 W. Commerce

Three Flags – Honor, Duty, Country

Please join District 5 Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan and the Hispanic Veterans Memorial Committee in the unveiling of the Hispanic Veterans Memorial Project. The meeting will unveil the display of the project’s model and rendition by visionary artist Jesse Trevino and noted architect Gabriel Velasquez.

The purpose of the HVM is to pay tribute to the Hispanic community’s dedicated and courageous participation in our military through this unique monument. In addition, Councilwoman Galvan wants to promote community awareness and support of this meaningful project.

Participants are encouraged to meet at the crossing bridge within Elmendorf Lake Park crossing over to the island. We look forward to having you participate in this historic occasion for the people of San Antonio.