By Steve Walker
For the past seven weeks
now I have been writing about local and national Hispanic icons I have met personally
over the years with surnames like Chavez, Cisneros, Bernal, Gonzalez, and more.
Each week I share my
personal memory and encounters with these icons whether it was a one chance opportunity
like my interview with activist Cesar Chavez, a photo op with former Mexican
President Vicente Fox, or continuing interactions with home grown icons over a number
of years.
As a columnist for La
Prensa for two and a half years, I think it is certainly appropriate this week to
write about my longtime friend and the man who approves my La Prensa columns, Publisher
Tino Duran.
Ironically my first encounter
with Mister Duran and his wife, Millie, was in the nineties at a local
department store located in Crossroads Mall in Balcones Heights .
The Mall is now called Wonderland of the Americas .
At the time my wife Linda
and I were shopping in the Mall when we literally ran into him on that chance
meeting. I knew who he was and so I walked up to him and introduced Linda and myself
to him and Mrs. Duran.
Since we lived in Balcones Heights at the time, we did much of our
shopping at the Mall. On numerous occasions after that first encounter we would
run into them walking the mall and chit chat for a few minutes and then move
on. Linda would visit with Mrs. Duran and I would visit with Mister Duran.
Eventually I was elected a
City Councilman in Balcones
Heights the first time in
1997 and on frequent occasions Mr. Duran would attend part or all of a council
meeting. Again we visited before or after the meeting and he was always
encouraging in offering good advice on a number of issues. Since he knew I worked
as a reporter back in the day, he told me I could write and submit articles
pertaining to Balcones
Heights .
When I chaired a Salute to
Balcones Heights Veterans in 2003, not only did La Prensa cover the event, but
Mr. Duran attended and sat on the stage during the ceremony with other
dignitaries. Guest speakers included Ret. Army Col. Bob Howard, a Medal of
Honor Recipient and two retired Generals.
When our council voted to
install Red Light Cameras in the city in 2007 I wrote some articles on the
controversial cameras. At the time he offered me the opportunity to write an on-going
column. For some dumb reason I declined at the time.
Later when I became
Justice of the Peace, he offered me a second chance to write a column. Needless
to say I jumped at the opportunity and “Ask the Judge” ran successfully for the
previous two years before “Just a Thought” took its place this past January.
A spiritual man, Mr. Duran
has always shared his faith with me as well as others. Last year at an event he
quietly handed me a 3x5 card with the encouraging words, “What moves the Lord
is not the size of your need, but the faith you have to meet that need.” I keep
that card close to remind me when I am down that better days are ahead.
His La Prensa Foundation awards
annual scholarships, honors outstanding women in the community, and business
and civic leaders who make a difference in people’s lives. That is somebody I
look up to and admire.
Since I have been actively
involved with Mr. Duran as a friend, I consider myself a better man for it.
I am honored that Mr.
Duran has the faith in my writing ability to publish my column every Sunday for
La Prensa and prouder to call him my friend and advisor.
Anyway, as always, what I
write is “Just a Thought.”
Steve Walker is a Vietnam
Veteran and former Justice of the Peace and Journalist.
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