BOOK REVIEW: MURDER IN CANARYVILLE: THE TRUE STORY BEHIND A COLD CASE AND A CHICAGO COVER-UP

 

Jeff Coen's Murder in Canaryville: The True Story Behind a Cold Case and a Chicago Cover-Up is one of the most informational and compelling reads you will experience in your life of turning the pages. 

In May, 1976 the world was a different place than it is today (2023). The country is now unrecognizable based on what we lived in and thru in that relatively safe and carefree time. One night in Canaryville changed the lives of many people as it took the life of De La Salle Junior, John Hughes. 

Coen is a writer for the Chicago Tribune and he covers crime. His detailed and thorough dig back to a cold case from the mid to late 1970's stirs up many emotions for those of us who came of age during the era. The summer of '76 was the nation's Bicentennial year and nearly every person living within the borders of an American state was thrilled and excited by their nation's illustrious and exceptional history. Not anymore. One is far more likely to run into people who loathe the country and to many - they loathe their own lives. 

When I say carefree I do indeed mean carefree. We lived somewhat fearlessly and in large part we lived that way since we literally had little to nothing to fear. Back on that night when John Hughes was shot in the heart by a man in a green chevy was a moment of change. It certainly altered the lives of the Hughes family, but it also accelerated the changes that would soon be happening in the neighborhoods of Canaryville, Bridgeport and Chinatown. These neighborhoods are among the most well-known of Chicago's neighborhoods and in the case of Bridgeport - it is the oldest neighborhood in the city.

What should have been a simple solve for the Chicago Police Department became one of the worst offenses in the annals of cold cases. This story involved eyewitnesses who literally recognized the person in the passenger seat. The witnesses knew that person wasn't the shooter and for all intents and purposes it wouldn't take the proverbial rocket scientists to figure out who the shooter was. The  Chicago Police Department was accused of covering up the crime. The immoral hijinks that took place between some members of the CPD, the Mayor's office (Richard J. Daley was the Mayor at the time) and members of the Chicago crime syndicate are on full display in this relatively short (236 pages), but extraordinary true tale of a murder that went "unsolved." 

Coen takes deep dives into a multiple number of highly conflicting and deeply rooted stories of corruption. Some of these people served time, some didn't serve enough time and others never served any time. The killer of John Hughes was never officially named. Coen and Jim Sherlock sort of tell us in a few ways who they believe the killer was and clearly you agree.  

Coen and Jim Sherlock (a famed detective with CPD, who also worked with the FBI) track down so many details and share so many stories that the book takes you on a near roller coaster of trackbacks, takedowns, mishaps and wacky coincidences - all of this makes the book downright unputdownable. The book was released in 2019, but I just read it in four hours this weekend. My brother had recommended it on Tuesday. I placed an order at the Public Library and the book was in my hands that same afternoon. The librarian told me the book event held on behalf of the author proved to be one of their most successful in-house events.

If you are from Chicago you will treasure some of the nostalgia moments of the city's south side neighborhoods. Have you ever been in Ricobene's? Well, it gets a mention. Yes, the author still refers to White Sox Park as White Sox Park. Boyle Field, Marquette Park. Then there is Princeton and Lowe Streets. 

This is a book that is a must read for anyone intrigued by true crime stories; and if you are also from Chicago you wouldn't want to miss this absolutely superb book. It's not John Steinbeck, but then again he didn't write non-fiction.

John Hughes. I'm sorry I never met you. A nice kid who was smart and athletic and apparently brave. He died in May, 1976 and no one paid the price for that crime. As the Bible states "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord."

Copyright Read On Read Now 2023 

  

  

DAISY JONES & THE SIX - A BOOK NOT WORTH READING

This is my opinion.

Daisy Jones & The Six is one of the worst and downright silliest books you will ever read. For those who have spent time working in the music industry this book will be a significant head scratcher. The book is mundane, repetitive and wildly and completely unrealistic. With all of the great stories one could fathom this is what passes for modern day reading. Few people still read; and something this vain and shallow will not attract those with critical thinking skills.

Not one character rings true. Musicians? No musician in any genre can relate to this feebleness and absurdity and it is done in 333 pages. Even beyond the non-realities of this world one cannot gather enough in the expectation of human life to be consequently intrigued. Somehow, this book has managed to get produced into an upcoming ten part (ten parts??!!) mini-series. Fortunately, it's a one season series. Imagine turning this desperate mess into a book and then having the audacity of making it into filmed entertainment. In one of my day jobs I write television reviews. I better get the assignment of taking this one on. If not, I will write it and submit it. Who else would want to sit through this ten hour exodus into superficiality? I look forward to writing that review. The series is set to premiere in March, 2023. When you deal with source material this weak and stretched you cannot possibly expect to create a worthwhile endeavor willing to be seen by millions. Well, our dumbed-down society might just like it. 

Daisy Jones & The Six takes place in the guarded halls of the smiley face era - the 1970's. On the surface who doesn't love the 1970's? Probably, the single most significant, yet insignificant decade of the 20th century. The Vietnam War ended during the 1970's and the U.S. had three Presidents - Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Those three men couldn't have been more different from one another and that alone makes for an intriguing time in the West. Bell bottoms. I wish I could wear a pair of bell bottoms. Everyone was slender. That's all gone. Films were magnificent (The Godfather, The French Connection, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and I could keep going for multiple paragraphs) and of course, the music. Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt and I could keep going... 

One thing is for certain...The 1970's provided a backdrop of superbly crafted music and most especially in the rock music realm. Daisy Jones & The Six is supposed to be one of the great bands of the decade. The band starts out as a group of six members. Somehow, the most inane, superficial, selfish, self-involved, drug-addicted groupie becomes one of the great songwriters of the era. Daisy Jones makes Pam Courson (the late girlfirned of Jim Morrison) look like Mother Theresa. No one in their right mind would like Daisy Jones. She's always high and absorbed in self. She doesn't like wearing clothes and she sleeps around with just about anyone. Okay, she was a groupie, but groupies aren't interesting and this one makes other groupies look near smart.  

With that you are supposed to believe Billy Dunne (this is not a rock star from any world in which we have lived) falls madly in love with Daisy Jones. If that would be the case in real life you would hate Billy Dunne as much as you loathe Daisy Jones. Billy Dunne is a former substance abuser (original, we know) who is in love with the girl (his now wife, Camilla) he knew before he became famous. Clearly, this is a great love story. He writes for Camilla (the wife) and he loves his daughters. He manages to stay free of booze and drugs for the love of his family, but you are supposed to buy that he loves the twit - Daisy Jones. Why take a man of this character and then drip him in the vast waste of someone as damaging as Daisy Jones? This isn't love. At its core it is lust. Lust is not love. By the way, Daisy and Billy never shag in the book. That's great that the author kept him clean. That's the best aspect of the book. Thankfully he didn't, but if you are going to write this steamroller of trespassing you should make it be what you clearly wanted it to be. 

In some contrived way and the whole enterprise is contrived - the author sort of wants to take you down a Fleetwood Mac path. Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie were two of the most gifted songwriters of the rock era and needless to say they were nothing like Daisy Jones. If Miss Jones were real she would have been dead long before she got to perform in a band.   

Billy Dunne is portrayed as the leader of the group. He may be the chief songwriter, arranger and quasi-producer, but he was willing to allow the name of his band to become Daisy Jones & The Six. As soon as that happens in the book you know it's over. No one and I mean no one who has ever been around a musician in a band would ever and I mean ever have allowed that to happen. 

The single worst book I've read in the last three years. I will definitely look forward to my day job when I have the opportunity to write on the series.       

The author of the book is Taylor Jenkins Reid. One can only hope she will never write about the music industry ever again.

Camilla dies at the end of the book. She is 63 years old and she dies with Billy Dunne and her children surrounding her. Oh, and she leaves a note telling her daughters to have daddy call the now reformed Daisy Jones. If you learn something in life, learn this...men aren't nesters. Women are nesters. Men aren't. If they were, Paul McCartney somehow would have ended up with Jane Asher. If you know your rock history you will know the story.  

COPYRIGHT READ ON READ NOW 2022

INTERVIEW WITH KERRY REIS - AUTHOR OF THE MYSTERY NOVEL, DISAPPEARED AND FOUND

Kerry Reis was born in Oregon and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles, graduating with a bachelor’s in motion picture and television arts. He enjoyed a near thirty year career in digital broadcast communications for the Disney ABC Television Group. He has traveled widely throughout the United States and Europe and currently resides in Colorado. He is a superb photographer who has used his great talent in photography to celebrate the stunning U.S. National Parks.  A lifelong fan of mystery novels, he now writes them. You can follow Kerry on Twitter @KerryReis57.    

DISAPPEARED AND FOUND is a new mystery novel from author Kerry Reis. Kerry's first mystery novel was Legacy Discovered and now he delves into the worlds of adoption, reality television and missing people. 

To find out more, please visit www.kerrylreis.com.

JT: Kerry, your new novel is entitled, "Disappeared and Found." It's your second novel. What brought you to writing this mystery revolving around a potential adoption?  

Kerry: When I self-published my first novel, “Legacy Discovered,” I quickly discovered the challenges behind promoting and marketing self-publishing and felt focused on this for the first few years after “Legacy Discovered” was officially published. However, shortly after I moved to Colorado, my UCLA college buddy, Tim, who lives nearby with his wife, challenged me at one of his open house events to start focusing on writing a new novel. I am not sure whether this helped rile up my brain, but it was just a short time later, when I was relaxing in front of my television to enjoy a couple of cable reality programs I had gotten interested in, TLC’s “Long Lost Family” and ID channel’s “Disappeared.” After watching the two shows’ episodes on that night, my brain started to blend the investigative concepts behind these two programs to create the storyline idea behind “Disappeared and Found.”

JT: Did you have a strong interest in adoption prior to writing this novel or were you just being creative as you attempted to draw out the larger mystery?

Kerry: I do not have any especially strong connection to adoption, but my general interest in family was what drew my interest in the reality program, “Long Lost Family.” The basic premise has an individual who has reached out to the show to find and reconnect with biological family, usually an adoptee who is seeking to find the biological parents who put the person up for adoption, or an individual who put a baby up for adoption and is now seeking to find out how that child turned out. The show has two hosts, each one taking on a separate case, so that each episode follows two separate investigations. In each investigation, the assigned host interviews the person seeking the biological family, investigates using both ancestry records and DNA testing, tracks down and interviews a biological family member, determining that the biological family member is willing to meet the person who is seeking the biological family. Some episodes within the seasons had unusual cases that developed a few twists, although not one as complex or creative as the one I devised for “Disappeared and Found.”

JT: Were you interested in missing person storylines and if so, what drove the interest?

Kerry: I have always had a fascination with the mystery genre. One of my favorite authors is Agatha Christie, and I have a complete set of her mystery novels. When I saw the reality program, Disappeared,” for the first time, the unsolved mystery behind the episode tapped into the tantalizing feature of trying to solve the enigma, unlike other true crime programs. The purpose behind each episode which used interviews, archival footage, and recreations to describe the details behind an individual or group who suddenly go missing was to find viewers who might have clues or evidence that could solve the case, as each episode provides a phone number at the end for viewers to call in clues or tips. To me, the unsolved mystery element is fascinating in its own right, but after I watched an episode immediately after watching a “Long Lost Family” episode, the concept that a possible adoption could actually be the spark to solving a cold case missing person mystery quickly developed into the unique storyline for “Disappeared and Found.”

JT: The technology surrounding blood types is fascinating material. Knowing what we know today it is amazing any crimes were solved prior to forensic science brought on in the modern era. Did you spend time investigating the role of blood types?

Kerry: Actually, the basic genetics of blood types was something I had already learned. It probably stuck with me because I am an AB positive blood type. I quickly realized it would be a perfect way for my main character, Dorothy, to accidentally discover that the parents who raised her were not her true genetic parents.

JT: How much time did you invest in researching law enforcement procedures regarding this type of a missing person case?

Kerry: I pretty much based the law enforcement plot and characters on my basic knowledge of law enforcement in the news or police procedural series. Since the uncovering of Dorothy’s connection with a missing person cold case crossed interstate lines, the need to bring an FBI agent into the tale was a given, but the setting of a small town as the location of the original disappearance allowed me to work with a more intimate cast of local law enforcement, basically an intimate interaction with an FBI agent and the local sheriff.

JT: What is your regimen for mapping out the plot, story, and narrative?

Kerry: I basically follow an outline process I learned in a script writing class I had during my time obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree in Motion Picture/Television Arts at UCLA. After conceiving the basic plotline and writing up a short synopsis, I break the plot down to a timeline series of scenes, each one written in a single paragraph. I can then read the paragraphs, searching for flaws within the plotline or character actions. In the script writing process, each paragraph would be expanded into script dialogue, but I realized that this process also worked with novel writing by expanding the scene paragraphs into fully fleshed out description of location, action, conversation, and character perspective, creating an intriguing story for readers to enjoy.

JT: Based on your many years in the television industry, was that a driver in why and how you incorporated reality television into the novel?

Kerry: My experience in the television industry did help me to understand the production process behind the reality shows, elements of which became important in the progress of the story as the two separate reality series find their productions unexpectedly intertwined in the mystery. However, having the basis of these two reality series being a part of the main concept of the mystery story mainly came from my general enjoyment in viewing the actual reality series on which they were based upon. Even though law enforcement has more scientific tools to solve mysteries, I have noticed that reality television has been instrumental in promoting these tools in solving interesting past mysteries and historical research.

JT: I certainly don’t want to give major plot points away, but did you base any of these characters off of real figures taken from news stories, or were all of these people just taken from your own creativity?

Kerry: The only character that comes anywhere close to being based on a real character would be the host character of the “Finding Family” series in my novel who is somewhat similar to one of the hosts in the “Long Lost Family” series. All of the characters and the story itself are fully fictional, generated by my creativity in intermingling the two basic concepts of the two actual reality series that inspired me into a unique mystery that I hope intrigues readers.

                                                                              KERRY REIS

To read the 2013 interview with Kerry Reis regarding his first published novel, Legacy Discovered, Read On Read Now has supplied the link to the interview. 

https://readonreadnow.blogspot.com/2013/05/interview-with-kerry-reis-author-of.html

Copyright Read On Read Now March 2022

 

 

Book Review: Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying and Playing Guitar with the Doors by Robby Krieger with Jeff Alulis

The following is my opinion... 

"Robby! This is God speaking and we're going to throw you right out of the universe." It wasn't God on the phone. It was Jim Morrison. I hung up. This call came through at an ungodly hour in 1966. 

The opening lines kick off Robby Krieger's quasi-autobiography. It's not technically a start to finish tell-all life story; and that works well for the witty and clever Krieger. The book is written in a series of life highlight vignettes. The opening lines of this book perfectly sets the reader up for the madness of being in The Doors. Having worked briefly on a Doors documentary as a side gig years ago I have had the unfortunate or fortunate, depending on your perspective of becoming somewhat of a Doors expert.  Reading through a dozen or so biographies, autobiographies and various other documentary style programs you tend to not only learn, but to retain some of the craziness that occurred in the lives of the principals, including Krieger, Morrison, John Densmore, the late Ray Manzarek, the late Paul Rothchild (producer) and Bruce Botnick (engineer).  

Krieger fesses up to having the worst hair in all of rock 'n roll and that's while being in the same band with the man with the best hair in all of 20th century music, Jim Morrison. Who wouldn't have wanted those wavy thick locks? Every woman and man I ever encountered would have wanted those wavy and thick locks of Morrison's. Of course, those beautiful locks would become course and drab within a short period of time due to his massive consumption of alcohol. 

Krieger offers up superbly crafted stories about the important aspects of his life in and out of the band. There are the oh, that's a great trivia moment about Krieger once having served as a golf caddy to now deceased actors, James Garner (Krieger informs us he was good enough to go pro) and Peter Lawford (who golfed in bare feet).  Krieger's father and brother were better golfers than Krieger and yes, he has golfed with Alice Cooper dozens of times. 

We learn of his twin brother, Ronny and his mental illnesses. Ironically, Doors drummer John Densmore also had a brother who suffered from mental illness and would eventually take his own life. It is almost unbelievable to know that two out of the four members of the band had brothers that would be lost to the pain of mental illness.  

Having read and researched The Doors one doesn't need a tremendous amount of discernment to realize James Douglas Morrison suffered from mental illness as well. Clearly, by all accounts he was clinically depressed; and the horror of his hard-core alcoholism by the age of 23 is well documented from many sources. Krieger delves into some of Morrison's less sane moments, including a section on when Morrison was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. He decided he didn't want treatment, so he could experience going insane. Fortunately, rebel Jim caved when urination became so painful he couldn't take it anymore. 

The sex, drugs, booze and rock 'n roll mantra is on full display in the book as Krieger details his own wildly uncontrollable addiction to heroin. One comes across reading these stories always thinking the same thing, doesn't anyone ever learn anything? The answer is clearly - no.  He and his wife, Lynn somehow managed to become junkies, similar to the story of Morrison's most important "love" liaison, Pamela. She of course, would die slightly less than three years after Morrison. 

Thankfully, Krieger points out all of the fabrications in the absolutely awful Oliver Stone biopic on The Doors. Stone always reported his affection for the Doors and clearly if one loved the band they never would have made a film that charts every wacky lie ever discussed. No, Jim never participated in a Wiccan wedding. The man thought astrology and psychics were stupid, so clearly Wiccan weddings wouldn't be in his realm of intelligent thought.  Morrison, it has been said could talk about God for hours and he did in fact reach out to people to discuss faith.  Densmore and Krieger were active in transcendental meditation and Jim thought that was silly as well.  

Notably, he had multiple conversations with a journalist from the Cleveland Plains Dealer about Christianity. He wore a cross from time to time as a symbol of Christ's sacrifice. Who knows what Morrison did in his final days of life, but writing "God Help Me" repeatedly isn't something a complete non-believer would do. It may have only been a cry of self-pity, but he wrote it and that's factual. 

Also, no, Morrison did not start a fire in a closet and he didn't throw a television set around. Elvis did that! We get a hint at the quirks of both John Densmore and Ray Manzarek. One, clearly was a whiner and the other an optimistic embellisher. This is all per Robby Krieger who loved all three of his band mates.  

Morrison also never screamed out of a car on Sunset Boulevard reciting he was the Lizard King; and he certainly didn't walk around dishing out his poetry out loud. That would have been the anti-Jim Morrison.   

The Doors were and remain to this day, one of the most significant bands to come out of rock music.  Their music goes through a new resurgence about every ten years and that's good news. Some of their songs are brilliant and not only in musicianship, but also lyrically and melodically.  Try listening to L.A. Woman, Roadhouse Blues, The End, Riders on the Storm and not thinking these guys were talented beyond measure. Talk about diversity and range in one band.

The only other Doors bio worth reading is "Break on Through" by Riordan and Prochnicky. That is a superb bio and it largely deals in factual material. The single most significant statement about the life of Jim Morrison is found in this bio. 

"Short of some deep spiritual turnaround, which his blindness would not have allowed him to see, even if an opportunity for it had surfaced, Jim Morrison was lost. If there was a greater power that could overcome the forces that had dominated his life since he was four years old, his condition prevented him from seeing it. His only true escape was death." Morrison wasn't suicidal, but clearly he had a death wish. 

Sadly, even after 50 years from his death date, it is tragic to think of Morrison's end. From a surface perspective, he had it all. He was artistically gifted, he was literally brilliant (149 I.Q.) and he was one of the most stunningly beautiful men to ever have lived. The Doors would have continued making superb music for years most likely, but it was all swept away after years of excessive alcohol use and untreated mind issues.      

Robby Krieger's book is definitely worth reading; and I would say that even if you aren't a fan of The Doors. It's informative, entertaining in a mad way and written in a way that makes you flip the pages and finish it in a couple of days. Quite frankly, it was hard to put down. 

                                 Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Jim Morrison 

To be fair, Jeff Alulis is also credited with this book. 

Copyright Read On Read Now 2021

   

 

   

Eleven Children! Paula Lawler Paves a Leadership Role in the Art of Motherhood

Cover Photo: Shannon Gallo 

Courtesy of Paula Lawler 

The world I inhabited in 1968 as a child was a different world than it is today. Our world was comprised of family (immediate family with my mom, dad and three siblings, our extended family which comprised grandparents living next door, another grandparent we visited on a weekly basis and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins), school and our neighborhood. I literally knew every single person who lived on my block and I knew every single household on a few blocks that surrounded the house I lived in. We had a gigantic backyard filled with a pool, a swing set and my grandfather's huge garden. The year of 1968 brought a new family to the neighborhood. Slightly more than a half block away a new mom and dad moved in with their three daughters (one of whom would be a childhood friend) and the new mom was pregnant! That fourth daughter would grow up one day to raise eleven children with her husband. That woman, Paula Lawler is the subject of this interview. Outside of God Himself, no one would have thought some 51 years later I would interview Paula on the art of motherhood.  


Read On Read Now: Paula, eleven children? That is an eyebrow raiser in 2019, but it was somewhat common in prior generations. My mother came from a family with fifteen children. Clearly, 11 children and two parents have different personalities, so there must have been some challenges.

Paula Lawler: It is an eyebrow raiser in today’s society, unfortunately. Growing up there were so many families with large families. There were only four girls in my family, but we had many cousins, so it was a large family from that perspective. My husband came from a family with nine children. We knew when we were engaged that we wanted to have a large family, so we fulfilled that goal. There is always activity in the home. I would say the one common bond that defines our family is always having each other’s back. The children have a tight relationship.They may annoy one another at times, but no one messes with their siblings!  We are a very close family. Another common bond is humor.  There is always laughter when we are together.

Read On Read Now:  Vacations with eleven children? How did you and your husband manage time away with your large family?

Paula Lawler: Vacations with the family have been full of wonderful memories. Vacations are important for anyone, since a change in scenery does the body good, no matter the budget. Our family has done a variety of different trips over the years. My husband’s family gets all the brothers, in-laws and cousins together once a year for the annual camping trip in tents. When the children were younger, most went on the camping trip while I stayed back with the little ones who were too young for camping.  When we moved into our new home fifteen years ago, we decided to put a pool in the backyard. A vacation in the backyard equals easy packing.  I will say, packing for the crew was a lot to manage, so I preferred to stay home when they were little. For the past couple of years, we have rented homes on lakes to get away and relax with reading, playing games and boating.

Read On Read Now: As I was reading your book, I thought of public safety issues. What was your game plan when you took your family to zoos, museums and other public facilities, venues and arenas?

Paula Lawler: Safety issues were a big deal when they were all small.  When our youngest was born, the oldest had just turned sixteen, so eleven children in sixteen years took some organizing.  We have a little age gap between the tenth and eleventh child.  So when number ten was born, there were ten children in thirteen years. There were funny stories along the way.  One time, we were leaving to go somewhere, pulled out of the garage, closed the garage door and out came one of our sons.  Oops, we forgot one.  From that point on, I started doing a head count. I didn’t count how many kids were in the van. I named them in order so I wouldn’t miss anyone.  Also, when they were little, I really would avoid crowded areas.  I preferred grocery shopping on Monday mornings when the stores were empty.  I would never go on a Saturday.  I would go to the libraries in the mornings during the week.  I would take them to museums and zoos, but we had a system. Again, never attended on Saturdays. The older one had a partner. That older child was responsible for the younger child. I would have a double stroller for two kids and have two hold on to the sides, one helped me push and the rest probably knew to stay close. I really just generally avoided crowded areas if at all possible as two year olds can move pretty quickly. 

                                                     Lawler Family 
                                                    Photo: Shannon Gallo
                                                   Courtesy of Paula Lawler

Read On Read Now: You discuss date night? Can you name some of your favorite date nights?

Paula Lawler: Who cares where we go, as long as we are out and it’s quiet!  Haha! No, honestly little, cozy wine bars are our favorite places for our date nights. The goal is to get out once a week. We’re not perfect, but that’s the goal.

Read On Read Now: What or who inspired you to write the book?

Paula Lawler: The Holy Spirit inspired me to write the book.  I had given a couple of talks about organization and motherhood, so I had done some of the work before.  Then sitting on my front porch early one summer morning, these thoughts started coming to me that I should compile all of these thoughts and put them into a book so others could read and share.  I believe we all have something to share and learn from one another. I really heard Him tell me to write this. The thoughts were coming so fast that I had a hard time writing so fast.  I wrote pages and pages. Then the family woke up and I had to stop. I put the legal pad of paper away for a year. I didn’t think about it or work on it.  Slowly after that I would pull it out and work on it for approximately thirty minutes at a time. I would take it with me when I was waiting at a child’s activity and work on it. I would work on it while I was in line waiting to pick kids up from school. I never took special time to vacation and write a book.  When a thought came to me, I would write it down. I give all the credit to God. He gave me talents and asked me to share. He wants all of us to share. None of our talents should be hidden under a bushel.

Read On Read Now: You clearly have a strong base of faith. You have lived a highly admirable life. How did you keep yourself and your family focused on the saving grace of Jesus Christ during your life?  

Paula Lawler: I have been able to keep our family focused on Jesus, because He is everything! Nothing else matters. Our ultimate goal is heaven.  I have always been a practicing Catholic, but I have learned a lot along the way.  I had a period of my life (college years) when I hadn’t been to confession. Then when I was about to be married, I went to confession and the flood gates of His grace came pouring into me. I wanted to read and learn as much as I could. Most of my friends up to that point had been Catholic, however were like me, not properly catechized. I asked the Lord to put the right people in my path. He sure did. Many solid Catholics came into my life. It matters who we surround ourselves with. I learned so much. Then when my oldest was about to enter Kindergarten, I realized she will have questions about the faith and I better have answers. So I became a CCD teacher. I attended reflection evenings and retreats. I couldn’t get enough information. I was receiving the sacraments frequently. My faith grew and I try to share this with the children.

Read On Read Now: How do you manage friendships while sustaining a successful family life with your husband, children and your sisters?

Paula Lawler: I will be honest and say that I could probably improve in finding time with friends. I do get out with my husband and we have couples that we get together with on occasion. I spend time with my kids too and there isn’t a lot of extra time. I really should be more organized and schedule a regular time with a couple of friends.

Read On Read Now: Abortion laws are becoming so extreme that it is becoming more frightening to any rational thinker regarding respect for life. What has motivated you to stay pro-life. Are there groups you choose to support as they fight for life?  

Paula Lawler: This is such an important question! To me it is basic, natural law to be pro-life. It is basic to think that marriage should be between one man and one woman and they should come together with God and bring forth children. It is basic to believe that life is sacred, that it deserves respect and dignity from conception to natural death. Abortion is wrong. I believe deep down, everyone knows that. However certain circumstances when women find themselves expecting a child and aren’t ready, they want it to go away. They do the unthinkable. They’re scared, alone, afraid of what others will think, afraid their life will be interrupted. Our culture, or I should say the devil, wants us to believe that life is about pleasing ourselves and getting ahead. The devil is pretty slick. When people speak of being pro-choice, I say yes women have the right to choose. The Lord gave us free will. The choice is to have sex or not. If the couple chooses to have sex, that’s her choice. However every choice brings forth a consequence.  Let’s go back to Kindergarten: Good choices bring good consequences and bad choices bring bad consequences. That’s the choice. If a woman chooses to have sex and become pregnant, the choice had already been made. The pregnancy is the consequence. A woman’s normal instinct is to protect her child, just like an animal protects her cub. It is unnatural to want to eliminate her child. There are extreme cases such as rape and these cases are very difficult.  However abortion remains wrong. There are options for women to provide help and support such as women’s crisis pregnancy centers.  These centers are a wonderful oasis of support. In marriage, giving ourselves freely to our spouse is so beautiful. When we live in the right order that God designed, we find peace and happiness.  When we do things out of His order, life gets hard.

There are many pro-life groups we support and they are Illinois Right to Life, Illinois Citizens for Life, Aid for Women and others.  They are all good and worth supporting.

                                                            Photo credit: Maureen Dillenburg
                                                           Courtesy of Paula Lawler



"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well."
Psalm 139: 13-14 


To purchase a copy of Paula's book, visit www.paulalawler.com. 


Copyright (C) 2019 by Read On Red Now

A Horse Racing Spectactular: The Interview with Stallion Manager, Wes Lanter

This interview with Wes Lanter took place in January, 2011.   

Wes Lanter is one of the best known stallion managers in Thoroughbred History. We appreciated his taking the time to discuss some of the mighty giants that he worked with throughout his long and celebrated career.  

T: Wes, breeding horses, particularly Thoroughbreds must be a grand adventure. Can you name a couple of your most notable adventures in breeding?  

Wes: With the exception of a couple of years when I was first employed at the Horse Park, I was in breeding sheds from 1984 until 2009, so I saw many thousands of mares come through the door. Honestly, the vast majority of those breeding sessions were quite uneventful. Mare came in, mare was bred, mare went home. Over the years, I saw a few mare explosions, but a couple stood out. I remember a mare named Add Mint going to Dynaformer. She kept walking forward and I shortened my grip on the twitch to try and stop her from moving when she grabbed my index finger below the second knuckle. She held on until the cover was completed. I feel lucky to still have the digit. Atticus once received a kick to the worst possible place, but after a couple of weeks of recuperation he went back to work. I remember Fiji being completely unmanageable. Not mean, just hard to handle. For some reason mares from France were always tough. Really, it was such an honor to see some of the great mares come through the sheds.…Lady's Secret, Winning Colors, Serenas Song, Miesque…too many greats to name.

 

T: Looking at the history of Thoroughbred Horse Racing it has always been a rich man’s business, but today it seems to be more of a billionaire breeders business.  How difficult is it for the average man or woman to get into horse breeding?

          Wes: I know it is called the Sport of Kings, and there are many super wealthy folks involved, but really the backbone of the industry is the ham and egger. The men and women who work hard seven days a week, teasing mares at four in the morning, breaking ice out of buckets on Christmas morning, giving a foal an enema when it’s ten below zero…these are the folks I think that the industry as a whole has failed to put a face on. They are dreamers who hope that some day to have bred that elusive Grade One winner, but for now hope to make the payroll, and pay the blacksmith, and maybe get lucky to make tomorrow nights PTA meeting, unless they need to take a mare to the shed. As far as getting into it, anyone with the start-up money or a line of credit can, but go in knowing how hard it will be. I don’t want to paint a bleak picture, but I'm just being honest. I have had a wonderful time and met multitudes of wonderful people, but I don’t know anything that can get you so high and then drop you on your head so quickly. Just know that going in.

        T: Any favorite idiosyncrasies from some of the stallions you have worked with?

Wes: Golden Act and Slew O Gold would stick their tongues out when you snapped your fingers in front of their mouths. Slew O Gold preferred grey mares. When Capote ate he crossed his hind legs. Rahy was a noisy dreamer when he got in his stall. When it was hot out Wild Again would keep the tip of his nose dipped in his water bucket. Grindstone would NOT keep a halter on in his paddock.  Tabasco Cat liked to fold his tongue over and hold it in his teeth…weird.

 

T:  Being in a breeding shed is not exactly romantic, but any stories of horses loving other horses? Any intimate gestures between some of the horses? 

Wes: The closest I think we would come to anything like that was with Raise A Native. Once he was finished he would lay his head up by the mares until he slipped off. The old timers at Spendthrift would joke “kiss her Red, give her a kiss.” Mostly though, pretty much just what it would seem like. 

T: You obviously must have a deep bond for the horses.  Do you have an all-time favorite that you worked with?

Wes: I have been around so many, but a couple stand out. Chiefs Crown was such a wonderful race horse and gritty competitor. He had an air about him, and he didn’t just let everybody in his circle of friends. I took him to Australia in 1995 and it got to where he really looked for me to be there for him. When Wild Again came to Three Chimneys from Calumet, the grooms at TCF harbored some ill will…half heartedly… because of the controversial finish with TCF  stallion Slew O Gold in the 1984 Breeders Cup Classic. None of the boys wanted him, so I took him to groom and he was a joy. Seattle Slew and Storm Cat have their own places for me, and they were both quite special to me as well.  

T: What does a stud like to eat? How much does he sleep? What do they do for fun? Do they get bored? What do they do all day besides their two rounds in the breeding shed?

          Wes: Depends on where I was, and it depends on the individuals needs, but usually a sweet feed mix, 14% protein, and all the hay they want. They sleep off and on for several hours a day. I think mostly they are happy, as the stallions seem to always get a lot of attention. Good stallion grooms are very observant without being obtrusive, and there will be a relationship that develops over time. They truly become friends. I am a big believer in letting them be horses as much as possible. There would be times when they needed to be up and flashy, but I know they would usually prefer to be out with two inches of mud plastered to them...weather permitting. 

T: Do they get to run, gallop, trot?

Wes: When they are turned out they can do what they want…usually that involves grazing, but you would see them sometimes stretch their legs and maybe have a race up a fenceline…but again, mostly grazing. At Three Chimneys, the stallions were ridden six days a week, weather permitting, and mostly they enjoyed it. It was a great program that gave you another option in their health management, and a way for them to blow off some steam. When Capote came over from Calumet , well, I’ll just say he had some issues, and mostly always did, but he loved being ridden at the farm. You had to be careful and not let him get too fit on you…best thing ever happened to him.  

T: Have you ridden one of the giants?  

       Wes: Hmm… one, maybe two.  

T: In Thoroughbred breeding their must be a real act unlike for other horse breeds?  Why is that?

Wes: Those are the rules of the Thoroughbred Jockey Club. Reproduction to produce a registerable Thoroughbred must be achieved by natural cover. It goes towards maintaining the integrity of the breed and to have some control to hopefully prevent overproduction…I feel maybe the horse is out of the barn on the second part, though.

 

T: Do you think the champions know when they are retired from stud work? At that point, is there day just about lounging around in their pastures and stalls? 

Wes: Sure they know. They get into that routine of going down to their favorite barn one, two maybe three times a day then it ends…forever. Yes, they know. The decision to retire Storm Cat was made in May 2008. He had bred most of the year with little success, and then it was over. Now he was a horse who loved his work and I worried how he would handle it. Like everything else he did, he was professional, never turned a hair. Maybe his age told him it was time, but he was never a problem and yes, their days get pretty relaxing after that.

 

T: Who was the smartest horse you ever worked with?

Wes: That’s tough. “Smarts” in a horse are measured on a different scale to me I guess. Maybe it’s how perceptive or aware really, and many of the horses I have come across  are very aware of their routine, and notice if it changes.They seem to notice everything. I think Storm Cat had a wristwatch, because he wanted to come inside in the winter at two o clock…don’t leave him out until three, he would get mad. I have no idea how he knew, but he did. They know when someone new is around and many will test the new person to see if they can handle it. There is one champion and fan favorite I had who really stands out to me who was kind of slow on the drop, but I shall let him go nameless so as not to disappoint his fans.  

 

T: Did you ever have a chance to meet any of the stud and racing giants?  Round Table, Bold Ruler, Mr. Prospector , Northern Dancer? 

Wes: I saw Round Table and Mr. Prospector. One of the disappointments in my life is that I never got to see Northern Dancer. 

T: Tell us a bit about the mighty Storm Cat? Did Storm Cat really have a 24 hour armed guard?

Wes: Storm Cat is a dark bay son of Storm Bird out of the wonderful Secretariat mare Terlingua. He was a very talented Grade 1 winner who missed winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile, and thus champion two year old honors… by the slimmest of  noses to Tasso. I first met him in January of 2000. He was already a star at the time, and I was just happy to walk in his light. First time I ever put a shank on him he tried me to see if I knew anything, and when he saw I did, he stopped and we were okay from then on. Now that’s not to say we didn’t have our moments, but I think this reputation that Storm Cat has of being some savage beast is highly overstated. He is not a mean horse…he is a very energetic horse, and you just hoped he didn’t hurt himself from feeling so good. For a period of  a few years he did have a 24 hour guard…never armed…that kept an eye on him. We…me and my grooms…always kept an eye on him and of course I lived on the farm and was always available to be there for him. He has been retired since 2008. Storm Cat is 28 years old now, and though his back is a bit swayed and his knees a bit arthritic, he feels well and looks very good. He will always be one my favorites.   

T: Northern Dancer was the paternal grandsire and Secretariat was the maternal grandsire of Storm Cat.  Not bad genes. 

Wes: Not bad at all. Secretariat has proven overtime to be a great broodmare sire of special stallions…A.P. Indy and of course Storm Cat leading the way there. 

T: I know you joined the Kentucky Horse Park after the death of John Henry.  What an amazing horse?  I was there a few years back and he was a bit ornery.  Any thoughts on him?

Wes: Actually, my first stint at the Horse Park started in August of 1986. I went to Santa Anita in October and the original intent was to spend a few days with John and learn about him and then bring him back to the Park. When I got there, Mr. McAnally informed me that plans had been made for John to be at The Meadowlands for their tenth anniversary celebration, and wanted to know if I could ride along and help Jose Mercado with the horse and to keep him informed of what was going on in New Jersey. The Horse Park was fine with that, so a five day trip became a three week adventure.   John was obviously one of the greatest horses ever to look through a bridle and to be in his presence was an honor. If there is one common thread I have noticed in some of the great horses it is their presence… they just know they are special, and maybe it was that attitude that helped them overcome any shortcomings they may have had say genetically, or conformationally, but that determination and drive to prove they were best helped make them so. John certainly had that. I was with him until the end of 1988, when I went back to Spendthrift Farm to get back to making more horses. I never lost touch with him and would come see him periodically throughout his life. He could be an ornery horse…he loved to step on toes when he was sneaky enough, and a bite or attempt at a bite was never out of the question, but you just wrote it off to John being John and went on with it.   

 

T: Do you have favorite moments in Thoroughbred racing’s history? 

Wes: Well, I was always a huge Shoemaker fan, so him winning the Derby on Ferdinand* at the age of 54 stands out. I was fortunate enough to be in the Turf Club at Hollywood Park when he nosed out Alysheba for the win in the Breeders Cup Classic in 1987. That is the greatest race I have personally witnessed. Personal Ensign defeating Winning Colors at Churchill in her final triumph, Sunday Silence and Easy Goers Preakness, Slew and Exceller* in the Gold Cup, Slew O Gold and Wild Again in the Classic…so many great memories…

    

T: Who were the best race horses in your opinion?

Wes: Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Forego, John Henry, Cigar, Secretariat, Spectacular Bid, Slew O Gold, Ruffian, Personal Ensign, Waya, Bold n Determined, Genuine Risk, Chiefs Crown… I am realizing as I look at this I seem so old school, but in my heart, this group was so special… I just don’t get the same knocked on my heels feeling from what is about these days. Ok, Zenyatta, Curlin, Skip Away, Bernardini, Azeri…all pretty special…  

 

T: You worked with Seattle Slew.  Truly one of the giants in the history of the sport.  Queen Elizabeth II even wanted to be in his presence.  What was that experience like? 

Wes: I started with Slew when I was 19, in 1983. When I came on as a stallion groom at Spendthrift, my first job was as a swing groom…when a guy got his day off, I would cover their four horses so they could have a day off. Slew fell into my lot on Saturdays because that was Tom Wades day. To say I was awestruck would be a vast understatement. Slew was a giant to me…still is. In all honesty, he changed my life. He was very aware of who he was. His eyes had a depth, a knowing…unlike I have ever seen before or since. He left Spendthrift in 1985, because of some issues between Spendthrift and the Taylors and Hills…never thought I would see him again. 

In March of 1990, Tom Wade gave me a call. I was back working as a stallion man at Spendthrift, and Tom and Slew were in their fifth year at Three Chimneys Farm. Tom was having a hard time getting a day off or a vacation, because no one really wanted to deal with Slew when he was gone. I knew the horse, Spendthrift at the time, while not broke was certainly badly bent, so it seemed like an upward move. TCF was up and coming with aggressive management and a vision. Within a year and a half  I was stallion manager and life changed forever.  Slew loved the riding done at TCF. He would tuck that chin down on his chest and get into the bit and train. It extended his life and made his life better. I will never forget the day of the twentieth anniversary of his Derby win when Angel Cordero came to gallop him. That was very special. Slew did have his mean moments too. Not every day, and he was usually kind enough to warn you off when he had a bad day. He got me good once, knocking a molar out, and he got others once or twice, but I have been around worse. Leaving Slew in 2000 was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I will never forget him.

 

T: Slew ended up needing emergency spinal fusion surgery near the end of his life. Why was that done?

Wes: He was having issues with I believe spinal alignment that was causing some neurological deficits that caused uncoordination and unsteadiness. This happened after I had left, so I didn’t really observe much of this part of his life.  

 

T: Slew’s greatest son is A.P. Indy. Did you ever encounter him?

Wes: I have been around A.P. Indy many times. Eddie Delahoussaye came to the barn the week before the Derby and we asked him how the horse was…did he have a shot. Eddie D. replied “I’m just wondering what I am gonna do with all my Triple Crown money.” Unfortunately it was not to be. There was never a horse I coveted so, but you knew with the connections he would end up at Lanes End, and as always they have done a fantastic job with him.  

 

T: Tell us about Affirmed and Alydar.  

Wes: Affirmed and Alydar had the greatest rivalry in sports in the latter half of the 20th century.  Two majestic chestnuts. Affirmed wasn’t a notable stud, but Alydar was.  A rivalry none of us will ever forget. Alydar certainly bested Affirmed in the shed, something he could rarely do on the track, but Affirmed quietly proved himself to be an important stallion as well. He sired over 80 stakes winners with 9 champions and earnings of over 44 million through 2004. They include Charlie Barley, the great Flawlessly, Canadian Triple Crown Winner Peteski, and The Tin Man. Oddly his greatest progeny saw success on the turf, a surface Affirmed never tried. Affirmed was a joy. He never had a bad day and was handsome to a fault. He was a professional stallion, but was never overbearing or any trouble. He was perfect.  

T: I love Cigar. I saw him race and it is still a fond memory. On July 13, 1996, he raced at Arlington Racetrack in the Chicago area and at the conclusion of the race fans stood and cheered for 20 minutes. It has to be one of the most memorable days in the history of racing. He seemed sad to me. Am I crazy for thinking that? I just remember looking at photos and thinking he looked sad.

   Wes: He had every reason to be happy, because he won that day. I don't know what was on his mind that day. I remember there was a fantastic crowd at Arlington Park that day. 

T: Cigar is the richest resident at the Kentucky Horse Park, but he wasn’t successful at stud. Cigar became the first American racehorse in top-class competition to win 16 consecutive races since Triple Crown winner, Citation did so in 1948 and 1950. He retired as the leading money earner in Thoroughbred racing history and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.  Do you think he ever gets how special he is? 

Wes: He never really got a chance at stud, as he never produced a live foal, because he is sterile. Yes, I do believe he has a great sense of who he is and I think I may have mentioned before that I think all of the special horses, the great competitors…whether thoroughbred, standard bred, hunter-jumper…the ones who excel have a presence, an air that puts them above all others, and think that attitude contributes greatly to their success.  

 

T: Cigar rarely broke a sweat and he often carried 130 pounds.  Any comments on his abilities? 

Wes: Certainly one of the greatest we have been honored to watch. 16 wins in a row is an amazing accomplishment and a lofty place few have seen. The switch back to the main track was certainly the right move. He traveled and won in most places he went. One of the best ever, and to carry 130 pounds any time in this day and age adds to the accomplishment.  

 

T: Cigar was named Racehorse of the Decade of the 1990s and he was ranked #18 in the Blood Horse ranking of the top 100 U.S. Thoroughbred Champions of the 20^th century. Give the giant a hug from all of us who love him.

Wes: I’ll give him a hearty pat…it’s safer.  

 

T: Funny Cide resides at the Kentucky Horse Park. His story is a genuine fairy tale. I’m glad he’s there. I was disappointed when they kept him running past his willingness to run.

Wes: Well, I am not sure about his willingness. I know the folks at Sackatoga and Mr. Tagg and Robin Smullens always had the best in mind for their champion, and would never willingly do anything to compromise any part of him or his legacy. They knew him better than anyone, as they were there with him every day training him, so I will rely in my faith in their judgment.

 

T: Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in 2003 and was honored as U.S. Champion Three Year Old Male in 2003.  What is he like to be around?

Wes: He is a horse you never let your guard down on…actually a good practice with any of them. Funny Cide isn’t a mean horse but sometimes he will take what you give him, so you just don’t give him the chances. He is a handsome chestnut,  he has a big personality and he is one of my favorites.

    

T: Any visits from Jose Santos?

         Wes:  Not since I have been here…since February 2010.  

T: Funny Cide’s time in the Kentucky Derby is the 10^th fastest time in history at 2:01.19.  Does he ever get to run around at the Kentucky Horse Park? 

Wes: Well, weather permitting, he gets plenty of time out and he does get a run in when he feels so moved.

 

T: How is his health?  I know he suffered from some respiratory and back problems at the ages of four and five, respectively? (See  www.funnycide.com)

Wes: He is doing well. His weight is good, he feels good and we are happy with how he is doing.

    

T:  At six, DA Hoss won the Breeder’s Cup Mile. I know he suffered from foot problems.  How is he now?  

Wes: His feet are great. He is currently barefoot and sound as a pound.   

 

T: I always remember Tom Durkin saying in the 1998 Breeder’s Cup (his second Breeder’s Cup win) “Oh my, this is the greatest comeback since Lazarus. He’s not raced in two years.”  Many sportswriters still consider it to be the biggest comeback of all time. How is the champ doing? 

Wes: Da Hoss is doing great. He still has a number of fans who visit regularly, and he is a pleasure to be around. Never a problem. 

T: I assume they all enjoy their life in the pasture?

Wes: They are in a bit more now because of the season but they all get out every day, and they all enjoy their paddock time.

 

T: Any interesting visitors?

Wes: Well, we get thousands every year. Madeline Paulson Pickens and Michael Paulson have both been out within the year to say hello to Cigar. Of course WEG brought in a number of interesting equines and their humans, so there is never a dull moment at the Horse Park in that respect.   

 

T: The sport needs stars.  Obviously, Zenyatta proved popular, but now she’s retired.  Any comments about improving the sport?

Wes: Gosh that is a tough one that better minds than mine have been pondering on for some time. In the end the sport is driven by gambling, and with the current economic challenges we face, competition for the gaming dollar is fierce. You get hit with so many charges when you get to the track…parking, admission, program…you are twenty bucks in before you see a window. Be more fan friendly. Casinos don’t hit you with all that…that money ends up on a table somewhere being gamed on. Show the public they have some control, not just a roll of the dice. Lighten the facilities up…some of the tracks and betting facilities aren’t real friendly aesthetically. Make personalities out of the trainers and jockeys…they stay around longer than the horses. Merchandise the sport…sell silks jackets like NASCAR does with race teams so a fan can support their “team”.. .then pray for another Zenyatta or a great gelding to stay around a while.  

 

T: Please tell us a bit about the day to day life of  Be A Bono, Staying Together, Western Dreamer and Mr. Muscleman.

Wes: Right now it is winter and cold out, so they spend the evenings in their stalls out of the wind and cold. They have their hay and water and a nice straw bed to keep them comfortable during the night, and they are clothed in a nice warm blanket. They go out during the days for sunshine and exercise, and this time of year we have one stall side presentation for patrons. As spring comes, the horses will get into their paddocks in the nights, unless there is a threat of storms, and they will enjoy the new grass and time out to just be horses. In the mornings they will be brought into their stalls where they will be groomed or maybe bathed if needed in preparation for the Hall of Champions presentations. In between presentations, their water will be freshened, piles removed and hay replenished as needed. At the end of the day they will get their dinner and go out into their individual paddocks for another round of grazing on Kentucky's famous bluegrass…not a bad life…  

T: What is your day to day at the Kentucky Horse Park? 

Wes: It varies depending on the season. Right now I come in about seven and feed the Hall of Champions and check on the guys. After they eat I turn them out into their paddocks. Right now they are on a winter schedule, so they are up nights and out days. As spring arrives they will go out nights…weather permitting…and come in days to be groomed and to be presented to their fans during the show season. After they go out, I will help clean a stall or two, then go out and confer with our blacksmith, John Veague, and discuss his upcoming day. I will also take a ride around to see if everyone is in and offer help where needed. There is a lot of time spent with visitors, answering questions and discussing the horses. I am also becoming more involved with the educational aspects here at the Park, and I hope I am able to pass on some of my experience to folks who wish to learn about horses. I love being here at the Park. I've learned that horses don’t just run around fast on sandy ovals…they are amazing athletes and performers, and I gain a new appreciation for them every day.

Copyright (C) 2011 by Read On Read Now