THIS IS THE TIME TO CHEER FOR UTAH COWBOYS WANTING TO GO TO VEGAS

Now is the time to cheer for one of America's true sport of Rodeo, where prayers and our USA flag is still honored. And while these are the real cowboys, I pay tribute to all of the Wright sisters and wives who are the ones that rope; doctor and brand the cows while their men are bucking all night. And we hope Nephi City and Utah will honor the vision of our rural towns from whence they hail. The Wright Family from Beaver County are the Cream of the Crop for the last American Sport. I can't figure out how to put all their photo's here but give credit to Ray Jackson; Joe and Bob Garett; Bob Day and a ton others who volunteered to make the Ute Stampede the start to overtake the Cowboys from Texas. Help spur them on to victory. Hayes Weight is from Goshen and related to folks in Nephi. Stetson Wright is leading in the All Round Cowboy of the World and edging close to the top of Saddle Bronc where Ryder Wright is now. Thanks to Mayor P.L. Jones for getting the Ute Stampede where cowboys started since 1935. Some of our elected and selected leaders haven't yet figured out the difference of a hackamore from a saddle. Long Live Cowboys and the USA. These cowboys are the gentlemen that are the real red blooded Americans who also go on tour to our G.I's in combat zones in the off season, like what Lewis and Kaycee Feild did who also led the Pledge of Allegiance at a Nephi City Council Meeting a few years back when he was world Champion in Bareback riding and retired after winning 6 championships. He still likes riding horses and his Harley, in a small country township.

.

THIS "CLYDESDALE" RAN OVER A 100 FOOT RACES

I RAN OVER A HUNDRED FOOT RACES, BUT THAT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS AGO. SINCE I KEPT A WRITTEN LOG OF THEM, I THOUGHT I WOULD LIST THAT FOR YOUR HISTORY GIGGLES TODAY. THERE ARE ERRORS IN THE TYPING. ONE OF THE FUN RACES WAS BAY TO BREAKER IN SAN FRANCISO. 100,000 PEOPLE WATCHED TEN THOUSAND RUN, AND TRIED TO SHOW A PHOTO OF SOME, BUT DIDN'T INCULDE ALL THE STARK NAKED PEOPLE THEIR WAS. HEARTBREAKING WAS WHEN I WAS TRYING MY BEST TO GO UP THE LAST HILL -I WAS PASSED BY THE WHOLE DAM FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE LA RAIDERS IN FOOT BALL GEAR, EXCEPT RUNNING SHOES INSTEAD OF CLETS. AND THANKS FOR THE ONE GAL WHO PASSED ME NAKED, WHICH GAVE ME THE ENERGY TO CATCH HER AND PASS HER WITH BY HEAD AND EYES LOOKING AROUND TO CHECK. THEN THE 5-K AT SUGARHOUSE PARK, I PASSED UP MY SON JUSTIN AND PAUL HANSEN RUNNING TO THE END BACKWARDS. I WAS SO FIT, I THEN BECAME A MALE MODEL AND STARTED MY HOLLYWOOD MOVIE CAREER BUT SHORT LIVED, BUT ME AND MY SONS WERE IN LAST NIGHTS MOVIE ON "OUTLAW" TV WITH CHARLTON HESTON, WHO PLAYED THE ROLE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. A CLYDESDALE IS ONE WHO  WEIGHTS 200 POUNDS ARE MORE AND I SHED ABOUT 40 POUNDS.

.

SOME TIMES WE DON'T UNDERSTAND BEING A PARENT TIL WE LOOSE A CHILD

As a kid being the middle child of five, none of us knew the joy or hardship of our parents until we became one. We just figured our food would magically appear on the table & school clothes that were mystically cleaned and ironed for school the next day. However, we started to think about losing one of our own family when three of our siblings joined the military during the Viet Nam War. I was heart broken when my dog- Spot was hit by a vehicle on Main and 7th North, and carried it up the street to bury it towards Bailey Barn. Then loosing a baby brought me to tears when I walked up the street to Joe and Ellen Garretts place, who were like second parents to the Jones kids. It was daughter Marian that lost their first daughter as an infant. Joe was a First Cousin to us, and had been given horse sense, apparently getting that from God himself, and before we knew that most good folks were okay, but some had the IQ of a fence Post. I waited to date seriously until I was 28, and that was when I got hitched. The two boys pictured below came along and sure enough, the stork dropped two cute toe head's, who became my best friends. It wasn't too long after that Pam and I became divorced and probably because I spent all my spare time with our boys, and forgot to wine and dine their mother. She left for another, and although we were friends, me and the boys became "The Three Amigos" and we hiked, biked and vacationed together. A couple days ago, we submitted a history blog sharing a sad incident when my two sons were at a baseball game, and their coach died near the bleachers and I couldn't revive him with CPR. It was a sad ordeal and it was one of those things that shocked not only the Coach's son, but for the many other kids that watched. I believe that was such a shock for my two young boys, they never got over it. It ended my second son-Troy with his involvement with sports and I could determine it affected the whole baseball team. Justin was good at all sports including putting on a basket ball show with his buddy-Paul Hansen, and it was fun to keep statics for them like I did for my Grand Nephew-Jack Hansen, who I wrote about yesterday. Justin also went on to be the ball boy for a professional Sand Volleyball league that was often on ESPN. Both the boys went on to finish High School and got into the work field, with Justin helping in the medical field to find an easier way to repair the blocked arteries of heart attack patients and traveled to Ireland to start a factory there. But along the way, other issues entered which included two failed marriages, and that had a serious effect on him and me as well as his mother, and we tried our best to get him counseling, but that only seemed to make things worse, giving him medication that only got him addicted. Eight years ago tonight at 10;31 PM, he took his own life. That not only broke my heart; but his mother and many of his high ........

at

 school friends, as well as Tony, who went with him to Alaska to see what G.B. Jones was doing with the Iditarod. Troy was seriously affected with his idle and big brother and now lives on the streets of Salt Lake, After two attempts at costly counseling; failed attempts with the Criminal Justice System, of which I felt bad as I tried without much success to make it better over 42 Years, but like trying to help the people of my hometown being on the City Council, it was hard to change what people get used to, be it good or bad. I do feel grateful for having the two boys I did, as God is the ultimate Judge, and He will make all final judgements. I listened to a tape earlier today, where 6th grader-Justin Jones, interviewed Gene Fullmer, the former World Middle Weight Champion of the World. Later in his life, I became close friends with Paul H. Dunn of the LDS Church, and he too felt Justin was destined for greater things. I am proud of being their Dad, though tears pour tonight. Below is younger photo of Troy and JJ-brothers & friends.

WE NEVER REALLY LOSE A HERO, THEY ARE JUST TRANSFERRED

At the age of 12, I liked to watch football if I could find a TV to watch it on. I also liked watching my pals play baseball when Nephi's Pioneer Park had a baseball diamond in the northwest corner. We had a lot of motels along Main Street, so we had uddles of fans in the bleachers. With just a paper route, I couldn't afford a baseball mitt or hat, but then I decided to get a real job and save my money so I could do what Y.A. Tittle did in football. In 1963, that Hall of Fame quarterback and the NFL's Most Valuable Player's played 17 seasons in Pro football, starting with the AFL's Baltimore Colts in 1948 and finished with the New York Giants. When I could watch him, I thought he was like Superman, who couldn't be stopped. He ran and threw the leather ball like he was made of steel. I eventually came to know he was "merely human" when I saw a photo of him when he was hit with a vicious hit and bleeding from the head. Later in life, I knew what a hit like that was, as I have experienced several hits to the head including a shotgun blast to the face; subdural hematoma as a Scoutmaster and learned the hard way to have an adequate parachute before I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane over Alta Airport. My kids knew I loved football and Y.A. Tittle. They surprised me to the point of tears when they gave me an autographed photo of "The Bald Eagle".  He died at age 90 in 2017. I knew my earthly hero was not really "deadly" dead, but just transferred to a bigger field in God's friendly skies. I wanted another hero of sports, and my buddy had upfront tickets to Jazz games, so my new hero became John Stockton, who was often the real "huminite" that was lacking in professional sports. By chance, my sister Jaynette invited me to go with her to watch her grandson play basketball, then football for the Gunnison Bulldogs. Years ago  I got acquainted with Jesse Owens and a friend to Gene Fullmer, but they were "transferred" as well. I needed a new sports hero, and goody goody gumdrops, along comes Jack Hansen of downtown Centerfield. He loved playing football with my son Justin, and they would often have Jack going deep into the pasture to catch a long pass. Jack reminded me of John Stockton. He knew how to work around his opponent's and get the ball to another Bulldog to make the basket. Jack Hansen was a team leader and the fans knew that. When football came along, and even though he was a Bulldog, I felt like a Juab Wasp coach when I presented a football helmet to Jack that used to belong to the BYU team of ions ago, and then given to the Juab High Team when they got their team going in the late 1950's. Jack excelled in football and became their starting Quarterback. I had him sign his autograph on the photo of me and him and told him when he makes it to the big leagues, he could come and visit me at the nursing home. He never forgot that and wrote me a letter to that effect in 2018. He didn't make it to the Big Leagues, but every body makes mistakes, especially Sports Scouts, who are after the money. Along the way at Gunnison Valley High, Jack Hansen still holds the longest Jump at 21 feet and the State record for the longest Punt. He still makes us all proud as he is getting a college education and finding his nitch in life. His Transfer Has Been Great.

THE LOSS OF A GREAT MAN MAY BRING THE RISE OF OTHER GREAT PEOPLE

In the late 1980's and early 1990's, I had the privilege of being the father of two sons, who I believed were destined for greater things than just being good and noble kids. During their Little League Baseball; Basketball and Football years, they brought a fulfilling sense of well being to see them active in sports and school activities'. Their baseball coach was Craig Siciliano, who was like a second father to each of the kids he tutored. After games, he would often leave a note of encouragement in their baseball gloves. Coach Siciliano helped this old fat man, as I would bring cold drinks for my kids, but only once did that occur. With his gentle but powering voice, he offered me help. He asked if I was going to bring cold drinks, I should bring them for all the kids. I heard him loud and clear and did so after that sultry warm day in spring. Since I couldn't afford to be in little league game as a kid, I wanted not only my boys that privilege, but helped other kids when I could. On April 30, 1992, 37 year old Coach Craig Albert Siciliano walked to the bleachers where his pregnant wife was sitting and me standing nearby. He looked pale and fatigued and asked his wife Kim for water. But before she could get it to him, he went down hard on the asphalt. Although he was much like me, having fun as a jokester, I sensed it was a bad sign. While baseball kids watched and parents panicked, I started CPR, after checking his breezeway. I had several years of training, and recall saving a life once before. But Craig was like a brother, and I was slow to start but concentrated on saving this giant of a man, who was in good physical condition. We didn't have cell phones in those days, but an ambulance arrived and I demanded to ride in the back with our Coach. The volunteer ambulance crew said he was gone, but I kept the CPR going til we got to Cottonwood Hospital, a place where I worked as part-time Security. The Doctors and Nurses tried with all their might but Craig was gone. One ER Doc recognized me and asked me to secure the door, as family and 12 year boys wanted to be next to their Coach of Life. I took all of them in a separate room and announced to their Dad, Son and Husband was gone. Back at home, I cried as hard as my sons Justin and Troy, which watched and shaken by the ordeal. The next day, I called the Medical Examiner, as I was with him the week before with an autopsy of a possible murder victim I was investigating. I asked if Craig's death was because I didn't do the CPR correctly. The Doc said Craig was dead before he collapsed, as his arteries were so blocked. 

 It was a dramatic experience as I had been through and it certainly was for my two boys, as it made an impact on them that I am not sure they ever got over, nor did Craig's son or his pregnant wife. 

THE FUNERAL OF BETH STEPHENSON TAYLOR WAS HELD TODAY

If you were not able to attend the funeral of  Beth Taylor of Nephi, Utah today, we got you covered, with the program right here and now. I came to know Beth at Juab High and soon became fond of her. I liked her, although three years younger than me, I became friends with that girl, so in a round about way, she was by "girl friend". She was fun to be around and sharp as a tack. It was the 1960's in a close knit and Rural Nephi. In those days, it was customary for young kids to walk up and down main street, then if we were able to borrow a car from our folks we would stop and talk to the gals. Beth would often stay with her grandparents, who lived on the northeast corner of Main Third South. On one occasion, I borrowed my mothers hot car, which was a miniature station wagon. Gas cost 19 cents a gallon and as long as I left some gas in her car so she could go to work for the School District Boss, who was Clyde Child, I was okay. I walked up to her grandfathers home, and knocked on the door. I asked if Beth was home, and he wanted to know who I was, and what my motive was for taking her for a ride. He then called for Beth and I could hear him shout "Beth, its one of those dang Jones Boys" Gee Whiz, it had to be one of my older brothers that caused him grief. But I liked her humor, and honest to  the core blunt chat. When I got busy with an LDS Mission and several years of college work, I didn't see Beth until the Deer Hunt in Nephi, and I would normally spend the whole week at home, especially after my father died. I then saw Beth working as hard as what her sons talked about at the funeral. We would shoot the breeze and catch up with any news that really wasn't news. She married Ron Taylor, who was a friend and a classmate from the Juab Class of 65. After I retired, I spent a lot of time at the Red Cliffs Asst. Living Center, where I had two cousins. I asked who the new gal was, and they told me it was Beth. I was also told she had that brain fog that her kids spoke of, and she may not recognize me or talk much. I went over and sat by her and held her hand, saying "this is Kent Jones, your high school boyfriend".  She jumped up and gave me a hug, and we chatted as if nothing had changed from ions ago. She looked as cute as she did back whenever. On one occasion when I went to take Ron Jones for a ride, Beth wanted to go along, and only then I felt something was different, but I told her our friendship would always last. I even met two of her sons during a visit. When she went to the old Juab County Hospital, as did two of my friends, it was still good to sit by her and hold her hand. Since my career required me to interview people from all walks of life, I could easily see at the funeral- she was and will always be an excellent parent and child of God. As I did with my two sons, sports and work were her cup of tea, and all of her family and friends can feel a special honor to have Beth and Ron in their lives. Driving across Texas a few years ago, I  wrote a song, which I recalled sitting on the back pew of my old 4th Ward Church. "Nothing Lasts Forever,  Except Forever, And My Love For You". All of her kids and grandkids and loved ones can always count on Beth for her love. Always, till we all meet together. She remains close to us all.

LESS THAN BREAKING NEWS......FROM JUAB HIGH CLARION OF 1962

The Class of Juab High of 1962 has finally graduated and....It wasn't just Clark Newell that had his fill of the Elvis looking hair drenched down with Vitalis, but Tom Newell rocking car is gone and Max Orme has told Mont Jones he can now go out and work on Diesel Trucks, which he did in Idaho. And Myrna of the local Times News just may want to read about about the article written by the Carbon the High School and don't forget the record Hop for this Friday. The JV Cheerleaders consisting of Pat Mories, Cleda Blackett, Judy Jackson and  Connie Kendall put a ad in there.