The Cauldron

Last week I was driving home from a basketball game and on the way, I had learned over the radio that the legendary Paul Harvey (1918-2009) had passed away.

Saddened by this news, I persuaded the editors to start this issue by laying a tribute to one of the greatest radio personalities that ever graced the airways.

Harvey, 90, had an unprecedented list of over 45 awards that included the Presidential Medal of Honor. Harvey had a golden voice that was certainly suited for radio, and his unique news attracted a fan base of over 25 million people.

Harvey's radio program, The Rest of the Story, told of stories that were factual, but included a twist that would make the listener go, "Hmm…" His stories entertained, as well as informed about public figures and wellknown Americans.

I have a (brief version of a) story that got me into reading and listening to Paul Harvey:

The story is about a boy named Walter Elias, a boy who lived on a farm in Missouri. He was seven years old and was playing outside, like any other child would do. To his amazement, he saw an owl perched on an Apple tree, sleeping since they are nocturnal animals. The boy quietly snuck up on the owl and caught it by his legs, hoping to keep it.

At that time the bird woke up and frantically tried to escape. Walter flung the bird down and stomped it to death. The boy cried and ran away only to return and bury the poor animal. But, the owl returned to Walter in his dreams and after that day the boy understood the precious gift that life is.

Walter never told anyone about this owl until many years later, but in his grief of the action wanted some way to help this owl fly free in the wild, never to be disturbed.

Because the death of an owl and a little boy's thoughtless actions, Walt Disney had resurrected his feelings of guilt for this little owl.

Thank you Mr. Harvey for the terrific, little known stories that shape our culture that you gave us week in and week out. You have brought many people into the media, including this editor, to to never forget the meaning of honest and truthful reporting… AND NOW YOU KNOW… THE REST OF THE STORY.

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