The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise from Seguin, Texas • Page 17

The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise- Sunday, May4, 1986- Page 18 IMAGE Actor says grab success and don't let go By AMIS TURK Staff writer "Jazz Jackson" is an "ex-con turned good" on the popular afternoon soap opera, "The Young and the Restless." The character is a good guy, who has come a long way from the structured, seemingly hopeless existence he once was imprisoned within. Jon St. Elwood, the handsome actor who plays that character says of his life that, as the song goes, "except for the names and a few other changes the story's the same one." St. Elwood is a good guy who has seen rough times and overcome them to bring himself on to a higher place in life. He isn't an ex-con, but he admits he was a juvenile delinquent, and he lived in the structured order of the Gary Job Corps vocational and educational training center for about two years, about 16 years ago.

Last week "Jazz Jackson" returned, for the first time since his graduation, to the Gary Job Corps in San Marcos to address the young people there. To see the young people greet him was like watching the crowds that once surrounded Elvis or the Beatles. The young women and young men at Gary were very excited by the actor's visit. "When you see someone who made it on the outside who is successful, well, then that makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it?" the large, impressive man said as he addressed students at a luncheon held at Gary in honor of his visit. "Big guys are allowed to cry especially when they feel what I feel today," said a tearful St.

Elwood to the group that he said reminded him of how he was years ago. "You are taking your lives into your own hands. You are trying to do your best, you're trying to reach your dreams. I know you are. And you can succeed.

Your odds are against you from the day you are born, but the Lord Jesus Christ holds you in the palm of his hand," the actor pointed toward individuals in the audience and the dining hall became suddenly silent, save for the sound of muffled- sobs as he touched the people with his words. St. Elwood was still very much in tune with the feelings of young people at Gary, it seemed, and his words to them were of faith, commitment and inspiration. The actor seemed as touched as the audience was when he would staff see members at Gary that had known him while he was residing there. Those staff members seemed proud of him.

Saying that the secret of his success was a sense of commitment he developed toward his goals, along with the attitude that he could do or be anything he wanted to, St. Elwood expressed his wish that the Job Corps clients would adopt a similiar attitude. He was hopeful that they would use the time in the training center to develop a skill and an attitude of commitment to themselves and to God. After the luncheon, Jon signed about a hundred autographs before going outside to be entertained by the Flag Corps of the training center. Following that, Jon was to make three presentations to assemblies of Job Corps youth in the afternoon.

Between those assemblies, Jon had time to sit down and talk about his life as a soap opera star, a former Gary Job Corps client, and a Christian. "A friend of mine was a producer for Columbia pictures. I was interested in special effects and makeup, but he got me started in another direction. He got me involved in a program called "The Child Stealers," a made for television movie. "That is when I really got started in acting," St.

Elwood explained. Jon's father lives in Wichita Falls, and Jon likes to get back to Texas to visit as often as he can. A single man in Hollywood, and a large, handsome actor at that, one might think that Jon's social life is a top priority in his life. "Not so," says the soap opera star who claims to live a very solitary life in Van Ives, Calif. reading and writing a lot.

Writing poetry is a special talent he enjoys, and he said that he has had several of his poems published in magazines. "I don't go out that much. I am very quiet. I just stay home and try to behave," he said with an honest share his faith, Jon explained that he had first thought of being a minister or priest. "I thought that my vocational calling was to be a minister.

I thought the ministry I was going to have was to try to preach and get through to kids," Jon said. He seemed to feel that the direction his life has taken as an actor allows him to reach more young people this way with his message of hope and success. "I believe that everything in your life brings you to where you are now, and that there is a purpose and a direction to it all," the actor commented. He explained that the years he spent at Gary were very important in his own development as a person. "I had a joyful time here a time that was inspirational both spiritually and mentally.

The people who helped me through are dear to me. Some of those people are still here helping other kids," he told the assembly. Jon was visably moved by his return to the center. "It has changed a lot to an extent, and then it hasn't really. I guess I have a lot to think about," he said of his feelings upon returning to the San Marcos based center.

St. Elwood explained that when he first left Gary he thought that it would be "all easy after that," and it was hard to realize that this was not necessarily going to be the case. "When I went out of here, it did not mean that I had it all together. It did not mean that I was not going to go out into the world without challenges to overcome. In society we must overcome hate, prejudice, slander, violence and sin altogether.

You can make it, and you can bring your children up to make it even though it's rough," he encouraged the assembly. Talking about "The Young and the Restless" staff and program, Jackson said that his was a job requiring some long, hard hours. Playing the part of "Jazz Jackson" is fun for St. Elwood, and he has been enjoying that role for two years now. Jon confessed that most of all he loves to write poetry, and that he enjoys writing things concerning "spiritual knowledge." A devoted Christian, with a powerful desire to written into the show is often, or as importantly as it once had been, but St.

Elwood said he still will remain on the show for awhile longer and that he is happy with the show. When asked whether his religious convictions made it difficult to have a role on a soap opera when those programs are famous for their lack of morality, Jon agreed that it was rough. "You've got to be in the world, but not of the world, you see. Morals are so messed up in society, and yes it is hard to remain strong. But it is just as hard for a bricklayer or an upholstery worker or'a mechanic as it is for me.

Sure, their may not be a life in the fast paced lane, like in Hollywood, but it is never easy," St. Elwood explained. "Sometimes you can watch to see where the story's going in the script and you can stop and say, 'I don't feel good about doing this or but you really don't get a chance to tell the writers what you want the character to be. You don't have that kind of say in the script," he added. When asked about his fellow cast members and their relations, he explained, "We all have good work relations, but there is nobody that I'm really, really close to." When asked about the future of his career, the actor smiled and want to go as far as I can in what I'm doing.

If I can give back what the Lord has so graciously given me, I will." "It took me a lot more than just the two years I was here to take the attitude that I could be successful. But I have found that, and I have been enriched and I have made it better. I am very excited about that because it is a very, very positive attitude to take it's like crossing tracks in life or climbing the ladder so to speak. "Sometimes you just have to start over again. That's what life's about.

Life is not easy. It never was, and it never will be. Success is a hard part to play it does not come easy at all. And when success is achieved it is like grabbing a hold of the gold ring," Jon said with conviction. The audience hung on his every word, and the kind man clenched an imaginary brass ring in the air above Then, he smiled and said, "But what you've got to realize (is that) once you grab it you can't let go." "JAZZ JACKSON" is the name of "The Young and the Restless" televison character played by Jon St.

Elwood. The actor recently visited with young people at the Gary Job Corps Center in San Marcos to give inspirational messages to people there. St. Elwood, a Gary Job Corps graduate himself, takes a minute to give a hug to a fan as he watches the Gary Job Corps Flag Corps perform a routine in his honor. (Staff photo by Janis Turk) Artists to be featured in Mayfest By JANIS TURK Staff writer The Seguin League of Arts and Crafts will be sponsoring their annual Mayfest, an art and craft show and sale, today at the Seguin- Guadalupe Colesium from 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m. Door prizes will be given and food will be sold on the premises. There will be no admission charge and the public is invited to attend. Three talented local artists who will show their original art and craft items at the sale are Jeanie Lpngone, Penny Oyler, and Hazel Morris. Hazel and Penny are mother and daughter, and talent seems to run in their family.

Penny and Hazel are co- chairpersons, or vice presidents, of the Seguin League of Arts and Crafts. Penny enjoys painting on "primitives," or antique items, such as old teapots, pots and pans, coffee mugs, and country saw blades. Her mother, Hazel, enjoys ceramic creations. Both recently displayed and sold their art items at a pre- Mayfest sale at Five Courts Mall on Thursday. "Ninety percent of the things I do are on antiques.

But some of the things I see I just can't help painting, whether they're antique or not. I like to paint on everything practical things, even," explained Penny of her work. Penny has been in the league for 15 years. She is a charter member of the group. Her mother joined the league about 14 years ago.

During that time they have always participated in the annual Mayfest and Yulefest shows in Seguin. Penny lives, in Marion, and Hazel lives in the Lake McQueeney area. They enjoy working together and being involved in the league. "We are mother, daughter and friends to each other," Hazel explained happily. The love and care and time put in their artwork really expresses their talents well.

Jeanie Longone is a Marion resident also, and like Penny and Hazel, she enjoys her artwork as well. Jeanie is an excellent painter. Her original paintings of bluebonnets and children, hillsides and trees show her magnificent eye for color and detail. Detail is also important in other areas of her artwork. Jeanie paints a lot of miniature items that are very popular at art shows.

She paints tiny, detailed bluebonnets on light-switch covers, on old bottles, and paints little people on curtain ties, and cut wood pieces. Jeanie and her husband Don Logone have traveled a lot. Don is in the Army, working at Ft. Sam Houston. "We finally got back to Texas after 10 years and we're planning on staying," said Jeanie.

They have lived in Marion for three years. "It's a nice place a good place to live, with good schools. We like it here," Jeanie added. "I like painting the best. I've done portraits as a supplimental income ever since I was young.

Since I've been 16 I've been painting and selling. I'd like to concentrate on the paintings from now on, though I will keep doing the miniatures that are so popular, "she said. Jeanie has done shows for only about a year now, although she has been painting since she was a child. Her art, along with Hazel's and Penny's will be on display at the Mayfest this afternoon. Be sure to come and show support for our local artists! DISPLAYING and selling her artwork is fun for Penny Oyler, who paints mainly on antique or "primitive" items such as this old shovel which she holds.

Penny and her mother, Hazel Morris, are vice presidents for the Seguin League of Arts and Crafts, which sponsors the Mayfest and Yulefest craft shows in Seguin each year. (Staff photo by Janis Turk) MAYFEST local artists from the Seguin League of Arts and Crafts (from center, clockwise) Jeanie Longone, Hazel Morris and. Penny Oyler were at the Five Courts Mall in Seguin recently to show some of their craft items. The Mayfest will be held today at the Seguiin-Guadalupe County Colesium, and the public may attend free of charge. (Staff photo).