Corpus Christi Caller-Times from Corpus Christi, Texas • 112

SECTOR i DawBairyG3 1 Buslnea69 Ann Landers Victim is unclear of the laws against date rapeG3 r- 1 i EcMor UAnmBW 8864304 Dssjgnr Aberto Msrtnsz CopyrtMO 1MB MtoMtnw PuHWdng Company Sunday Daoambar 17 1996 i Hi i'l "il 4a HSr HmmNgMgMiattodiand wanli In and around Cnpua ChrMAoomptotontortoinnsrtcaton( "nppaan FHdi WMnd inadna AtoaUngaforlhawaakaraMadlntia 'Cstonctor ol EvanM Sunctoyt LMng aao- ta IMay Performances of Pan T2 pm Harbor Playhouse 1 Bayfront Park Tickets: $12 dis- count for military personnel students and senior citizens Information 888-7469 Corpus Chrtsd Ballet presents Nutcracker" 2 pm "Bayfront Plaza Auditorium Tickets: S5-S36 and are able at Foleyfc Craig's Record factory Blockbuster Music and locations Information: 991-8521 or 881-8499 Texas Art Productions pre- sents 7th annual Last-Minute Christmas Arts and Crafts Show 10 am to 5 pm Memorial Coliseum Information: 991-2438 A craft and plant sale will be in the old gift shop at Corpus -Christi Botanical Gardens 9 am to 5 pirn 8510 Staples Information: 852-7879 The Westslde Business Association will sponsor its annual de Ninos 1 pm Plaza de Pineda 2313 Agnes Santa Claus will make an appearance and a parade will be held beginning at the Vann Kennedy owner of local CBS affiliate Channel 10 started his journalism career In 1927 working for a variety of newspapers plaza and ending at the Center lor Hispanic Arts 2021 Agnes 888-8181 ComtagHp Appearances by the Royal Lipizzaner Stallions 7:30 pm Thursday Jan Ilandat4pm and 7 JO pm Friday Jan 12 Memorial Coliseum Tickets: $1250 adults $10 children 12 and under and seniors Tickets for 4 am matinee are $1050 for all seats Tickets available at Ticketmaster locations Infer mation: 881-8499 Harbor Playhouse Young -People's Theater and First Stage flayers present 8 pm Friday Jan19 Saturday Jan 20 and at 2 pm Sunday Ian 21 at the playhouse 1 Bayfront Park Other performances: Jan 26-28 Information: 888-7469 in Texas journalism Channel is still not slowing down Vann Vann Kennedy give Walter Cronkite his start in journalism Kennedy Channel president once was a farce In the Democratic Party At age 90 Kennedy still works 12-hour days with no plans to retire Mary andVann Kennedy are celebrating their 55th anniversary today By Sieve Sidn auertfanes or most Corpus Christi residents Aug 4 1970 was a day of disaster Hurricane Celia had ravaged Corpus Christi with 161 mph winds Downtown Corpus Christi lay in shambles Storm-swept piles of I shattered glass littered the ground Roofing gravel downed Looper said The night before had been a nightmare for Looper He had been trapped at the station studio and transmitter site in Robstown while preparing a weather report when the storm hit full force eventually knocking the station off the air Before Celia hit Kennedy met with each of his staff members to tell them what he expected has never been one for group meetings" Looper said style is more one-on-one Kennedy told us to take care of our families first and then come back to Some people brought their families to the Wilson Building because it was considered one of the shiest buildings in Corpus Christi The eight-day outage was a financial disaster for KZTV cost us said Looper a shareholder in Channel 10 (Kennedy) never let on to the staff" Looper said dial as always Kennedy was in total control during this stressful period Kennedy now 90 was 65 years old and still putting in 15-hour days Kennedya penchant for long work days without much sleep may stem from his childhood He began working at odd jobs as a teen-ager in San Marcos to earn extra money for his family building a work Tb submll tarn to Whafl Up sand (totals in wriBny one vmk prior to pubSoe 'lion to LMng OaparlmanL CaSar- 'Timas ROl Boa 9136 Coipua ChhaS Timas 78469 Compltod by AntoaaNvm i Itanda and nans notoa Shwd Amarican Stoatytaa In Sia 90a iMrt Vi Not so krazy glue: Good news for those of you afraid of get- ting stuck In die wake of a recent survey that found that one in five Americans don't buy instant glue because it can make their fingers stick togeth-! er Krazy Glue has come out with Krazy Glue Skin Guard jfhe company says it allows you to instantly stick together just about anything except your lingers' Jfc' ethic that has driven him for more than 75 years In his years in the media Kennedy has made an Indelible impression on many of his employees including 72-year-old Texas humorist Richard Pryor Pryor had greatly admired Kennedy for being named Broadcaster of the Yfear in 1973 by the Texas Association of Broadcasters received die same honor last year" Pryor said Pryor worked for Kennedy as program director at radio station KSIX-AM in 1947 die first year die station was on the aic- -Pryor an Austin native also remembers Kennedy work as an Austin newspaper- man Kennedy had the reputation as one of the top newspaper reporters in the state Pryor said had offices at die Capitol and covered legislative issues of die day like few reporters ever he said Kennedy built rapport with state politicians a connection that would serve him well in both his reporting and political activity During the Depression Kennedy founded The State Observer now The Iktas Observer a bi-monthly publication dial -covers the Texas political scene He was a correspondent for many metropolitan newspapers including die Son Antonio light sad die Houston Chronicle In 1931 he launched die Austin Bureau of the International News Service which later merged with United Press Kennedy was die INS bureau manager from 1931 to 1942 when he left to serve in World War II Political observers of that time say Kennedy had built a reputation for exposing legislative cronyism and pork barnri- ing terms often used when government funds are used for political benefit Kennedy wife Mary said her husband always has been a soft-spoken courteous man But he has been at his best when challenged guess when thinking back to what he told me about his childhood Vann always created his own opportunities always managed to be In a take-charge role" Mary Kennedy said That trait drove his reporting and his business experiences Nothing had come easy to Kennedy as a child so he took every opportunity to better himself and to blaze his own path in life Mary Kennedy said Like a good reporter he knew how to follow a lead Like an entrepreneur he knew how to make a good lead pay off Kennedy was born in 1905 in the south- east Alabama town of Haleburg Kennedy takes pride in his first name Vann because he was named after a revered Alabama physician who treated rural OT8 utility poles and traffic lights blocked many streets But fbr broadcast pioneer Col Vann Kennedy it was business as usual Kennedy dressed in a windbreaker over an open-coliar shirt he normally wore oh Sundays arrived at television station KZTV at the normal time 8 am to continue coverage of die devastation The arrival of die president and general manager inspired many staff members who'd spent the night in the Wilson Building weathering Celiacs lashing and left many amazed But to those who know Kennedy such determination came as no surprise It is an integral part of Kennedy character forged jn his youth in San Marcos where he worked to help support his family and during a career on the vanguard of South Texas broadcast journalism In his 70 years in print and broadcast media Kennedy's entrepreneurial style has shaped die careers of luminaries such as Walter Cronkite and rising stars such as Mary Alice Salinas Salinas left KZTV as anchor and after a brief job in San Antonio Is on her way to an NBC affiliate in Washington DC reportedly for a six-figure salary He has demonstrated his abilities as a lawyer decorated officer in World War II and secretary of 10 Texas Democratic Party conventions One of those who have come to expect such determination from Kennedy is Gene Looper KZTV program director Looper a Kennedy employee for more than 40 years was at the station when Kennedy arrived after Celia struck "It was grace under Looper said don't know how but there he was Ml Kennedy showed up fbr work as usual at the usual time" Looper said Kennedy is a hard man to read but his calm attitude did a lot to quell our i I came to 1 i Corpus Christi (in 1946) I wanted to grow personalty and contribute to the growth of South Texas -Vann Kennedy MONDAY Fbr Parents Dear Ibacher KidSmaits and Learning Through Play pass along Dps lor strengthening your ducatkxu TUESDAY FOr Viewers CaHar-Thnaa TV critic Elaine Liner looks at programming stars and broadcast (mum WEDNESDAY For Cooks Cook It Light and Personal lOsta open windows of A lalii i UtA opponunicy mmaiwcnan THURSDAY For Woman -A look at the trends and dovsiopmonts affecting woman today FRIDAY For Youths-14219 profllas South TOxas tson-agors and the issues that surround bom SATURDAY FOr Vann Kennedy (left) pictured with Gen Joseph Warren StiNwefl during Wbild War II where Kennedy was decorated by the US Army and the Republic of China Groan provides tips end updates foe weekend gardsnsrs.