Letter to the editor:
The president was elected by the American people and was just as black then as he is now.
I seriously doubt that Nancy Reagan would agree, nor do I, that she was given a “wide berth of respect” because of the position of her husband.
There is, of course, racism in America, but not to the extent portrayed by the news media. They constantly play the race card at the hint of any criticism of the president. There are things done or said in poor taste by certain elements, but that does not reflect badly upon the country as a whole.
Perhaps an alternate and more plausible explanation could be that a smooth-talking salesman sold the American people a bill of goods during the last campaign and many are not at all happy with the result of his product.
Garry Garrison,
Kincaid, Kan.
To the Forum:
I’m writing today to comment on the story about Larry Garrett. I think the kids at Iola High School did an amazing job recognizing a very special man.
Larry touched the lives of my family, as well as many others. Our relationship started in 1995, when my oldest daughter, Chelsey, started the fifth grade. He drove bus No. 34 then. Later on, it became bus No. 19.
A couple of years went by. Casey, my middle daughter, came along, and then Crystal.
All three girls rode the bus and loved it. I remember he was told to pick up the girls on the blacktop, but Larry “would not have that.” He would always pull up into our driveway and backed all the way out. And if he saw the porch light on, he knew they weren’t riding that day.
A couple of years ago, Chelsey had to have back surgery, and Larry drove to Wichita to visit. He didn’t have to do that, but that’s the kind of man Larry was.
On occasion, Larry would call and invite us out to eat. He loved his Mexican and Chinese food. I believe that everyone who knew Larry is a better person for it.
Larry will be missed very much by my family, and I’m sure by many others.
Crystal remembers “having junk-food parties” on the bus and the days when Larry would surprise them with candy. When Crystal and Morgan Smith were little, they would always sit in the seat behind Larry and sing him songs. He loved hearing them sing.
My girls are grown now, but Larry left an impression on them that will last a lifetime.
