Craig has been a "front runner" and one of the "movers and shakers" of this Midwestern town of Newark, Ohio. He has been instrumental in bringing international baseball to our town, he was President of our city council for many years, and deftly guided inexperienced council members to a path, leading our town forward.
He was an active member of many organizations and an involuntary adviser on many committees, and his input, whether warranted or not was freely given.
As one iconic retired politician responded, when asked about Craig, and his upcoming 65th birthday, responded, "I didn't know he was still around, he shows us that a lifestyle like that, can lead to long life, son of a gun, he's still around, does he still have that dump out there, son of a gun, huh, I really am surprised to hear that, 65 you say, huh, son of a gun. I liked his brother and his sister, son of a gun."
One retired mayor commented, "He was a thorn in the side of my whole administration, he tried to run that damn council like it was his, he never let me get a word in edgewise, every time I tried to speak he would hit that damn gavel. I eventually became hearing impaired because of him, and that damn gavel. I burnt the damn thing, out back, in my incinerator when he left."
His lovely sister commented, "Craig is MUCH older than I am, we are VERY far apart, age wise, so I really never got to know him, well, you know, the BIG age difference and all, did I tell you, he was much older than I am. I remember Mom talking about him though."
His brother, a well known local proofreader and publisher and sometime religious leader in the community, quipped in, "I learned early on, when Craig told me to due somthing, welll I would dew the opposite. I often went to him with quesstions about my knewspapers and how to ran them. All l are, i ow to him. He has always been my eyedoll."
His Mother commented, "He was a good boy, always bright and alert and very studious, I am so thrilled with his success, to him, I say, Happy 65th, Jim."
Thanks to his ability to "fold stubs," and be available for drawings, he has been financially rewarded in his life, that, combined with dedication, hard work and constant training, surrounded by good friends, he is a survivor, no, not just a survivor, a winner, a S I X T Y F I V E year old winner.
Happy birthday, good friend.
PS - As I have gotten considerably older, and thought of ... my demise, he has been outspoken and wants me to have a funeral .... so he can rise to his feet, and speak, about me ....... he has been the only one .....
