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Happy Birthday, Texas! Memo up front: Yes, I'm biased. No, Texas isn't a bunch of Cowpokes and Spittoons. Yes, Texas is big. No, the Chicken Ranch doesn't operate
anymore. Yes, we still do that - we just use Five Star Hotels, instead. And yes, on the above date, Texas is 167 years old - we call it Texas Independence
Day.
And, on this day each year I think about a fellow Texan who passed away a couple of years ago ... one of those truly good guys who spent a lot of time and
effort making sure that people of all walks of life - especially children - understood Texas, Texans, and their history. You may or may not have known this man, but if you
didn't, then you know or knew someone just like him -- that rare individual who "lives" a topic - but at the same time, makes it fun to learn. In my case, that was
Jay Lynn Johnson.
UT, Austin City Limits, and Sixth Street
In my travels, I've found that people generally associate three things with Austin, Texas. Obviously, the University. Pardonez Moi, that should be "THE" University
... "Austin City Limits" ... and "Sixth Street". And I don't care what anyone says, Jay Johnson was the driving force behind Sixth Street (Old Pecan Street)
becoming a multi-cultural assembly of residents and businesses with night-life and day-life. Johnson was the champion of the original group which set out to upgrade
a very run-down area into the vibrant silhouette it ultimately achieved.
But, Johnson didn't stop at Sixth Street. In his latter years, Jay organized "Celebrate Texas" - an organization dedicated to promoting education of the history of
Texas and its people. Jay would make it very clear that if the kids didn't learn their heritage, then something would be truly lost. And watching him in front of kids was
a delight ... he would even give fun pop quizzes to peak their interest. They loved it, and learned !!
And so, to Jay Johnson, and all those just like him who take time to spend with the youngsters and help them learn - and even spin a yarn or two - hats off to you,
and Happy Texas Independence Day.
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