Vox Pop Influentials - January / February 2010

CENTRAL VALLEY’S VOICE OF THE PEOPLE - INNOVATIVE, INSPIRATIONAL, INSIDE MAGAZINECENTRAL VALLEY’S VOICE OF THE PEOPLE - INNOVATIVE, INSPIRATIONAL, INSIDE MAGAZINEVol. 5 Issue 1 January/February 2010 www.voxpopinfluentials.com US $3.50

FEATURE STORY: AlAn AUTRY This Former Tularean Made it Big - in the nFl, Hollywood and Politics.So, What’s “Bubba” Up to now?

Alana Unger Writes About the Importance of Family Meals with Teens

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2 VOX POP Influentials

What’s this world coming to?

First the Tiger Woods public debacle then the Leno/Conan late night wars. I can hardly believe that there’s now a beer shortage in Belgium. That’s it…I’ve had just about enough. Alcoholic beverages were supposed to be recession proof!

Apparently they are not, because some of my favorite brands of Belgium beer — Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe — are at the center of the European economic standoff and are being held hostage by protesting union brewery workers. Can you believe it?

Apparently, Belgium protesters have set fires and blocked entry to the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer in the Belgium city of Leuven. They’ve been brewing beer there since the 1300s. This is also happening at other brewing plants across Europe. What’s wrong with these people?

The protesters are now preventing beer from leaving the breweries and are stopping the raw ingredients and packaging materials from getting in. Workers at one plant even took their managers hostage for 11 hours. A few days later, picketers tried a different approach by handing out free beer instead. That’s more like it.

What is behind all this? Money and jobs, of course! Even though AB InBev posted profits of $1.55 billion in the third quarter of last year they proposed cutting about 800 jobs - about a third of which would be in Belgium alone. Sound familiar?

The company big wigs are Brazilian investment bankers. They control a global empire with a workforce of 120,000 and more than 200 brands of beer. Like a lot of companies here in the states they expanded rapidly with a series of mergers and acquisitions, including the takeover of American Anheuser-Busch in 2008.

These actions saddled the company with a lot of debt. Add to this decreased beer sales in Belgium of twenty percent between 2000 and 2008 and there you have it. Like a lot of us, the Belgian population is aging and that means no more bar hopping.

While I am not one to encourage more consumption of any alcoholic beverage, you just have to wonder how much further can we be affected by these tough times?

I guess all the news isn’t that bad. Tiger’s on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine this month and there’s a risqué pictorial inside. Conan O’Brien’s staff of 200 will receive a nice severance package after he leaves. In a reported $45 million exit deal from “The Tonight Show,” O’Brien will get more than $33 million from NBC when he says adios. The rest will go to his staff.

I long to hear those sweet two words again — “Heeere’s Johnny!”

R.J. Latronico, Publisher

[ FROM THE PUBLISHER’S dESk ]

PublisherR.J. Latronico

Creative DirectorJennifer Lingard

ContributorsAlana Unger, Harvey Mackay, kurt Eichsteadt,

david Hummerickhouse, ddS, Emily Latronico

Contact InformationVOX POP Influentials

Volume 5 Issue No. 1 January/February 2010

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COnTEnTSJAnUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

From The Publisher’s desk[2] 2010 is here, so far so good, I think!

Wealth & Finance[6] Harvey Mackay:

Taking care of business starts with taking care of yourself. did you know that walking clears your head and helps you think better? It really does!

[9] Rich People Who Made It and What They did With It:

kurt Eichsteadt tells us how Clinton Williams Murchison hobnobbed with J. Edgar Hoover and Joe McCarthy. That was until McCarthy, a heavy drinker, pushed Murchison’s wife into a swimming pool. Ahhh, the lifestyles of the rich and famous!

Health & Wellness [12] How important is the family mealtime? Very! Studies

show that if teens don’t sit down to dinner with family at least three times a week, they triple their risk of experimenting with alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. Alana Unger tells us how we can take the time and make an impact at the dinner table.

[25] Where does your dental coverage fall in the myriad of new healthcare bills being proposed by Congress? Our regular contributor, dr. david Humerickhouse, has some interesting “inside” information for us regarding this.

Entertainment[24] kurt Eichsteadt shares with us his views on 2012 and 2012 and 2012

Ponyo. The latter is a wonderfully animated film about a goldfish that wants to be a little girl. This one is truly film making magic!

FEATURE

Alan Autry – a.k.a Carlos Alan Brown

Some remember Alan as the former two-term

Mayor of Fresno. Others may recall his television

role as Captain Bubba Skinner (1988 NBC series, “In

the Heat of the Night”). Still others may think of him as

a quarterback for the Green Bay Packers (1975).

Any way you look at Alan Autry, he is one thing —

simply amazing. So, why is this 57 year-old now

hosting a Fresno radio talk show? Find out all

the Skinner details beginning on page 15 in this

month’s exclusive VPI interview.

We guarantee you will never think of Alan the same

way again.

[15]

ON THE COVER


Gen. David Petraeus has a clear view of leadership, as Maj. John Patrick Gallagher recounts in the book Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows, by Charles Garcia. One day when Petraeus was a colonel in the 82nd Airborne Division, he asked his soldiers to name the #1 leadership priority of the brigade.

Integrity? Marksmanship? No, the correct answer turned out to be physical fitness. The brigade thought Petraeus was joking, until the colonel began leading his soldiers through an intensive 75-minute exercise drill every morning. And soon his point became clear: The workouts drove the brigade to greater alertness and energy, as well as more pride in themselves and their unit.

As Gallagher puts it, “Self-discipline and being able to perform under pressure and exist outside our comfort zone would be the key that unlocked our success.”

The word “exercise” derives from a Latin root that means “To maintain, to keep, to ward off.” To me, that means I should exercise to maintain my health, to keep my sanity and to ward off the temptations that lead me down unhealthy paths.

I spend at least 60 minutes a day walking, jogging, swimming or lifting weights.

What we consider “exercise” today is really a natural part of life, but in our current world, we have to make a conscious effort to make it part of our daily routine. Just a few generations ago, walking was a major form of transportation! Our evolution from hunters and gatherers, who walked to get from one area to another, to a sedentary automobile/train/plane civilization, has forced us to look at exercise in a different way.

According to the Franklin Institute, “Walking is especially good for your brain, because it increases blood circulation and the oxygen and glucose that

reach your brain. Walking is not strenuous, so your leg muscles don’t take up extra oxygen and glucose like they do during other forms of exercise. As you walk, you effectively oxygenate your brain.” The research suggests this is why walking can “clear your head” and help you to think better.

So maybe a walking club at lunchtime would be a good place to start.

With a new year upon us, one of the resolutions many people at least think about is getting in shape. That’s a great goal, and I hope it lasts beyond January 2. If you aren’t active already, I encourage you to start now. You’ll feel better and think better as a result.

Exercise is an important element of good health, but you’ve got to approach it with good judgment. Follow this basic advice for getting in shape safely:

Start slowly. If you haven’t exercised in a while, don’t jump into a strenuous routine. Consult with your doctor to find out what’s safe. Start each workout with a warm-up to ease your body into the session.

Get the right equipment. Running in the wrong shoes or biking without a helmet can be dangerous. Don’t take chances with old or used equipment. If you’re not sure what you need, ask a trainer or someone with experience.

Wear suitable clothing. Loose, comfortable clothing is essential. Wear fabrics that absorb sweat, so your body doesn’t overheat. If you’re exercising outdoors in cold weather, wear a warm hat and gloves; in hot weather, wear a cap to stay cool.

Watch the weather. Don’t go outside to work out in extreme temperatures. I’ve slipped more than a few times on ice in Minnesota. Wear sunscreen, winter or summer. In cold weather, dress in layers. During the summer months, exercise in the morning or late in the day to avoid excessive heat.

Drink plenty of water. Keeping hydrated is important before, during, and after exercise. Take a drink every 20 minutes, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

Pay attention to surroundings. When you’re outdoors, don’t “zone out.” Watch out for traffic, other people, rough surfaces and other dangers. Even in the gym, keep your eyes open and your mind engaged to prevent accidents with equiptment or other exercisers.

Listen to the warning signs. Don’t try to “work through” pain. Slow down if you get short of breath. If you get dizzy or feel nauseated, or feel pain in your chest, neck, shoulders, or arms, stop exercising immediately. If the symptoms don’t go away, call your doctor.

Mackay’s Moral: Taking care of business starts with taking care of yourself. n

Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 best seller “Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive.”

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InTRO

Clinton Williams Murchison, Sr. organized craps games at a religious college, and quit working at a bank when he realized he could make more money trading cattle. Eventually, he ended up making his fortune in oil. He built a 34,000 square foot home for himself, bought an island and then seven private airplanes. One of his biographers says he “Blazed the trail of a generation of oilmen learning how to be rich.” Clinton hobnobbed with J. Edgar Hoover and Joe McCarthy. One of his sons was instrumental in founding the dallas Cowboys.

Murchison is also one of the subjects of the recent book: The Big Rich-The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes. This book covers the lives of Murchison, Roy Cullen, H.L. Hunt and Sid Richardson. It was written by Bryan Burrough.

BACKGROUnD

Clinton was born in Athens, Texas. Even as a young man, he was good with figures. After dropping out of Trinity College in Waxahatchie, Texas, he worked briefly at a bank, and then turned to trading cattle before enlisting to serve in World War I to see the world. It didn’t work out; he never left the states. discharged in 1918 at the age of 23, he partnered with childhood friend Sid

Richardson (who also would become one of the “Big Rich.”)

It was a wild time in the oil business in Texas, and Richardson and Murchison were a good partnership. Murchison was good with figures, making deals and taking care of the money. Richardson was excellent in researching potential oil fields, which involved covert investigations of properties, trafficking in gossip and helping buy properties from people who didn’t really know their value.

HOW HE DID IT

By 1925, at the age of 30, Clinton had three children. He split with Richardson and was making $30,000 a month, (equivalent to approximately $300,000 today). Through the twenties and thirties he continued to build his fortune, expanding his empire by using other people’s money. He began to diversify in the late thirties and bought two insurance companies, publishing company Henry Holt & Co., a Seattle steam line, and some bus companies. He is one of the people credited with saying “Money is like manure, you gotta spread it around for things to grow.

WHAT HE DID WITH IT

Author Burroughs calls him “The first casual millionaire.” If he was seeing people he wore khakis and an open-neck shirt. He did have a tie in his office, but he used that for a belt.

Other material things were different — really different. Murchison was one of the first Texans to dig an Olympic sized swimming pool and most days, his sons arrived at school in a chauffer driven Pierce Arrow.

By 1927, he had purchased a 200-acre polo club in dallas, the city closest to his birthplace of Athens. Calling it the Preston Road Farm, he tried to recreate his youth

by importing hundreds of animals. It was so big that the Athens high school football team used it as a summer training camp.

In 1933, he had his company buy Matagorda Island, a 398-mile sandbar near Houston; the eastern half was a wildlife refuge and the western half was a sheep farm. There was no causeway or bridge to the mainland, so everything had to be brought in by barge.

Burroughs says it was as if a dude ranch had suddenly been plunked down in the Hamptons. While it was being built, he and his friends lived on rented yachts. By 1936, there was a club house, water tower and servants quarters.

In 1937, back on the mainland, the main building on the Preston Road Farm exploded. He, his two sons and their “lead” maid moved into a hotel while he built the largest private home in Texas. It was 34,000 square feet, made with red fieldstone and was longer than a football field. The master suite had eight full sized beds so he, his sons and his buddies could stay up all night and talk about oil. Other features of the building included a two story game room, a movie projection room and original murals painted on the walls.

Following World War II, he bought a surplus warplane (a dC-3) and turned it into a

Rich People Who Made It … and What They did With It

[ WEALTH ANd FINANCE ]

kURT EICHSTEAdT COlUMnIST

ClInTOn WIllIAMS MURCHISOn, SR. WHEn TEXAnS lEARnED HOW TO BE RICH


private plane. On its inaugural trip, he and his friends flew to Alaska, a 3,000-mile trip. As the 1940s turned into the 1950s, he added six more planes to his fleet.

In 1954, he and Richardson played a background role in investor Robert young’s purchase of the New york Central Railroad for $2.7 billion. Murchison being himself purchased his shares with borrowed money. When all the dust settled, young had the company and two months later, Murchison and Richardson sold their shares back to young.

FRIEnDS In HIGH PlACES

Money can buy things and it also can buy access to powerful people.

In 1952, FBI director J.Edgar Hoover and friend Clyde Tolson paid a visit to the Hotel del Charro that Murchison had built near del Mar in Southern California. Murchison loved horse racing, so they repeated this trip every year until Hoover’s death in 1972. Hoover and Tolson stayed (free of charge) in a special hotel bungalow reserved for Murchison’s friends. Murchison’s publishing company published Hoover’s book Masters of Deceit. Hoover and Murchison did secret deals and Murchison always protected Hoover. He never lost money, even if an oil well came up dry.

In 1951 Murchison began an association with Senator Joseph McCarthy donating money at McCarthy’s request to help defeat one of his rivals. By 1953, a published report said Murchison and H.L Hunt wanted McCarthy to run for president, which Murchison denied. Murchison’s relationship with McCarthy came to an end in 1953, when McCarthy, a heavy drinker, pushed Murchison’s wife into a swimming pool.

DEClInInG YEARS

In 1956, Murchison had a stroke that ended his active business career. After a second stroke, he turned his businesses over to his sons. He spent his summers in La Jolla betting at the del Mar horse races. during his last years, he enjoyed riding through the fields and orchards. He died of pneumonia on June 20, 1969. His obituary was on the front page of the New York Times.

lEGACY

Outside of his business holdings, Murchison didn’t leave much behind. There is no record of any philanthropy.

However, he was survived by his sons, Clint Jr. and John, who inherited his money. Clint Jr. founded the dallas Cowboys in 1960.

The NFL was interested in creating a professional team in dallas, since the upstart American Football League (AFL) had already established a franchise in dallas. The NFL league didn’t want to allow the AFL to get a foothold in a big market.

Clint Jr. also was active in the Pirate Radio business in the early 60s, financing a station that served Sweden

and partnering for a brief time in Radio Caroline, which broadcast to Great Britain.

COnClUSIOn

The Big Rich author Burroughs says Richardson “Had torn through life with gusto and those he left behind were uniformly thankful to have known him.”

On the other hand, when Ladies Home Journal named him the sixth richest man in the country in 1957, he said, “After the first hundred million…what the heck?” n

MORE ABOUT ClInT MURCHISOn, SR.

www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFkmurchison.htm

The Big Rich -The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes by Bryan Burrough

Clintby Ernestine Orrick Van Buren

The Murchisons: The Rise and Fall of a Texas Dynasty by Jane Wolfe


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Many of you, I’m sure, resolved to eat healthier, exercise more, and spend more time with family this year. Congratulations, you made the top ten list for most popular resolutions, and I hope they’re still going strong. Try very hard not to become one of the 64% of us who will have left our good intentions behind in just six months. To help you work on both the healthier eating and increased family time goals, I’d like to explore with you some encouraging facts about the effect of family meal time that may motivate you to stick to this resolution for the long run.

Family meal time is more than a time to stop the hunger pangs and provide nutrition - the nourishment and benefits go much deeper. Taking the time to gather around the dining table brings a comforting sense of routine in our crazy on-the-go lives. This anchor in the storm life also serves as a connection between family members, and helps foster kids’ sense of security and confidence. Making shared meal times an expectation in your home will create a lasting impact on your children, and your family.

When compared to children/teens who do not have regular family meal time, studies show that breaking bread together, your kids:

Will eat more fruits and vegetables – now and when they live on •their own.

Will be at a lower risk of developing an eating disorder.•Will be less likely to battle obesity – now and as an adult.•Will accomplish higher academic achievements and have •enhanced vocabularies.

Will be less likely to try alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. (If teens •don’t sit down to dinner at least three times a week, they triple their risk of experimenting with alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.)

I’ll bet you had no idea just how magical your dining table is. That last benefit is worth it’s weight in golden tuna-mac alone.

Before you dread the sulky protest you imagine may be displayed by your young, unwilling dinner companions, relax – studies show eight out of ten teens prefer eating with their parents. In my

experience, even the loudest protestor usually ends up enjoying the time together and may or may not admit they’re glad they were forced to join you.

Adhere to a few dining guidelines to prevent a backfire from the group grub time:

Serve healthy meals with foods that all of the family members enjoy. Don’t become a short-order cook, but do try to accommodate picky palates with at least one agreeable food item.

Turn off the television, computers, cell phones (no texting between bites), and do not answer the house phone. Bar these distractions to increase the value of your quality time.

Keep meal time conversations light and fun, engaging everyone in the discussions. This is not an appropriate time for a lecture that would make your children fear the dining table as an entrapment rather than a safe time to connect.

Set expectations that everyone comes to the meal, each family member is listened to with respect, and all stay at the table until everyone is done eating (or nearly done for the slow nibblers).

Resolve to eat healthier – most of us would benefit greatly from a few food selection upgrades. For the maximum benefit from your mealtime, though, make sure you’re not eating alone or in front of the TV. A missed meal with focused attention on your family is a missed opportunity that could have changed the course of their future. Take the time, make an impact.

Eating together at meal time is sometimes challenging with multiple busy schedules leaving little time to connect. Search online for “quick healthy recipes”, “healthy crock pot recipes” and others that don’t take excessive prep time. Have the family all pitch in during any prep/cooking time to speed it along and begin the family interaction before the plates even hit the table. n

ALANA UNGER, REGISTEREd dIETITIAN COlUMnIST

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The “Bubba” We All Know and Love!

– Interview by R.J. Latronico


– Interview by R.J. Latronico

Alan Autry is someone just about everyone knows and loves. I did this interview one day after Alan’s talk show in the lobby of KYNO’s studio in Fresno. There’s a large picture window there that faces the street, so we were in full view of any passersby. One man saw us sitting there and entered the lobby. He interrupted our conversation, said he was a big fan of Alan’s and just wanted to say hello. He remembered Alan as Captain Bubba Skinner (“In The Heat of the Night”).

It’s a little known fact, but I was working at NBC in the advertising and promotion department, in Burbank, during the late 1980s. I had the pleasure of working with both Alan and Carol O’Connor on the series. When I met Alan for the first time I handed him a memento from “Heat” that he did not already have – a full page TV Guide ad that I created for the two-hour premiere of the show in 1988. That’s how long I’ve known Bubba!

Alan has accomplished a lot since then, and there’s still no indication that he’s slowing down.

R.J. Latronico:We are here today with Alan Autry, a.k.a. Carlos Alan Brown.

Mr. Autry, you have had quite a career. You’ve been an actor – both in television and on the big screen, you played professional football with the Green Bay Packer’s, and you’ve been Mayor of Fresno. Right now, as we speak, you have your own production company and a two-hour, conservative radio talk show in Fresno.

Let’s start by talking about your show on KYNO - AM 1300. How did you become involved with John Ostlund and the radio station?

ALAn AuTry: Well, it wasn’t something that I planned to do, to be honest with you. I’ve been focused on getting my production company moving forward with a series of faith-based films. I like providing quality entertainment with a message.

John asked me if I would be interested in being a talk show host on one of the stations he ran. At the time I really wasn’t that interested, so I told him I would think about it. Initially, I was not going to do it. Then I started thinking seriously about it. I knew I didn’t want to run for office again. I did not think that was where the good Lord wanted me to be…at least at this stage in my life. I also didn’t want to step away from the political scene entirely. I then started thinking and I reasoned that the radio show might be a way to keep my voice out there.

You’ve have had some interesting guests on your show. Who’s been your favorite guest so far?

Oh gosh, Michael Steele, was just here today. It was a good interview. I think he’s great for the (republican) party. The current Mayor of Fresno, Ashley Swearengin, was also a wonderful interview. I enjoy just about every guest I have, especially some of the small business owners. These folks are some of my favorite interviews. I talk to all kinds of different people who work for local charities; they are all fun and do very important work.

How long have you been doing the talk show here?

A little over a year now.

Is working in radio more comfortable for you than doing television?

Well, I don’t try to be something that I’m not. If you’re going to do something for two hours a day you have to just be yourself and be the best you can be everyday. Some things I had to get used to, like how to keep the show moving. You have to be ready and prepared. In that respect it is a lot like television. But for some strange reason I’m more handsome on radio. (Laughter)

You mentioned you also have a production company, Autry Entertainment Group. Do you spend part of your time over there?

yes. It’s a diverse company. We focus on film and TV production. I also have acting workshops and we develop talent there. Many of the students we have get work in the movies that we make. We did the movie The Legend of Jake Kincaid. It’s a western that’s going to be released here soon and about 95% of the cast is local and from my acting workshops.

Are you currently working on any big projects right now?

Yes. We are really moving forward on faith-based films. We now have a distribution model in place that makes it financially more attractive to

[ FEATUREd STORy ]

AlAn AUTRY

The “Bubba” We All Know and Love!

Autry speaking at the Latino Water Coalition in 2009.


investors. I really look forward to the last quarter of my life focusing on production and distribution.

Let’s talk now about your job as Mayor of Fresno. What did you learn from your time in office?

Oh gosh, you learn so much. You learn how cities work; you learn a lot about the community, and you really get to know your community. You also get a better understanding of community needs and you learn a lot about yourself.

We were very fortunate in Fresno. We had a great team at City Hall. We were able to hire some great folks, so together, team Fresno went further and faster than anytime in its history. Crime at that time was at a forty-year low. We were able to grow a reserve, which they had never had before and we were also able to turn it over to the next administration. That was a good feeling; especially with the city being strapped so much by the economy. The City of Fresno was very fiscally responsible. That meant a lot.

Editor’s Note: Mr. Autry worked to maintain a balanced city budget, and during his last term as mayor (2008) Fresno had an $18 million reserve along with a balanced budget. There were no job layoffs either. The City of Fresno was the only major city in California to make this accomplishment.

You only said you would do one term, but you ended up doing two, correct?

I promised that if I were elected I would do my best and we would take it one term at a time. After the first four years I looked at what I had accomplished and then tried to decide whether or not I wanted to continue. I did turn some things around in that first term and then some other things happened in my life. My mother’s health took a turn for the worse, so I thought it might be time to step away.

I then asked a friend to run in my place. I told him I would support him and he said he’d run. Something then happened in his life. He took a job as a pastor and decided not to run. I was approached again at that time and was asked to run for a second term. The community wanted me to continue, so after a lot of prayer and discussions with my family I decided to run for another term. I was blessed enough to be elected again.

I understand you won with a 72% majority.

yes, I was elected with 62% the first time and 72% the second. Those were pretty humbling numbers.

Fresno now has an Independent Police Auditor (IPA). I understand this is an office of independent review that will make recommendations. Any disciplinary action will not be part of the IPA job. You got that ball rolling while you were in office, didn’t you?

Well I pursued it, but my timing was off. There was a lot of politics at work, and the unions didn’t want it, the police officer unions didn’t want it, and they fought very hard and lobbied the City Council against it. There was a lot of political power behind that. I think the incident with the homeless man (being roughed up by police) changed everything. I had asked City Council to hire an IPA during my term, I went to bat every year for it, and they said the same thing – no. Then an inexcusable incident happens and you are forced to do it. I think that’s what happened. It was more about timing and events than anything.

What is it that motivates you to do what you do?

I try to make decisions based on what God’s will is for me. I know what happens when I try to do it the other way around and rely on my own will. Right now I am really focused on producing these faith-based films. Getting a return on the investment fairly quickly was the key piece to make the movies. You cannot get continual investors unless you have the returns. Historically, movies have been pretty iffy investments. Now we made them a really good investment.

Fresno bashing has resurfaced again. What’s your take on all the attention from our late night talk show hosts on this topic?

If you look at all of the articles about gang activity in Los Angeles, along with all the weird situations happening in San Francisco, these two cities probably get bashed even more than we do. Look at new york and all the craziness that goes on there. Some cities always get bashed. I think we get it because we are viewed as a threat. By a threat I mean this valley is a very unique place to live in California. Fresno is a big city that thinks that God, family and country are still the foundation of our society. We value those things, almost like a mid-western town might value them.

If you placed the city of Omaha out west, you would get the same kind of criticisms. Some bash us because of what we believe – our conservative mindset. More and more people are finding that attractive. More and more liberals see California like Hollywood. What scares them is what’s between L.A and San

[ FEATUREd STORy ]

AlAn AUTRY

Autry starred as Captain Bubba Skinner on the hit series, “In the Heat of the Night” (1988 - 1995)


Francisco. They are afraid that what’s happening here could spread to other parts of the state. If California ever became a red state (Republican), the Democrats would never win another presidential election.

The Democrats can’t afford to lose those 55 electoral votes. So, any kind of threat to those votes is going to be met with severity. I think that’s the reason why we don’t get the water we need, the educational funding, and the infrastructure. The Central Valley gets no meaningful investment from the state, transportation wise. Did you know that the high-speed train originally was not going to stop here? We had to fight for it. It’s not paranoia if they’re really after you.

You’ve been a voice for farm labor and water. Was that based on your up bringing on the farm?

Well, certainly being raised on a farm had an effect on it. Without sufficient water it is impossible to farm. If farms go under, cities will be severely affected as well. We are an ag-based economy and we are fighting to diversify this. We are making inroads, but we should always want to have agricultural as the foundation for our economy. Quite honestly, we have a federal government that is intent on destroying farming. Powerful political leaders dominate our federal and state government who want to see farming stamped out and destroyed. The only way that they can do it is by cutting our water supply and that’s what they are doing.

Do you think the $11 billion dollar water bond is going to pass when it’s on the ballot?

It’s going to be tough. I’ll probably support it. We have an $11 billion dollar shot to fix things. Some folks are going to say we can’t afford it. They make a good argument.

Do you think that things will have to get worse before they get better?

unfortunately, yes!

You were at one time a paid spokesperson for Families Protecting the Valley, an Ag based advocacy group comprised of farmers. What happened with that group and why did you quit supporting them? Did they get too political?

no, I signed on and I wanted to get political with them. They assured me that what I was nOT signing up for a George radanovich lynch mob campaign. That was basically what it turned out to be. I made the first round of TV commercials they wanted me to do. When we were getting ready to do another commercial aimed at Washington, D.C. – the real culprits, I realized they were more interested in getting revenge than they were in getting water. So, I said, “I’m out of here.” Then they created and ran some more ads behind my back with money that I helped raise. They didn’t let me know the content of those ads. That was another slap in my face. When I realized I had been used and lied to, I said adios. Well, maybe I said more than that, but I know this is a family publication, so we’ll leave it at that. Essentially, they used my name to raise money and then used it to try and take out a friend. I’m now left with some wounds that will take a while to heal, if they ever do.

Obviously, water can be a controversial issue. Didn’t you quote Mark Twain recently by saying that “Whiskey’s for drinking, and water’s for fighting”?

Yes, that’s been around for a long time, but we’ve got to get rid of that phrase. It’s been a recipe to nowhere and the time has run out. We need to get sufficient water to this valley to survive and prosper, that’s the bottom line. No water – no future!

Lets talk a little bit about your childhood. You were born in Shreveport, Louisiana, then your family moved to California, is that correct?

yes, I was raised in Tulare. That’s where the Brown name came from. I was born Carlos Alan Autry, but when I came out here my grandfather registered me in school as Brown, which was his name. It wasn’t until I met my biological father, when I was 28 years old, that I went back to my real name. I was doing a movie at the time called Southern Comfort. Carlos Brown was the name that my grandfather gave me. That’s what I went by, but my birth certificate and my biological name is Autry.

I lived in Tulare for about six or seven years, and then my mother met a fella named Joe Duty. He was a dirt farmer and the best dad a kid could ever ask for. My mother married him, and I then wound up going to six different schools in five years. We finally settled in riverdale when I was in fifth grade. We stayed there throughout my high school years. I remember that place and cherish it most.

You were working the fields then, right?

I worked the fields, but not as much as my mom and dad did. I picked and shucked cotton, cut grapes, and picked apricots. I fed the cows, and even milked cows once. It was a farm boy’s life, and I loved it.

You realized at one point in time that you had to get out. Is that when you decided to go to college?

Yes, I wanted to go to college and I was fortunate enough to get an athletic football scholarship to university of the Pacific (uOP). I was there for five years

Autry was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1975.

[ FEATUREd STORy ]

AlAn AUTRY


[ FEATUREd STORy ]

until I blew my knee out in my first game as a junior against the university of Washington. I tried to scramble with my blazing 5:1 speed in a forty (yard dash) and somehow they caught me and my knee. Then our team went to a running offense and I switched to tight end my senior year. The Packers drafted me as a result of my performance as a sophomore quarterback. That was in 1975. I went to Green Bay, and was fortunate enough to make the team. I was there for three years. I had a great career going until they put me in the game. (Laughter)

You mentioned that if you were more mature back then, it all might have been different.

yeah, I needed a little bit more maturity. There were some things in my life that I needed to get straight. until you get those things straight it’s hard to achieve at the level of a nFL Quarterback.

How did you get involved with alcohol and drugs?

I had my first drink when I was sixteen. When I went off to college the drinking increased. By the time I got to Hollywood I was doing stuff that I shouldn’t have been doing, way too often. It got to be a problem, but the good Lord saved my soul. I was 34 at the time. I got on my knees and asked the Lord if he was there. I needed him, and I thought that I was dying. The Lord came into my life at that time in a very big way and transformed it.

All this happened after you returned home from Los Angeles?

Yes, I had been in the movie business for seven years. I haven’t had a drink or used drugs now for 23 years.

Was your Hollywood lifestyle to blame for the drugs and alcohol?

Well it didn’t help, but no it wasn’t. It’s like they say about people who are overweight – it’s not what you eat it’s what’s eating you. There were certainly more ways to get into trouble in L.A., doing things that you shouldn’t, but it

didn’t matter where I was. I was going to have problems and they needed to be dealt with.

Did you go into rehab?

no, but I do admire and respect those who do. The Lord just completely removed my desire to abuse those substances that day.

Do you think that if you had not hit rock bottom and recovered like you did, that you still would be where you are today?

Probably not. However, I would not encourage anybody to use that road to enlightenment. There are other roads that one could travel on. That path is a very dangerous path, a path that most people don’t return from. There is a lot of darkness in drugs and alcohol.

I look at those eight years of my life as eight years of what not to do. It was my free will that I did what I did and chose that path to go down. It’s a path that the Lord rescued me from and I am very thankful for what he did. I loaded up Hugh O’Conner in a hearse because of the path he chose. He chose to end it all by putting a gun to his head. So, that’s why I say it’s a road that a lot of people just don’t return from. I was one of the fortunate ones. I had a talk with God and he had a talk with me and I asked him to have mercy on my soul. I asked him to deliver me and he did.

What did you do after that?

I came back home. I didn’t have any money but I was still in the movie business. I lived with my mother and I had my daughter with me. I remember thinking that I may die without a pot to … you know what in. But I did know one thing; I was not going to die high.

That day I was the happiest that I have ever been in my life, because I knew it was over. It’s a very powerful thing. It’s not about being famous or rich, it’s about being sober and truthful with yourself and your family. It’s about being the best man that you can be and the most Godly man that you can be. That to me is the secret to life. It’s not to find your will…it’s to find God’s will for you.

Very well put Alan, I could not have said it better. Let’s talk now about your early acting days. Your screen debut was in a movie called “Remember My Name.” You used the name Carlos Brown in that movie, correct?

Yes, I did quite a few movies as Carlos Brown. I didn’t change my name it until I met my biological dad on the set of Southern Comfort. If I hadn’t met him, I probably never would have changed it. We talked at that time and I asked him if it would be okay if I used my real name. He answered that he would be honored.

You met your father for the first time when you were 28 years old. Can you explain how that experience changed your life?

Meeting him was very good for me. He was able to say he was sorry. He was pretty bad to my mom back then when he drank. When he didn’t drink he was a good guy, but when he did he was a bad guy.

A father’s approval is a big deal for a kid. I did have a great stepfather though. He was everything that a father could be. I was very blessed in that regard. After meeting my biological father I was able to say, “Hey, it’s okay dad.” I saw that he was pleased for me, and I also think it was good for him to be able to talk to my mother. It was good for my mother too – a real blessing. I didn’t know how

AlAn AUTRY


much I needed to do that, until it happened. It was in God’s plan that it happened the way it did. It helped me learn the power of forgiveness.

Did your acting career inspire you to become a director and producer?

Yes, I love movies. I just love being a part of good script. When you get out there, there is nothing better.

Do you prefer movies to TV?

Doesn’t matter as long as it’s a good script.

How did you find out about the NBC role “In the Heat of the Night” series?

My agent called me and said that a casting director that I previously read for, recommended me. He also said “If you don’t get this part then there is no justice in Hollywood, because you are made for this part.” We went down to the wire with this one. There were a lot of folks that read for that part, but at the end of the day I was the fortunate one to actually get it.

Was Carol O’Connor involved in that casting session?

I went back four or five times and he was the last guy I read with.

You played the part of a white southerner who had to get used to working with a black police detective, Howard Rollins. Tell me what it was like working with Carol O’Connor?

Oh, I’ve got to tell you that I miss him so much. He was just a super, stand-up guy, very funny but totally opposite the character of Archie Bunker.

Yes, I agree. I met him when I was working at NBC in Burbank. I think that he was type cast in that “All in the Family” role for years after the show ended.

They were all a great bunch of folks. Howard rollins, (God rest is soul), David Hart, and the whole cast. It was just a great experience for me to wake up in the morning and go to a job that I really liked. They were a great group of people. That just doesn’t happen very often in Hollywood.

How long were you part of that show?

I was with the show for six seasons.

Your married now, how did you meet your wife and how many kids do you have?

I have three kids. Their ages are 28, 23 and 13, two girls and a boy. The boy is the youngest.

I met my wife here in Fresno. We have been married for 16 years. She puts up with a lot and she is very supportive of me.

We’ve talked a little bit about how you became a Christian. Does your religion play a large part in your life?

Oh yes, it’s where everything starts. I am just an old sinner saved by grace. I fall short of the man I want to be everyday. But at least I know who I want to be and that’s who God wants me to be. Each minute of every day you try to align your wills, your wishes to God and try to be the man that God made you to be. It’s a tough journey for us men, but until my days are up I will strive to

be better. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I hope that I am a better man than I was yesterday.

You’re 57 years old now, are you planning on working well into your mid sixties? Hey, old actors never retire because there are always reruns. (Laughter)

What do you do enjoy doing most when you are not working?

I love to be with my kids. My son is really involved in school sports, so I like to spend a lot of time with him doing that. I just try to do be with family and friends.

No hobbies, like golf or fishing?

I would like to get back into fishing, but right now I really enjoy making movies. That’s a pretty good hobby for me now. I enjoy doing it.

Any resolutions for the new year?

Just to be a better man than I was in 2009.

If I were to ask to you to complete this sentence, in terms of how you would like to be remembered, how would you complete it – Alan Autry was the type of guy that…

…Loved God, loved people and shared Jesus. n

[ FEATUREd STORy ]

AlAn AUTRY

Starring Roles“In the Heat of the Night” (1988 - 1995) as Captain Bubba Skinner“Grace Under Fire” (1995 - 1996) as Rick Bradshaw“Style & Substance” (1998) as Earl“Sons of Thunder” (1999) as Butch McMann

Guest Starring Roles“Cheers” - “The Boys in the Bar” (1983) as Tom kenderson“The Mississippi” - “Murder at Mt. Parnassus” (1983)“The A-Team” - “Labor Pains” (1983) as Gary Crenshaw; “Quarterback Sneak” (1986) as Mike “The Hammer” Horn“The dukes of Hazzard” - “dr. Jekyll and Mr. duke” (1984) as Hurley; “10 Million dollar Sheriff” (1981) as dawson“Hunter” - “High Bleacher Man” (1984) as Whitey McVee“Newhart” - “Will the Real dick Loudon Please Shut Up?” (1986) as Ed Mckendrick“St. Elsewhere” - “Out on a Limb” (1986) as John Corzinsky“The Facts of Life” - “Peekskill Law” (1988) as Clark darrin“Hello, Larry” - “The Final Papers” (1979) as Max [Credited as Carlos Brown]“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” - “Gold Fever” (1982) as J.T. [Credited as Carlos Brown]“Best of the West” - “The Funeral” (1982) [Credited as Carlos Brown]

Appearances“26th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards” (1991) as Himself/Presenting“George & Alana” - (1995) as Himself (interview)“30th Annual Victor Awards (1996) as Himself/Presenting“34th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards” (1999) as Himself/PresentingGet Away Right Away Child Safety Video -(1999) as Himself/Host“Billy Graham Central Valley Crusade” - (2001) as HimselfCalifornia 911 Memorial Video - (2001) as Himself (Master of Ceremonies)“CNN’S Lou dobbs Tonight” - (June 2, 2005) as Himself (interview)“Hannity & Colmes” - (June 10, 2005) as Himself (interview)“Praise the Lord” (April 6, 2006) as Himself (interview) (January, 2003) as Himself (interview) (March, 2003) as Himself (interview) (March, 2004) as Himself (Guest Host)“Newshour with Jim Lehrer” - (July 28, 2006) as Himself (interview)“The 700 Club” - (January 9, 2006) as Himself (interview)

FilmsRoadhouse 66 (1984) as HootO.C. and Stiggs (1985)Eagle and the Bear (1985)Brewster’s Millions (1985) as Biff BrownNomads (1986) as OldsHouse (1986) as Cop # 3Blue de Ville (1986) as Sgt. Auggie JohnsonAt Close Range (1986) as ErnieProud Men (1987) as Brian WinoonDestination America (1987) as Larry LeathergoodAmazing Grace and Chuck (1987) as GeorgeWorld Gone Wild (1988) as HankStreet of Dreams (1988) as Maury FieldsThe Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990) as MattIntruders (1992) as Joe WilkesThe Legend of Jake Kincaid (2002) as Jake kincaidRemember My Name (1978) as RustyNorth Dallas Forty (1979) as BalfordRage! (1980) as Man #BSouthern Comfort (1981) as Cpl. Nolan (Coach) BowdenDangerous Company (1982) as donald Robinette

Film

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Our goal, as always, is to direct you to movies that are worth your time and money and help you avoid the one’s that aren’t. The movies discussed below either are available now or soon will be available.

This month we have a big budget, mind-blowing, teeth-rattling, ear drum-stretching end of the world disaster movie and another delicate, emotional movie that will touch your heart.

2012 If you want to sit back and enjoy a spectacular movie and not have to think too hard about plot and character, this is for you. Director Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow and The Day After Tomorrow and The Day After Tomorrow Independence Day) knows what he’s doing when it comes Independence Day) knows what he’s doing when it comes Independence Dayto sprawling disaster movies. He blew up the White House in Independence Day. This time around, the world is ending (why it’s ending is somewhat incomprehensible). John Cusack leads the way as he tries to save his family. Add humor, an evil government official who doesn’t want to tell citizens there might be an escape, an eccentric Woody Harrelson (in Independence Day, it was Randy Quaid). Hang on, it’s long, but it’s worth it. 158 minutes. PG-13. For intense disaster sequences and some language. This could be pretty scary for small children.

PONYO At the complete other end of the movie experience is Ponyo, a delicate animated feature that will touch your heart about a goldfish who wants to be a little girl. One of Japan’s greatest animation directors, Hayao Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle) created this story. Brought to the United States, it was put in the hands of a gifted production team lead by John Lasseter (Toy Story, Bug’s Life, Cars) and voiced by a cast including Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Cate Blanchett. It’s simple, magical and complex all at the same time. 101 minutes. Not rated, but small children might find a few scenes upsetting, however there is nothing graphic.

FROM THE VAUlTlTl

THE NAMESAKE The above-mentioned Mira Nair directs this movie. This is a deeply moving story of American-born Gogol, son of immigrants who wants to be assimilated as an American despite his family’s wishes to hold onto their heritage. This movie is about change, but also about why being true to your heritage is important. Not to be missed. 122 minutes. Rated PG-13 for sexuality/nudity, a scene of drug use, some disturbing images and brief language.Footnote: Kal Penn, after appearing in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, among other films, accepted a position in April last year as associate director of the White House’s Office of Public Liaison.

DVD DOn’T

AMELIA This is one of those movies that has all the right ingredients, so it makes you wonder how could it be this bad? A great story about larger than life adventurous flyer Amelia Earhart, who broke barriers and died trying to fly around the world. Actors Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor. Directed by Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay, Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair, The Namesake). It falls apart because of a poor script and trite dialogue in spite of visual splendor. Rated PG. Vanity Fair, The Namesake). It falls apart because of a poor script and trite dialogue in spite of visual splendor. Rated PG. Vanity Fair, The NamesakeSave your money.

DVD Diary

[ ENTERTAINMENT ]

DVD DIARY

2012for you. Director Roland Emmerich (to sprawling disaster movies. He blew up the White House in (why it’s ending is somewhat incomprehensible). John Cusack leads the way as he tries to save his family. Add humor, an evil government official who doesn’t want to tell citizens there might be an escape, an eccentric Woody Harrelson (in Daylanguage. This could be pretty scary for small children.

KURT A. EICHSTEADT

THE NAMESAKE Gogol, son of immigrants who wants to be assimilated as an American despite his family’s wishes to hold onto their heritage. This movie is about change, but also about why being true to your heritage is important. Not to be missed. 122 minutes. Rated PG-13 for sexuality/nudity, a scene of drug use, some disturbing images and brief language.Footnote: Kal Penn, after appearing in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, among other films, accepted a position in April last year as associate director of the White House’s Office of Public Liaison.


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In the midst of the current healthcare debate and with all of the hullabaloo going on about reforming the system, I began to ponder where dentistry may fall in the myriad of discussions going on about who, should get what, in the bills being proposed by Congress. Some experts say that little will change while others point out the need for dental care along with basic medical healthcare. While this is sure to remain a lengthy and lively debate that will satisfy few, you may still wonder about your own particular dental benefit plan in 2010 and how it works.

One major difference between insurance for dental and medical health care is that dental insurance typically doesn’t have to cover catastrophic life-threatening diseases. This is partly why dental insurance isn’t really insurance (a payment to cover the cost of a loss) at all. It is actually a monetary benefit that is typically provided by an employer to help their employees pay for routine dental treatment. Dental insurance is essentially a plan to promote access to a limited amount of routine care

during the course of a year. Some plans cover more and some plans cover less. But at least they usually cover the most basic of care. This typically includes the six month check up and exam, a basic cleaning, x-rays, and perhaps some fillings or related restorative work. Your personal needs will vary above or below this arbitrary annual allowance.

For those of you whose employers provide dental insurance, you are fortunate. Its fundamental benefits can provide you and your family some peace of mind at a reduced expense. Even a benefit plan that does not cover a large portion of the cost of needed dentistry pays something. Any amount covered reduces what you have to pay out of pocket.

Now, this may seem confusing, especially when your plan booklet may state that certain procedures are covered at 100%. That 100% is usually what the insurance carrier allows as payment toward the procedure, not what your dentist or any other dentist in your area may actually charge. For example, say your dentist charges $80 for an examination. Your carrier may

allow $60 as the 100% payment for that examination leaving $20 for you to pay.

Adding to the confusion is that many carriers refer to their allowed payments as uCr, which stands for usual, customary, and reasonable. However, usual, customary, and reasonable does not really mean exactly what it seems to mean. uCris actually a listing of payments for all covered procedures negotiated by your employer and the insurance company. This listing is related to the cost of the premiums and where you are located in your city and state. Your employer has likely selected an allowed payment or uCr payment r payment rthat corresponds to the premium cost they desire. uCr payments could r payments could rmore accurately be called negotiated

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If Dental Insurance Isn’t Really Insurance...

Then What is It?




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payments. It is usually less, and frequently much less, than what any dentist in your area might actually charge for a dental procedure.

Another interesting bit of information concerns the annual maximum on dental insurance benefits. These maximums limit the amount that a carrier has to cover each year. Amazingly, despite inflation over the years, annual maximum levels for dental care have changed little since the 1960’s. As an example, I

had a patient share with me that as a member of the Baker’s union in the late 50’s, he had a dental insurance benefit of approximately $750! How much would that compare to today?

I realize that understanding your dental insurance benefits isn’t easy and many times it’s downright confusing. Many employers have multiple plans available for their employees. Many of these plans also change every year. Again, the good news is that your employer has given you a benefit that you can use.

How you manage your dental benefit plan is important also. Remember that each year you will have a new maximum allowance that can be used toward your insurance needs. Do not put off needed treatment from your current year to next year, especially when you still have some benefit dollars available this year. near the end of each plan year, determine if you have some benefit money left over and also what dental treatment

has not been completed. Taking care of this unfinished work allows you to have more uncommitted benefits available for the next year. This can be a big help if an unexpected dental emergency should arise.

Especially in these difficult economic times, your best insurance is still prevention. You have one of the most important roles in the care of your dental health. Remember these three things:

Brush regularly–twice a day, 1.and floss at least once a day.

Maintain a healthy diet–watch 2.the amount of sugar in your drinks and snacks.

Maintain regularly scheduled 3.check-ups with your dentist. n


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