The Bear Wrestling, Pulitzer Prize Winning, Ex-Marine from Ritenour

1964 Ritenour graduate, Mike Keefe

The list of accomplished people who graduated from Ritenour High School is very impressive, but the name Mike Keefe, Class of 1964, really sparked my attention when I recently read through a list of notable alumni on the School District’s Web Site. Could this be the same Mike Keefe whose work I’ve always admired on Cagle.com? The same Mike Keefe that won a Pulitzer Prize for his editorial cartoons, while working at The Denver Post? I double-checked and yes, as it turns out, he’s the same guy.

"Mike Keefe was the editorial cartoonist for The Denver Post from 1975 through late 2011. His work continues in syndication. Throughout the nineties he was a weekly contributor to USA Today and a regular on America Online. Nationally syndicated, his cartoons have appeared in Europe, Asia and in most major U.S. news magazines and hundreds of newspapers across the country.  Keefe’s animations have appeared on broadcast TV, the internet and CD-ROM magazines.

He has won top honors in the Fischetti, National Headliners Club, Society of Professional Journalists and Best of the West contests. He was a John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University and is a past president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. He was a juror for the 1997 and 1998 Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism. He won the Pulitzer himself in 2011.” *

 
 
A very impressive resume to say the least, but Mike didn't spend his youth in a privileged environment and his career path was never guided by affluent parents with high-level business connections. In fact, he had to work very hard to overcome tragic family circumstances and create opportunities for himself. His talent and insight were shaped by overcoming hardship and putting his sense of adventure to practice. His incredible self-reliance is briefly explained in two excerpts from a profile written about Mike, by Charles McNamara:

"His brother died at age two and a half, devastating his mom and forcing his father, Ray Keefe, to find ways to care for her while earning a living. Running out of resources, he took the family back to California to be closer to other family. It didn’t work. The Keefe family fell apart. Mike, at age 17, was on his own and started wandering. Mike’s two sisters were put in foster homes. He lost contact with his family for years. His father cared for his wife until she died in 1971. Ray died in 1980.

Keefe hitchhiked across America for a couple of years, worked for a year at the Chevrolet plant in Leeds, a suburb of Kansas City and then was drafted into the Marine Corps. After his discharge, using the GI Bill, he went to the Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and earned a Bachelor’s, Master’s and completed the coursework for a PhD in mathematics."

"While studying at UMKC, Keefe started drawing cartoons for the University News. He became friends with Bill Sanders, cartoonist at The Milwaukee Journal. Sanders heard that Pat Oliphant, editorial cartoonist for The Denver Post, had taken a new job. He wrote a referral letter about Keefe to the Post who hired him in 1975. At that point he had drawn about 50 cartoons." **

One would think that being a world renowned editorial cartoonist would be enough for one man, but after contacting Mike, I learned that he’s also an award winning author, a husband, father, guitarist, harmonica player and a bear wrestler. We’ll get to the bear wrestling a little later, but let me first take the liberty to explain why I’m fascinated with folks who do what Mike Keefe does, so well.

As a career marketing person, I’m a bit envious of every good editorial cartoonist, because not only do they have eye-catching graphics ability and a strong, persuasive message, they also have the credibility of an entire news organization behind them. That’s impact and power that you just can’t buy for the price of an ad.   

 

Nothing can better personify the phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words,” than the work of a great editorial cartoonist. The best ones get directly to the heart of the matter and leave a powerful impression on us without reading paragraph after paragraph of political commentary. . They can reach the real essence of any crisis very quickly, whether that crisis is the economy, government corruption, political folly, or a man-made or natural disaster. Editorial cartoons can illuminate ridiculous policies, address important issues that are being ignored and call out inept leaders, greedy billionaires, warmongers and egomaniacs, to put them in their rightful place.

Remarkably, they can do all that with just one picture and a few words and sometimes, no words at all. The best editorial cartoonists can make an immediate and sometimes incredibly persuasive impact on a mind that was previously made up. Trust me, that’s every marketers dream.



 Mike’s cartoons tend to lean to the Democratic, or more liberal side of the issues and I asked him how his opinions were originally formed:

 “Regarding politics, even though I didn’t understand the issues well, I was swept up in the JFK campaign in 1960. He was a charming candidate and, like me at the time, Catholic. Parishioners at St. Gregory’s were energized and the feeling was contagious. My political views were not really shaped until later, especially during the Vietnam War. By then, I’d been away from St. Ann for a couple of years.”

Well, it all makes sense now. Mike hails from an area that grows Catholics, Democrats, Marines and folks with a healthy sense of humor. I’m happy that he’s taken a good bit of that heritage with him to help shape world opinion for a living. 

I hope you've enjoyed our feature, but I know what you've really been waiting for... here's Mike's bear wrestling story, from his own pen:    

VICTOR

I was on the wrestling team at Ritenour in 1964 when I read a story in the Post Dispatch (or one of the county newspapers) about a wrestling bear. The owner was offering a cash prize to anyone who could pin this bear whose name, as I recall, was Victor.

So far, Victor was undefeated.

I decided to take the challenge. When I told my young sister, Teri, what I planned to do, she pleaded with me: “Don’t do it! You’ll get killed!”

She always had a flare for drama.

While she couldn’t dissuade me, she insisted on coming along in case she had to leap in and pull me away from a mauling.

The event was held in the parking lot of a car dealership in St. Charles. We drove out on the Rock Road and when we arrived there was already a crowd surrounding Victor and his owner. The bear was muzzled and on a leash.

I wanted to wait and watch someone else enter the circle first and grapple with the bear so that I could get an idea of what I was up against. But there were no takers.

Finally, I stepped up. I was assured that the animal had been declawed and his fearsome teeth were safely out of the way behind the leather muzzle. There was some sort of time limit to the match, probably a minute or two.

The owner raised his hand then brought it down sharply. “Wrestle!”

I circled Victor, out of reach, for ten seconds, looking for an opening, The bear, still on his leash, turned with me. At first he stayed on all fours like a friendly dog, but then he reared up on his hind legs. He had six inches on me, at least. Intimidating. Oh well, I thought, this is what I came to do. I plunged in and wrapped my arms around him in, yes, a bear hug.

At that point, you wouldn’t call it wrestling exactly. It was more like dancing. Round and round we went in a fox trot.

Then somehow we ended up on the asphalt, rolling around playfully. I tried for something resembling a half nelson and got a powerful whiff of Victor’s breath. Holy smoke! The fumes were toxic. I was afraid the skin on my face might curdle. Then he poked his tongue out from the muzzle and licked my cheek.

Still, I hung in there and, remarkably, I found that I had Victor on his back.

That’s when I discovered why the animal was undefeated. It was impossible, anatomically, to put both his shoulders on the ground at once. Bears aren’t built that way. Victor seemed to smile and easily pushed me to the side.

Soon, time was up, and I skulked away, defeated.

On the way home, Teri admitted that the whole thing was terrific fun and she was grateful that I had not been eaten.

After a moment, though, she leaned toward me.

“Ewwww! What’s that smell?”

                                                                  _____________________

Before we go, let me play a couple more toons from Mike Keefe:

 



 * Quote from San Miguel Writers Conference, where Mike won top prize for his nonfiction story, "The Blue Grenade," in 2014. You can read the story here: http://sanmiguelwritersconferenceblog.org/blue-grenade-by-mike-keefe/

 ** Profile of Mike Keefe, by Charles McNamarahttp://justaroundhere.com/index.php/all-sections/names-faces/famous-infamous-with-a-link-to-evergreen/109-mike-keefe-editorial-cartoonist

 
 

A snapshot of traffic stops in Northwest St. Louis County

Emerson’s public donation hides the real problem in Ferguson

Emerson Electric (Headquartered in Ferguson, Missouri) generated $25 billion in sales in the past year and is projected to have over $3.5 billion in cash on hand, next year.  Their recent corporate donation of $4.4 million to fund scholarships and job training in the Ferguson area is very admirable, but that donation will also serve as a quick fix for a nightmarish public relations problem and of course, the donation is tax deductible.

Considering the circumstances, I’m confident that there were some very high-level meetings recently at Emerson’s headquarters and it was decided to attack the “Ferguson problem”, with a generous donation.  Again, I believe that was a noble gesture, but it doesn’t begin to address what the real problem for Ferguson and its’ surrounding cities really is.  Namely, a lack of good paying manufacturing jobs for people who are willing to work hard and provide for their families.  Minimum wage jobs and social assistance programs have never revived any cities that I’m aware of.  None.  Ferguson was built primarily from the success of nearby manufacturing plants like McDonnell-Douglas (Boeing) Ford, GM and Emerson itself.  It was those companies’ movements elsewhere and their downsizing that have decimated Ferguson. 

In today’s world, stockholder pressure and senior executive profit incentives, force companies to ignore the communities that helped to build their company in the first place.  Companies are now run by accountants who are constantly searching the world for the cheapest labor and lowest taxes available, to show higher profits on a short-term basis.  Investors and executives demand it.

 

Consequently, some simple research on Emerson’s own Web Site reveals that the company operates more than 150 manufacturing plants outside of the United States.  Sure, many of those plants may have existed previously through Emerson’s worldwide acquisitions, but the question remains, how many new plants are planned to be built in the United States?  Or, better yet, in Ferguson?  How many?

Ferguson’s demise directly correlates with the demise of the middle class in America and more specifically, North St. Louis County.  Corporate profits are at an all-time high, but workers’ wages have actually dropped when you figure inflation into the equation.  If things need to change and we all know they do, why not start in Ferguson?  It has the focus of the world on it right now and Emerson is a worldwide company.  Emerson, please build a plant in Ferguson.  Build a big one.  Be an example to the thousands of corporations who forgot where their roots were and become a pioneer in helping to rebuild the American Middle-Class.  

 

Steve Erdelen

 

We're Number One! Walking and talking in St. Ann.

I never thought I'd be writing a partisan political story on the Rock Road Reporter blog, but one can never say never. I'm a candidate for Alderman in St. Ann's Ward One and I'm having a great time talking to everyone in the Ward about the city. Well, not everyone, because many people haven't been at home when I dropped by and some people probably think that I'm a salesperson and won't answer the door anyway. I've already encountered so many dogs that  I'm pretty sure I can tell you what breed the dog is, just by the sound of its' bark.

As of February 28th, a couple friends and I have covered about two thirds of Ward One, with campaign materials, but so far, I've only been able to knock on about one quarter of the doors myself. I figured we should get the campaign information out right away and I'll catch up on personal visits as soon as I can. (Some people really have a whole lot to say and by God, I'm gonna listen).

By election day, I will have personally knocked on every one of the estimated 1,500 doors in St. Ann's beautiful Ward One and I'll be a better man for it. So far, the reception from the people has been very good. I feel very welcome at people's homes and I've gathered a lot of information about what Ward One residents really think... both positive and negative. I'll certainly use all that information to better represent Ward One residents, if I'm fortunate enough to get elected.

Let's start with the negatives I've been hearing:

People are genuinely concerned about decreasing home values in St. Ann. The home equity that they have counted on for retirement is quickly crumbling right before their eyes.

There is concern about decaying sidewalks and pothole filled roads.

The recent prevalence of vacant homes and the negligence of absentee landlords is a very strong concern and probably the number one source of complaints.

Business vacancies are another major source of concern and the lack of good shopping options in St. Ann is very frustrating for Ward One residents. "When you turn east on the Rock Road from Lindbergh, it looks like a Ghost Town, it looks like a bomb went off around here," said one Ward One resident. "I can't even buy a pair of pants around here anymore."

Apathy. Many people complained that there is a general sense of apathy among the residents and the officials at City Hall. "It almost seems like we've just given up," said one very spirited grandmother.

Several complaints were also heard about the speed traps and speed cameras throughout the city. One resident said "You're constantly looking over your shoulder around here and you get paranoid just driving to the store. I'm always afraid that I'm going to get ticketed, even when I know I'm going the speed limit. That's not right." There were also many concerns that the city is being kept afloat by writing tickets and that people were staying away from St. Ann, because they believe we have turned into "one big speed trap."

Other complaints regarded everything from trash and yard waste removal to unruly neighbors, but most of the complaints regarded items listed above.

Okay, now it's time to talk about the good stuff:

I didn't hear any complaints about such city services as snow removal and street cleaning, etc. Many people said that they think that St. Ann has "the best Street Department around."

I've heard very few complaints about crime in the city, or at least the part of the city that I've been walking in. The statement of "I feel very safe here," was echoed by several residents. "I like that they snuff out little gang problems before they become big problems," said a World War 2 Veteran. There was also general agreement that response times from the Police Department were extremely quick.

"We have the best park system around and everyone knows that," said a woman who plays golf in Saint Ann, uses the indoor pool quite a bit and likes to take long walks through Tiemeyer Park. 'I just hope we can keep them up,' she added.

For the most part, elected city officials were given a free pass. There were not too many complaints about the Mayor, Aldermen, or the Chief of Police, who seems to be very popular. It was also evident that people don't like to drop names and complain, because they either don't know who I'm friends with, or they just thought that it would be impolite to do so. Don't get me wrong... a few people complained loud and long, but on the whole, there was not a lot of vitriol directed at elected officials in St. Ann.

There also seems to be some new hope over here in Ward One. Several people commented about how happy they were that progress is occurring at Northwest Plaza and elsewhere around town. "It's about damned time," said a close neighbor of mine.

I agree. It is about time and I believe that it's about time that we took the momentum and ran with it. The City of Saint Ann has a lot of work to do, but if the residents of all the other Wards are as honest and expressive as the folks here in Ward One, I think we'll be just fine. Most residents can tell you exactly what the city needs: "We need more businesses!"

That's what I heard while I was walking and that's the platform I'm running on. More business and more businesses. That's what's going to increase St. Ann's tax base, decrease property taxes, improve our home values and improve our standard of living once again. Our great parks and city services were built on sales taxes from businesses in this city and I believe that City Hall lost the focus over the years on bringing new businesses here and on keeping the ones we have. Simply put, getting more business in St. Ann will be my business if I'm elected. New business, new ideas and responding quickly to all of the great people I have met and will meet in Ward One.

To all of those I've met, please call me if you have any more questions. To those of you I haven't met, please jot down a few questions, because I'll be glad to answer them for you. If you see me out walking, it will probably be in the best Ward the city has to offer. We're number One!

Thanks for spending some time at the Rock Road Reporter today.  Check in often.

Steve Erdelen

Ritenour Student-Athletes Signing with Division I Colleges on National Signing Day

Feb. 4, 2014 – Ritenour High School’s (RHS) Devin Alexander and Adewale Adeyoe, two of the top prep football players in the St. Louis region, will sign a letters of intent to play Division I college football on Wednesday, National Signing Day. Alexander has made the decision to play for the Toledo Rockets next fall, while Adeyoe will sign with the Utah State Aggies. Both will officially sign letters of intent at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2012). (Note: If Ritenour schools are not in session due to inclement weather on Feb. 5, the event will take place on Monday, Feb. 10 at 9:30 a.m.) Media are invited to the event, which takes place in the lobby of the auditorium at Ritenour High School, 9100 St. Charles Rock Road. 
 
Alexander and Adeyoe will be joined by RHS head football coach Hoyt Gregory, athletic director Drew Lohnes and teammates. In addition, three other RHS football players will sign letters of intent – including Le’juan Berry (Culver Stockton), Marvin Millet (Quincy University) and Nate Rifkin (Missouri Baptist).
 
Alexander, a quarterback and defensive back, was named the Suburban North Conference (SNC) Player of the Year on offense as he passed for 1,783 yards, with 13 touchdowns and rushed for 1,415 yards and 20 touchdowns this past season. The 6-4, 235 pound Adeyoe was named the 2013 SNC Player of the Year at defensive end after recording 81 tackles, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Pattonville residents invited to swim over winter break

Pattonville residents are invited to participate in community swims at the Pattonville Aquatic Complex during the winter break. Events on Dec. 28 include a lap swim from 1 to 2 p.m. and an open swim from 2 to 3:30 p.m. On Jan. 3, a lap swim will be from 11 a.m. to noon, and an open swim from noon to 2 p.m. Fee is $2 for adults and $1 for students and seniors aged 55 and older. All students must be accompanied by a parent while swimming.

United We Stand, Divided We Kneel

By Steve Erdelen (Reprinted from Summer 2011 hardcopy edition)

Iron mine workers in Minnesota, circa 1910

If you turn back a page, you’ll notice a bug on page three. Not a real bug, but what is known as a union printer’s bug. That in itself is no big deal, but I happen to be very proud that our magazine is now being printed at a union printing shop. There was never any kind of protest against our magazine by any union member, or any pressure applied by anyone, whatsoever, to print at a union shop. It was my decision to go that direction and a very competitive bid helped me along. Decisions like that are made everyday by millions of small businesses around this country and our business is no different. The only thing that sets us apart from the vast majority of small businesses in this country is that our product is a direct reflection of the communities we are circulated in.

In other words, if you pick up a copy of The Springfield News-Leader on your way to visit your child at Missouri State University, or on your way to Branson, the chances are pretty good that your future perceptions of Springfield, Missouri will be influenced by that newspaper you just bought. My first job in the advertising business was in 1984 and since that time the biggest lesson I’ve learned, is that perception is everything.

One of our contributors told me that she intentionally drops off copies of our magazine in trendy little coffee shops around the St. Louis area. She apparently does so, because she is proud of the magazine and she wants to help stop the perception that our area is on the decline and that we have very little to offer in terms of culture and commerce. As most of our readers realize, Northwest St. Louis County is brimming with great history, tremendous talent, fine businesses, beautiful homes and very friendly people. Region wide perceptions about this area however, could be dramatically improved.

Combine the devastating decline of Lambert St. Louis International Airport, the destruction of 2,000 homes and nearly 100 businesses in Bridgeton for a seldom used runway and the effective abandonment of Northwest Plaza in St. Ann and what do you have? What you have my friend is a perception problem. Pile on top of that the nationwide trend in the 1980’s and 1990’s to migrate out of inner cities and their original suburbs (or exurbs) and then what kind of community are you left with? I guess the answer depends on your perspective and your insight. It depends on whether your perceptions are formed by the influence of your peer group, people you aspire to be like or pure, deductive reasoning. It’s sometimes easier to look down your nose at a person, or a geographic area than it is to look down your nose to study the real facts about someone or somewhere.

The bottom line is that no matter where a person now resides, they are generally very proud of that place, but where they “grew up” is almost always sacred to them. I’ve seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. On the local Facebook Groups I’ve organized, I’ve read thousands of fond remembrances from area Baby Boomers about Northwest Plaza, St. Charles Rock Road, Pattonville and Ritenour High Schools and virtually every neighborhood around here. When I announced online that we were launching the Rock Road Reporter, I was immediately flooded (and still am) by request for copies of the magazine, by former local residents who now live in St. Charles County, Lincoln County, Warren County, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington D.C. and Bradenton, Florida, to name just a few. Did they think that our magazine was going to be the second coming of TIME, or NEWSWEEK, or ROLLING STONE? Nope. They just missed the area they grew up in and they thought that our magazine could bring a little piece of home back to them.

The area that they grew up in was and is still considered to be a “working class” and “middle class” area. Their parents might have worked at McDonnell-Douglas (Boeing) or at the Ford or GM plant. They may have been in “the trades” as a machinist, pipe fitter, equipment operator, electrician, welder, plumber, carpenter, painter, bricklayer or laborer. Just like today, local people sold clothing and shoes and furniture and waited tables and tended bar and swept and mopped the floors at schools and at businesses. They worked hard and they took pride in what they accomplished. They put food on the table and they sent their freshly scrubbed kids to school everyday. America was booming and it was the working class and middle class paychecks that kept it booming. Families would buy that new Ford or Chevy or Dodge every three to five years and the new Zenith color television and the new Frigidaire as well. It made sense that one job here created another job here.

Things have changed quite a bit since then for the working class. Lifetime jobs with the same company are now extremely rare, as are retirement pensions. Loyalty to workers is a thing of the past and the dignity and honor of an honest day’s work is often overlooked and underappreciated. Greed is rampant and the divide between rich and poor is much worse than it has ever been. A good friend and top salesman that I worked with in the early 1990’s told me back then: “It used to be that sales and marketing people ran companies and now it’s the bean counters that run companies.”

His point at the time was that instead of investing in new markets and new products to create more profits, companies were beating down vendors and cutting jobs to prop up the bottom line. Very little has changed from his statement of 18 years ago, in fact it has gotten far worse. Corporations, with the tacit approval of Congress have basically declared war on the working people of this country. In the name of the bottom line, unions have been targeted and broken up, pension plans eliminated, insurance premiums increased and job security abolished. “Increased productivity” typically means that one person is doing the job of two or three people and by God, they better not complain about it. Most people know exactly what will happen to them if they do. Even if a worker keeps his or her mouth shut, the possibility of their job being shipped off to a foreign country remains a very real possibility. Speaking of foreign countries, American corporations are allowed to defer taxes from overseas profits to the tune of over $100 billion a year.

Hundreds of billions of hard working taxpayer dollars have been used to save banks and financial institutions that were “too big to fail.” The very same banks and financial institutions who helped to create the sub prime mortgage lending crisis that ultimately wiped out trillions of dollars in middle class home equity all over this country. Thousands of middle class people hear a statement similar to the following every day: “We’re sorry Mr. and Mrs. Jones, but your house that was valued at $160,000 in 2007 is now worth $100,000. The $60,000 in equity that you thought you had has now disappeared; therefore we cannot issue you a line of credit to capitalize your new business, because you don’t have enough collateral.”

When that happens and I can personally attest to the fact that it does happen, new jobs are not created and small businesses are not allowed to start-up or expand. The middle class is rapidly getting squeezed out of the American dream while billionaires are using millions of dollars of our tax money in the form of TIF’s (Tax Increment Financing) to “assist” them in the development of box stores that sell mostly foreign made merchandise. (For reference, see the new Wal-Mart Super Center being built on St. Charles Rock Road, in Bridgeton) Also, remember that the Wal-Mart atCypress and the Rock Road will be completely abandoned and presumably left for dead.  

Not to rub it in, but two wars are being fought overseas and we have found within us the generosity to grant the wealthiest among us a $700 billion tax break. Add to that the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street and you’ll come up with enough money to send 20 million of our citizens through four years of college.

The GI Bill after World War II proved that educating Americans was a very smart thing to do. The bill helped to create the most innovative and skilled work force in the history of the world. It seems that, these days however, our tax money is better spent on subsidizing the wealthy in the hope that some of that money will “trickle down” to all of us peasants and “create jobs.” Job creation is a concept that politicians love to talk about, but have no idea of how to really make it happen. Rebuilding our infrastructure and investing in exurban redevelopment doesn’t seem to be a viable option for them. It’s much easier to just hand over money to corporations.

How can ordinary working class or middle class people (or whatever sociologists like to call us) fight back against raging greed and self serving politicians? I believe the way our parents did it and the way their parents did it before them, was first to get off their rear ends and go to the polls and secondly, to form and join unions. They teamed up to bargain collectively and to strike with work stoppages against unlivable wages and unnecessary greed. They boycotted companies who mistreated workers and marketed shoddy products. They practiced the old lesson of vigorously protecting their own interest. The same lesson any rich person would teach their son or daughter.

By the way, did I mention that there was a bug on page three?