Bayou Packet #38

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Juneteenth 2008

The Bayou Packet # 38

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An irregular irreverent confabulation for the edification and delectation of podjos, friends, brothers, kith and kin of Jess Epps

Dearest Betsy, Two of our dearest friends are on the way to join you and the Grand Architect of the Universe. John Wall was “called from earthly labor” on 22 January 2008. I attended his memorial service in Dallas with Ed Guice, and discovered later that John was a Masonic Brother, gone to the Celestial Lodge above. Sanford Whitaker passed through the veil of tears into a better place on 17 April 2008. I was honored to be an honorary pallbearer at his memorial service in Lubbock. My condolences to widows Irma and Diane. Sanford Columbus Whitaker

Sanford Columbus Whitaker. That’s a mouthful – and he was a handful. We met as freshmen architectural students at Texas Tech in 1946, his first words being: “My name is Sanford Columbus Whitaker, I’m from Peacock, Texas, and I just want to be your friend” – a leitmotif greeting, which along with his sine qua non twisted (culebra) cigar defined his character as a selfproclaimed “Erudite Redneck.” We became the very best of friends, sharing a mutual admiration for each other’s character and creativity. In addition to our great love of architecture we shared several other passions, including sailing, chess, dogs, cigars, Armagnac, patriotism and extreme conservatism. Dearest Diane, Thank you for the letter. It touched my heart. Whit and I had a very special relationship, which I will cherish always. Jess

I have many fond memories of our many escapades aka “Adventures,” many of which were monitored, and some supervised, by Betsy. These will provide an inexhaustible source for future tales of Whit. And his Whitticisms.


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