From The Creaux's Nest

BRYANT IN SUPER BOWL LI NEAR HOME

It’s great that after a long, successful career Bridge City, native Matt Bryant will have a chance to play in a Super Bowl.

The game, played in Houston Feb. 5, is just 90 miles from where he was raised and played high school sports.

A fact not known by many is that the very first coaches at Bridge City High School were his father, Casey and uncle, Cecil Bryant.

Cecil, who attended Lamar, named the team the Cardinals.

Both have died in the last few years.

Matt’s mother Mary still lives in Bridge City.

His brother Billy was a successful baseball coach at the school until politics got his job.

Mary served on the school board for several years.

Matt was raised practically on the school grounds.

His dad once told me that Matt had destroyed their back fence he kicked balls at it so much.

He was just a couple hundred yards from the football field so he spent many hours kicking over the goal post.

He kicked and retrieved his own kicks for hours.

One day while working at an Orange pawn shop he was called and told to report as soon as he could to the New York Giants.

He kicked in that week’s game and made the winning field goal.

Like they say, “the rest is history.” The Atlanta Falcons are making their second Super Bowl appearance.

In 1998 they lost to Denver 34-19.

Coach Dan Reeves had been fired at Denver.

Defensive star Shane Dronett left Denver and followed Reeves to Atlanta.

Dronett was a Bridge City High School star just like Bryant.

What are the odds that Atlanta plays in only two Super Bowls and both had a player from the same high school.

Both were named to the All Pro team.

Matt will miss playing in the Pro Bowl because of getting ready to play in the Super Bowl.

The game will feature Atlanta, the team that scored the most points against New England, the team that allowed the fewest points.

The big guns will be Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan against four time Super Bowl winner, quarterback Tom Brady.

It may get down to a field goal winning the game.

If so, I’m betting on our own Matt Bryant.*****I have to move on.

Please come along, I promise it won’t do you no harm.

REMEMBERING HOWARD MORSE

Howard Morse, age 94, died January 22. Service will be held Thursday, 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Vidor. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 25 at Memorial Funeral Home in Vidor. Howard was in the grocery and convenience store business for over 45 years. I will always treasure our many years of friendship. His family has also been very special to me. We have lost a good man. May he rest in peace. Please see obituary.

REMEMBERING NEIL BOND

Neil passed away last week, Jan. 16, at age 82.

We had known Neil and Mary Bond for the 35 years he had worked for the BCISD. Many people probably have forgotten that Neil also owned the Bridge City Western Auto store during that time.

Over the years we were fortunate to spend a few Christmas Eves with the Bonds at their Cow Bayou home.

Neil, each year, cut his own large tree on his farm near Mexia.

The Bonds enjoyed their bayou home as well as neighbors Lois and A.J. Judice.

Between the two guys being characters there was never a dull moment on Cottage Lane.

The Bonds left the area but Bridge City remained important to them.

In fact, their son Brandon, like his dad, is a longtime BCISD employee.

The Bonds were a great family and Mary was a special lady.

Our condolences to Mary, sons Ronald and Brandon, grandsons Clayton and Russell and great grandsons Hudson and Cole.

Please see obituary.

10 YEARS AGO-2007

Congrats to Judge Carl Thibodeaux, the recipient of the ‘Monk Award.’ It’s a big honor and well deserving.*****Best wishes also to Commissioner John Dubose, new president of Southeast Texas Regional Planning.

John is smart, dedicated and a hard worker.

He will be in Washington on Feb. 2 to meet with our senators, congressman and committee members.***** Art Buchwald, 81, died Jan. 17.

The news writer-columnist was the Will Rogers of our time.

Art stated, in one of his last interviews, that what disappointed him most about dying was he would miss the results of Global Warming.

*****Over the years, Orange County has had some colorful elected officials.

Present County Commissioner Owen Burton, a native who has a vast knowledge of present and former citizens, is quite a storyteller.

Owen tells the story of Joe Heinen buying the county mosquito plane after Junior Bruce was forced to get rid of it.

According to Owen, Joe sat on a five-gallon bucket to fly it and Amos Roy was the only person around with nerve enough to fly with him and sit on the other bucket.

*****Former Commissioner Thomas ‘Tick’ Granger and wife Sarah celebrated their 59 wedding anniversary Sunday, Jan. 21.

They had 7 children, 6 living, and 18 grandchildren.

‘Tick’ and brother Wade also had a plane once.

Franklin Scales tells great stories about those flying brothers***** I am a student of famous quotes.

You won’t believe who said this one about President Clinton.

I quote, “Clinton lied.

A man might forget where he parks or where he lives but he never forgets oral sex, no matter how bad it is.” You didn’t think Barbara ‘First Lady’ Bush had a sense of humor did you? Here’s another one.

Rodney Dangerfield said, “Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.” Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers, says, “My girlfriend always laughs during sex, no matter what’s she’s reading.” Just one more before I get in trouble.

A quote from George Burns, “Sex is one of the nine reasons for reincarnation.

The other eight are unimportant.”***** On this day, Jan. 22, 1973, two events happened.

Former President, Texan Lyndon Johnson, died at age 64.

Meanwhile the United States Supreme Court handed down its Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.*****Peyton Manning and the Colts will probably be favored by six points over the Chicago Bears, but I don’t believe it will be a run away.

Whatever happens history will be made, for the first time ever; two black coaches will coach Super Bowl teams.

Longtime friends Tony Dungy for the Colts and Lovie Smith for the Bears and Manning will play for the first time for the championship in his distinguished career.***** Scooter Libby’s trial starts.

He is the fall guy for Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and the White House in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plane.

Remember her husband told the world the Bush Administration was lying about WMD material coming from Africa to Iraq.

*****President Bush's approval poll numbers are now at 34 percent.*****GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: George Brian Clary, 50, of Orange, died Wednesday, Jan.17.

Funeral services were held 2 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 21.

A resident of Orange Clary and was a 1975 graduate of Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School.

He was a retired co-owner of Orange Shipbuilding Co., Clary was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend who loved life, boating, skiing, golf, the UT Longhorns and the Dallas Cowboys.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert M. “Bob” Clary in 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Candace Clary; mother, Laura Hughes Clary; daughters, Alexia Clary, Madison Clary, all of Orange; stepson, Wesley Turner; stepdaughter, Rachel Lawson, both of Port Neches, sister and brother in law, Julie and David Ford of Houston; brothers and sisters in law, David and Donna Clary and Tommy and Ava Clary, all of Orange.*****James Richard “Sonny” Dorman, 77, of Bridge City, passed away Friday, Jan. 19.

A memorial service to celebrate Sonny’s life will be held at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 23 in the Chapel of Dorman Funeral.

He was a lifelong; resident of the Orange and Bridge City area, worked as a superintendent for the Babcock and Wilcox Vessel Manufacturing Company, was a member of the Boilermakers Local #587 in Orange and he previously owned and operated the Silver Fox Club in Bridge City.

He is survived by his son, James Cady, daughters, Juanita Wright, Gloria Wilhelm, Laurel Witwen, and Sunni Oceguera, brother, Bobby Dorman, and grandchildren, Andrew Wright, Amy Wright, Jerry Wilhelm, Heather Marchlinski, Katy Gonzalez, Nikki Jones, Jonathan Witwen, Hannah Witwen, Devin Oceguera and Haydin Oceguera and six great-grandchildren.

40 Years Ago-1977

Johnny Carson, host on NBC’s Tonight show, files a $1.1 million federal lawsuit against Earl Braxton, a Utica, Michigan manufacture of Porta-John Outdoor Toilet.

The manufacture brought out a new line of latrines called, “Here’s Johnny.”*****Jeff Fruge, an Orangefield football player, makes the AA All Star football team.

He has signed to play with McNeese.

*****David Block has left for Tel Aviv University where he received a scholarship.

He is an international law major at Lamar.

Daddy Kyle is proud of David’s commitment.

*****Curtis Jeanis is elected new president of the LaDonna club.

*****Ronald Crabtree chosen by Rotary International to participate in a study exchange group.

He will spend six week in England.

Ron is the Director of Planning for the City of Orange.

***** Bridge City Chamber holds it’s annual banquet.

Roy Dunn served as Master of Ceremonies, former Sen.

D. Roy Harrington, who replaced Harry Hubbard as guest speaker, spoke on the need for better communication between labor and management.

Dr.

Mark Messer was welcomed in as new president.

Bobby Smitherman chosen as Bridge City ‘Citizen of the Year.’*****The new Orange Noon Lion’s club is chartered.

Robert Nelson is it’s first president.

Other officers are Victor Campbell, W.E. Pritchett, Oscar Dominguez and Lennart Carlson.

*****Former sheriff Chester Holt is hospitalized after suffering a massive heart attack.

He is on his way to recovery and was praised as one of the state’s best sheriffs.

When he left office there were no major unsolved crimes in Orange County.

*****Mike and Sis Keogh and the H.D. Pates attended the Union Station Presidential Inauguration Ball.

President Jimmy Carter, Vice-president Walter Mondale and their wives visited the ball.

The Keogh’s and Pates were part of the 973 Texas delegation to the inauguration.*****Rocky Holt came down from Arkansas, where he is stationed with the Air Force, to visit his grandfather Chester, who is in the hospital.*****Construction starts again on Lynwood Sanders’ office after being destroyed by fire.***** Waggoner Carr, former Texas Attorney General, writes a book on the Sharpstown scandal.

Carr has a lot of good friends in Orange County, including W.T. Oliver.

Carr was Speaker of the House when Oliver served in the House.*****Don Campbell is appointed ‘Go-Texan ambassador for 1977 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

His Orange County committee includes Don Kachtik, Elaine Meyers and Wayne Frederick.

Singer Mac Davis will perform during Orange County Night.*****The number one country song is ‘I Can’t Believe She Gives It All to Me,’ by Conway Twitty.

Ronnie Milsap came in at #2 with ‘Let My Love Be Your Pillow.’ (Editor’s note: These old boys could really sing those love songs.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

We ran into Andy and Margaret Verrett at the doctor’s office last week. Andy, former Bridge City Police Chief, was undergoing several days of tests although there didn’t

seem to be anything wrong with him.

Andy seemed to be as full of it as ever.

Over the last couple of years Margaret has had her share of health problems but is now hitting on most cylinders.*****We also ran into two beauties at PK’s Grill last week, Babette and Josette, Mark Philpott and Van Choates’ wives.

You wouldn’t believe what they are doing as their service to the county.*****A special 87th happy birthday to Consuelo Jerez, Ethel’s mom, Mark’s mother-in-law, who celebrated Monday, Jan. 23.

Best wishes for many more.*****Many folks have been taking advantage of Dupuis’ big tire sale.

The sale at Dupuis Tire and Service in Bridge City ends January 31.

If you need rubber now is the time to buy.*****Congrats to Jeff and Leslie Anderson on the birth of their newest grandchild, Anderson Rhett Phillips, born Jan. 23.

Little Anderson weighted in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces and was 20 inches long.

His parents are Adam and Whitney Anderson Phillips.

The new baby will be joined by his big sister 15 month old Olivia.*****A few folks we know who will be celebrating their special day in the next few days.

Jan. 25: Our friend Roy McDaniel, a historian, turns 92 today.

(See story by Dave Rogers.) Roy is an interesting guy with a lot of knowledge about our history going back to before WWII. Also celebrating are Garland Gresham, Tyler Thompson, Malissie Bailey, Chelsea Anderson, Payton Lafleur and Jessica Hobbs.*****Celebrities sharing this day are singer Alicia Keys, 36, actors Jennifer Lewis, 60 and Michael Trevino, 32.*****Jan. 26: Our buddy over many years Nancy Vincent chalks up another year, also Mike Faulk, Ron Huebel, Haley Parish and Frank Richardson.

They are joined by TV hostess Ellen Degeneres, 59, actress Cera Payton, 31 and hockey player Wayne Gretzky, 56.

This is also our friends H.D. and Pat Pate’s wedding anniversary.

Congrats and many more.*****Jan. 27: Leland Clay Gros, one of Roy and Ms.

Phyl’s great grandsons, turns 8 years old today.

“Scoot” is special to his family.

Also celebrating are Tommy Wolfford, Melanie Prosperie and Kimberly Barclay and Rodrick LaFleur.

Joining them are pop singers Mark Owen, 45, and Katie Waissel, 31 also drummer Nick Mason, 73.*****Jan. 28: I always have warm thoughts when I think of our longtime friend Mary Stanton.

She’s special so we wish her a special happy birthday today.

Also celebrating is longtime educator Bill Dixon, Justin Gearhart, William Carpenter, Colin Briggs, Sheryl Richard and Jim Snider.

They are joined by rappers J Cole, 32, and Rick Ross, 41, movie actor Elijah Wood, 36 and basketball player Andre Iguodala, 33.*****Jan. 29: A nice lady, Bobby’s other half, Devra Cormier, celebrates today as do the Amadeo twins, Lynn Greenwell and Lesie Smith.

Judge David Dunn turns 75, Sidney Longron turns 85 and Wyman Ogden turns a year older today.

Joining them are Oprah Winfrey, 63, singer Adam Lambert, 35, actor Tom Selleck, 72.*****Jan. 30: Everyone’s friend, a special lady who for many years who has lived with Judge Pat, the most conservative liberal I know next to Don Burgess, Rosalie Clark, celebrates a birthday today for the first time without her late twin sister Mary Ann Scofield.

Our thoughts are with her.

Also happy birthday to former major league pitcher John Patterson also Brenda Dubose, Jason Myers and Amy Campbell.

Celebrities having birthdays today are actors Christian Bale, 43, Wilmer Valderrama, 37 and singer Phil Collins, 66.*****Jan. 31: Happy birthday to Lily Fields, Skipper’s youngest Scott Free and Amanda’s twins Lucas and Mason Adams.

Joining them are singer Justin Timberlake, 36, actresses Kerry Washington, 40 and Minnie Driver, 47.

Happy Birthday to all.*****I was sorry to learn that two old boys I had known for many years passed away last week.

Preston Conway, 88, died Jan. 17.

He lived in Hemphill but was a native of Orange.

The cement contractor was married to pretty Margaret Broussard for 63 years before her death.

She was the sister of Louis Dugas, Vivian Dorman, A.J. Broussard and the only surviving sibling Richard Broussard.

Preston had been active in the community.

He was very outspoken but always got his point across.

Our condolences to his family.*****Also last week, on Jan. 16, Bernard Giarratano, 82, passed away.

Raised in Orange, he was from a well known family.

His dad Tony once owned an Italian restaurant in the area.

Together they wrote the song “My Happiness” that was stolen from them.

Bernard left the priesthood and married Betty Em, who was in a wheelchair throughout her life.

She wrote a column for the Opportunity Valley News titled “From Where I Sit.” Scott Giarratano was their only child.

They were great people.

She died a few years ago.

Service for Bernard will be Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Please see obituaries for these men.****Last week, The Wednesday Lunch Bunch was visited by new Pct.

4 constable Lane Mooney.

This week The Bunch will dine at JB’s Barbeque and at Robert’s next week.

Everyone always welcome.*****Sean Cade Gros, of Bridge City, was home a week from his Coast Guard post in McKinleyville, CA. He left the Lake Charles airport Sunday but didn’t make it back to his job Monday.

United Airlines computers all went down stranding him in Houston and then overnight in San Francisco.

When traveling by plane you never know if you will reach your destination.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Tee-Man Comeaux was driving down old Highway 90. Bout da time he get to Esterwood, a policeman pull him over for speeding. He axe Comeaux for his drivers license. Comeaux fumble around and finally got it out. All dis time da policeman him, was looking him over. Den he say, “Mr. Comeaux, I can’t help but notice your eyes, dey are bloodshot dem. Have you been drinking, hanh?”

Comeaux him, he bolt up and gets really indignant and says, “Let me axe you something Mr. Policeman, I couldn’t help but notice me, dat your eyes are glazed, have you been eating doughnuts?”

C’EST TOUT

President Donald Trump bragged at his inaugural address that he is the leader of “A historic movement the likes the world has never seen before.” Historians struggle to cite a precedent for a new president who is the target of such powerful grassroots movements.

On Saturday, a multitude of American women demonstrated against the new president’s policies and rhetoric.

In many cities throughout the U.S. and around the world they see Trump as dangerous.

They accused the new president of trying to roll back hard-won equal rights for women.

Over a half million women, nearly as many as those who attended the Friday inauguration came by bus, train and plane to Saturday’s march in Washington.

Those women are mothers, working professionals and older women who fought the battle over women’s rights in the 1960s.

They were not your radical, political groups.

Women around the country organized the great movement in just two short weeks.

They are not playing, and their target will start with senators and congressmen in the mid-term elections.

On Saturday, Trump’s sick ego kicked in and he sent his press secretary out to tell the press, “This was the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration period, both in person and around the globe.” Aerial photos showed that Trump drew a smaller crowd than President Obama.

Estimates are that Obama drew 1.8 million to his first inauguration.

Trump nearly 600,000.

Trump repeated the claim while visiting the CIA. He also accused the media of being dishonest and liars.

It’s his way of discrediting the media, that way if they catch him with his hand in the cookie jar he can always say, “I told you they are dishonest.” It’s his dictator mentality.

Now Trump is claiming that illegal voters cost him the popular vote.

He claims up to five million voted.

There is no proof and it would be very hard for voters to get by Republican and Democrat poll watchers.

Trump’s sick ego just can’t stand that he got beat by three million popular votes.

The new word when the Trump team is not exactly telling the truth is “Alternative Facts.” That way they claim it’s not a lie, it’s a “Falsehood.” Stay turned.

It’s going to get worse.

Trumps ego is what’s scary.

He has claimed he will be the greatest job creator that God ever created.

We’ll see, unemployment is at 4.5 percent.

My bet is we will be in a recession in two and a half years.

*****Thanks to you for your loyalty.

Read us cover to cover and check our website daily.

See you on the next turnaround.

Take care and God bless.