Kaz's Korner

Saturday was one of the biggest days of our granddaughter Jennifer Whitehead's life-she was the only female graduating from Lamar University with a degree in chemical engineering.

And she received it with magna cum laude honors, after making nearly all straight A's during the four years in college and all straight A's during her four years at Barbers Hill High School. The whole clan was at the Montagne Center in Beaumont for that 10 a.m. ceremony and then went to Bruno's Steak House to eat, compliments of her parents Brian and Cathy Whitehead.

We spent more than three hours eating, drinking, taking pictures and just visiting. Right after we got there, a heavy-set senior citizen had just finished brunch and was waddling toward the exit. As he was opening the door to go out in the pouring rain, something dropped out of his pocket.

I saw it drop, but by the time I made it to the door, he was gone and I wasn't going out in the deluge to look for him. I peeked at the list which revealed the following gifts:

RECENTLY FIRED JACKSONVILLE HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER-A book "The Difference Between Coaching College Football and in the NFL." Santa should have given him that book last Christmas.

RECENTLY RETIRED WEST ORANGE-STARK FOOTBALL COACH CORNEL THOMPSON-After being involved with teams of Mustangs since 1977, he now will be in charge of his herd of cattle full-time.

DALLAS COWBOYS-The Return of an Old Friend Award. Although the offense is still not hitting on all cylinders, the defense appears to be headed back to Doomsday status with its league-leading number of sacks and interceptions.

OCCASIONAL BRIDGE PARTNER SUSAN PENNINGTON-A Hickory Ruler to slap me on the knuckles every time I make a bone-headed mistake at the bridge table.

ARIZONA CARDINALS-They get the bottoms up award, after a record-setting seven straight victories on the road, they get tripped up at Detroit by the bottom-feeding Lions, who won only their third game of the season.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS-The Head Coach Replacement Situation-The leading candidate for this honor could very well go to Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, but the zero his team put on the scoreboard Sunday against New Orleans won't help much.

TRINITY BAPTIST INTERIM PASTOR LYNN ASHCRAFT-The Octogenarian Award for still being great at preaching as well as on the golf course, despite what his birth certificate reads.

BALTIMORE RAVENS HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH-A Playbook with a successful two-point conversion. He's tried to win games twice this month at the end of the game, but failed to convert on both occasions, losing by one point both times.

FORMER ORANGEITE BOB HOOD-The Persistence Award for finally getting a duplicate bridge group together after playing only party bridge for the last three years at his San Antonio retirement village.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS LINEBACKER T.J. WATT-A Crown for being the king of the sacks for a single season. And his 17½ sacks was done with still three games to play. He broke the record of 16 set by James Harrison, also a Steelers' linebacker, who recorded 16 in 2008. He also bested his big brother J.J., who probably taught him every technique in the books.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER CRAIG COUVILLION-A Huge Hourglass to count down the time before he joins us retirees.

JACKSONVILLE'S ROOKIE STARTING QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE-The Great/Lousy Award for playing on an undefeated national championship team at Clemson and then playing for the worst team in the NFL that is on course to repeat as earning the No.1 pick in the 2022 draft.

HOUSTON TEXANS-The Lousy/Good Award for being a bad team that has defeated Jacksonville eight straight times.

TAMPA BAY QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY-The song that begins "It's all over" pertaining to his 225-game streak of never quarterbacking an NFL team that got shut out until Sunday night when the not-so-great New Orleans Saints blanked the Buccaneers 9-0, in Tampa Bay, no less.

ORANGE/BEAUMONT BRIDGE DIRECTOR ED RASMUSSEN-A Blue Ribbon inscribed with the phrase "You're The Best!"

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS JOHNATHAN TAYLOR AND DALLAS COWBOYS MICAH PARSON-The Glutton Award because they're both a lock for the NFL Rookie of the Year for offense and defense, respectively, but also in the running for NFL Player of the Year in both categories.

GREEN BAY HEAD COACH MATT LAFLEUR-The Surprise Award-No coach has won more in his first 45 games in NFL history, including great Packers' coach Vince Lombardi.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER KENNY RUANE-A can of Slimfast to portray he's trimmed his daily golfing schedule to two or three days a week now that he's 80.

HOUSTON TEXANS KICK RETURNER TREMON SMITH-The Water Bug Award to signify the way he moved en route to his 97-yard punt return at Jacksonville against the Jaguars Sunday. It was the first punt returned for a touchdown by a Texan since 2009.

NEW YORK GIANTS-The Rockettes Award for getting 40 per cent of their season's scoring totals by kicking field goals and extra points to prove they're not the only high kickers in the Big Apple.

AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO Janelle Sehon, Victor Romero, Archie McClelland, Jeff Thomas, Johnny Montagne, Jason Bell, Tom Watson, Ronnie Hutchison, Julie Mouton, Pierre De la Fosse, Chris Trout, Gwen Whitehead, Troy Manuel, Missy Pillsbury, Susan Pennington, Brad Prejean, John Morris, Larry Moerbe, Judy Arnaud, Tom Toal, Steve Betz, Jerry Windham, Bill Van, Gail Beckett, Larry Ancelot, Bobby Nelson, Carl Sanders, Matt Purgahn, David Thompson, James Denmon, Mike King, Durwood Bennett, Bob Cockerill, Chris Allen, Matt Morgan, Sid Caillavet, Doug Patterson, Mike Shuff, Jim King, Tiki Russell, Alex Morrow, John Cochran, David Benoit, Bart Corder, Jimmy Sichko, Ken Ruane, Joe Murphy, David Ess, John Dubose, Lacy Hale, Derry Dunn, Mark Williams, Gary Cook, Bobby Eddings, Tommy Gunn, Mac Guillory, Buddy Hahn, Glynn Aldredge, Jim Rodda, Pat Bell, Kerry Lamb, Brian Hudson, Mike Poutra.

Joe Ely, Trez Sichko, Ella Mulhollan, Allen Beauchamp, Harley Bennett, John Patterson, Wanda Peveto, Larry Duhon, David Sand, Milton Newton, Mike Parish, Robert Baca, Jim Brown, Ruth Hancock, Mark Hebert, John Toomey, Stacy Hoffpauir, Tina Lawrence, Richard Duffee, Tammy Torrez, Mike Shahan, Wes Duvall, James Vidrine, Ken St. John, David Bridges, Jim Matthews, Tommy Reed, Alan McDade, Sandra Hall, Wayne Brint, Jajemi Plut, V.L. Grimes, David Loden, Brian Waguespack, Ryan Chandler, Manuel Godina, Joseph Droddy, Wayne Baker, James Thurman, Bill Belcher, Shanna McCallon, Don Olivier, Jerry Ling, Brenda Buxton, Regina Edwards, Frank Hatton, Willow Simpson, Kathy Gunn, Dean Crooks, Wade Gillet, Jerry McDonald, Jerry Pennington, Chrisleigh Dal Sasso, Cathy Day.

Lindsey Nelson, Jim Sharon Bearden, Dean Domec, Mildred Frank, Dan Perrine, Billy Burrow, Dan Cochran, Ken Bridgers, George Crawford, Michelle Broussard, Jim Simon, Jack McClelland, J.R. Edmondson, Scottie Wilson, Willie Bednar, James Lopez, Bobby Duhon, Carlos Vacek, George Toal, Mike Lucia, Jim Dunaway, Jack Tindel, Ray Pousson, Jim Ehlert, Bryce Conner, Mike Mazzola, Faye Parish, Gilbert Myers, Kathy Polansky, Sweet Helen Edwards, Pat Murphy, Leo Simpson, Mike McKown, Clint Hathaway, Jerry Decker, Mike Holbrook, Lee Roy Boehme, Jr., Jerry Ann Trouard,  Jimmy Boyd, Donnie Mires, Connie Woods, Bobby Swan, Noel Griffith, Larry Hammett, Tom Day, Bryan McKinley, Donny Ratcliff, Don Lormand, Robert Dunn, Robert Roesler, Bobby Corder, Roy Dunn, Raymond Guilbeaux, Johnny Dugas, Paula Burton.

Martha Rogers, Robert Burris, Jerry Caillier, John Scofield, Carol Perry, Kenny Lalonde, Linn Cardner, Mike Catt, Pete Runnels, Russell Bottley, James Luna, Jason Bell, Dick Powell, Billie Carter, David Teague, Carl Floyd, Skip Moore, Pete Sterling, Brian Murphy, Montie Moran, Doug Rogers, Rick Keszeg, Cary Bresie, Scott Garvie, Pat Key, Rodney Townsend, Bob Byerly, Bart Williams, Loretta Stewart, Sandy Withrow, Janet Lemoine, Diane Grooters, Lynn Smith, Ebb Moore, Daisey Arnett, Jerrod Bland, Barry Thibodeaux, Charles Broussard, Sharon Bearden, Bob Hoepner, Joe Doucet, J.B. Arrington, Bill Ellison, Dana Cruse, Dennis Lee, Jerry Ann Trouard, Teresa Caraway.

Dennis Bishop, Gus Beuershausen, Leon Delome, Grant Gipson, Jeep Colburn, Jerry Nichols, Kevin Hebert, Brian Mingle, Loretta Hughes, Dwayne Mims, Johnny Grooters, Oscar Smith, Pete Gresham, Charlie Miller, Chris Gunn, Ed Dyer, Bill Jackson, Bill Bromley, Mike Bernard, Ken Wernig, Todd McLane, John Tate, Hal LaPray, Bob Campbell, Roderick Robertson, Buddy Hahn, Mark Foreman, Manuel Solis, Neil Watts, John Martinez, Terry Childers, Joan Quartermont, Jeff Mathews, Tiffany Rochelle, Dempsie Jaynes, Kyle Walker, Randy Brown, Clay Dugas, Ron Cowling, Ruth Corder, Billy Bayliss, Andre Robertson, David Montagne, Earl Collier, Dewey Scott, Robert Tywater, Louise Savoy, Darrel Latiolais, John Cash Smith, Mary Beth Benoit, Jimmy Verrett, Angelique Catt, Russell Cronin, Al Granger, Kris Cherry, Richard Turkel, Rodney Townsend, Jr., Mark Williams.

David Dunn, Cecil Byers, Michelle Domec, Joyce Bell, Waymon Sibley, Rufus Flurry, Aaron Burke, Kris Olsen, Wayne Sparrow, David Hoelzer, James Bloodworth, Ron Roberts, Mike Hebert, Phillip Madar, Myrt Myers, Lou Garriga, Becky Grant, Vicki Landry, Gene Steele, Morgan Hinds, Ken Reeves, Jimmy Ray Burris, Brenda Morgan, Robert Mortimer, Mark Meadows, Jody Gray, Ruby Collins, Chris Hyde, Gloria McKee, Clifford Bray, Darline Zavada, Todd Marburgh, Dawn Collins, Stacy Caillavet, John Broussard, Greg Choate,  Dave Walsh, Williard Lanier, Calvin Collins, Lynae Sanford, Greg Smith, Jerome Wilkerson, Joyce Prescott, Keith Hogan, David Piland, Lana Stogner, Kevin Philen, Vernon Davis, David Hollier, John Lister, Anthony Padilla, Erin Godina, Greg Turbeville, Bob McGill, Gail Griffith, Danny Blacksher, Terry Myers, Johnny Trahan, Curt Leger, George Nevarez, Patrick Toomey, Larry Fisher.

Gary Pollock, Sandy Walker, Anita Vidrine, Barbara Hayes, Derrick Jones, Dale Peddy, Todd Hoffpauir, Terry Steubing, Donna Evans, Jack Burke, Teresa Schreck, David Davis, Shirley Walker, Larry Woods, Steve Champion, Rex Ansley, Connie Burnitt, Greg Willis, Pat Anglin, George Baker, Steve Issacs, James Blair, Troy Burton, Homer Stockton, Nita Duffee, Vic Arceneaux, Rick Keszeg, Don Burgess, Tommy Carroll, Barbara Bergeron, Brenda Campbell, Paula Legate, Connie Lemaire, Debbie Perry, Scott Swearingen, Camilla Richard, Phyllis McCall, Brandon Prouse, Steve Griffith, Jessie West, Betty Merchant, Ronnie Moody, John Young, Kay Morris, Jim Dwight, George Mortimer, Larry Willette,  Leon King, John Rowland, Leon Evans, Preston Fuller, Karl Eason, Jim Mouton, Kerry Franks, Peggy O'Leary, Bret Johns, J.D. Willis, John Hurn, Wayne Iles.

Bob Campbell, Ralf Mims, Louis Manuel, Richard Roddy, Sandy Turner, Shea Simon, Jack Jones, Shirley "Fuzz" Ware, Tim Stelly, Gary Ware, Warren Claybar, Charlie Greenwell, Gary Mulhollan, J.C. Sea, John Hardin, Gene Tannehill, Anne Foster, Matt Murphy, Mike Collins, Sam Hudson, Aubrey Welch, Virgie Thomas, Charlotte Guillory, Elray Henson, Marilyn Malvo, Chad Havens, Wendy Rost, Josh Smalley, Jeff Elliott, Marcelle Adams, Mike Reed, Ray Tilley, Keith Doucet, Chad Bryant, Roddy Richards, Hugh Granger, Toby Foreman, Gary Thibodeaux, Stephen Lee, David Winfrey.

 Doug Posey, Rick Sand, Joe Raburn, Wallace Culps, Angie Simar, Bryant Calcote, Wayne Lowe, Jack Horton, Tony Perry, Gene Dixson, Joy Haney, Bruce Savoy, Becky Rhoden, Dean Priddy, Randy Vayon, Heath Martin, Ed Freiberg, George Sepulvado, Johnny Dorman, Ronnie Puckett, Lori Thompson, Madge Rogers, Travis Ashworth, Marty Monogue, Dave Young, Jeremy Green, Harry Sharpless, Bobbie Murphy, Jill Williams, Brandon Seaman, Jodie Pledger, Richard Terry, Marla Zoch, Quincy Procell, Donna Nichols, Judy Lowe, Richard Porter, Bart Williams, Joyce Drake, Buddy Miller, Jim Rawls, Bill Nicholas, Mark Berton, Ray "Mario" Dal Sasso, Jane Couvillion, Mickey Bergeron, Cheree Benoit, Jakie Stine, Tom Edwards, Pat Clark.

Jonathan Vandagriff, David Haney, Ron McPherson, Delle Bates, Ray Montagne, Wayne Outlaw, Carl Thibodeaux, Julie Hurn, Mike Bernard, Paul Mott, Kermit Richard, Ray Pousson, Charlie Blalack, Dick Alexander, Jeff Dalton, Craig Corder, Pancho McGill, Roland Wolfford, Dave Maddox, Robin Brooks, Katie Mulhollan, Marlynne Edmondson, Paul Vaughan, Vernon Myers, Billy Denham, Louis Willey, Clyde Davis, Bob Brown, Laurie Modisette, Bob Baptista, Jay Brown, David Williams, Russell Covington, Jerry Montgomery, Harold Gross, Glenda Bass, Russell Turkel, Larry Fisher, Steve Pesek, Charles Liggio, John Garrett, Brown Claybar, Larry Warner, Shelby May, Virgis Benoit, Dwight Bickham, Howard Minor.

David Claybar, J.L. Vincent, Ross Smith, Dave Pederson, Peggy Vincent, Charlotte Montgomery, Sleepy Smith, Gwen Barton, Ron Sigler, Pat Brown, James Sanders, B.K. Ware, Leonard Brown, Jeremy Hogg, Alicia Hebert, Reanna Morris, Ronnie Rost, Kelly Alford, Alan Whipkey, Jane Dunn, Ann Lieby, John Harrell, Charlotte Tucker, Glenn Hill, Martha Oliver, John Young, Tommy Ewing, Ernie Dyer, Carroll Holt, Shane Johns, Denise Himel, Sid Caillavet, Paul Patin, Lona Vasquez.

Dennis Duhon, Calvin Parker, Jimmy Sattler, Rodney Dove, Lawrence Hunt, Eddie Faulk, Cornel Thompson, Sam Kittrell, Dick Behnke, Dora Lorimer, Ronnie Burton, Robert "Woody" Wood, Vicky Walters, Mike White, Frank Skeeler, David Payne, John Hersey, Dee Payne, Haazen Kenney, Bonnie Mingle, John Kimbrough, Wayne Peveto, Bubba Lanning, Wayne Morris, Dale LeBlanc, Sammy Owens, Heath Mouton, Harold Fuqua, Joe Peery, Rocky Mize, Bob Hood, James Rigler, Robert Sims, Joe Sanders, Bill Modisette, Mark Oldham, Mackey Clasby, Vernon Collier, Michael Arnaud, Jay Ayers, Jeanette Cleaver, Ray Burch, Gerhard Hommel, Walter Landisch.

Jimmy Sims, Joe Ware, Roy Dunn, Phyllis Ryan, Eric Hinton, Debbie Fusilier, Penny Leleux, Debbie Buckalew, Ricky Trahan, Melinda Gipson, Jet Toohey, James Stringer, Alan Sanders, John Cooper, Glenn Toohey, Lon Craft, Margaret Peeples, Mike Abbott, Charles Gant, Oliver Seastrunk, Earl Geis, Mike  Leonard, Van Vandervoort, Jack Burney, Brandon Landry, Ray Rogers, Gary Stelly, Pat Johnson, Andy Allen, Keith Staudt, Brandon Fisher, Fred Zoch, Troy Burke, Bubba Brown, David Clary, Joey Campbell, Robert Query, Gary Thibodeaux, Tim Bonnin, Jay James, John Griffith, Randy Jarrell, Jimmy Jones, Joe Payne, Donald Moss, Betty Melton, Doug Nelms, Roy Knolley, Wade Smith, Jerry Priddy, Shea Brown, Sam Ambers, John Raughton, Pat Leverne, James Scott, Ann Harner, Jenny Taylor, David Trahan, Rick Southard, Donnie Shockley, Jr., John Crawford, Jim Gordon, Jim Colley, Sue Rathburn, Keith Lyons, Wayne Franklin, Mandy Rogers, Terry Landry, Billie Rogers, Albert Gore, Betsy Phillips, Trent Cooper, Steve Toal, James Ray, Mike Hughes, Mark Magnuson, Ed Rasmussen, Gary Mulhollan, Bobby Tanner, Jason Gipson, Jade Saucier, Georgia Corder, Ken Manuel, Don Harmon, Sanford Lummus, Hunter Sheridan, Lewis Sims, Tommy Carroll, Van Wade, Mark Dunn.

And a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to my e-mail readers Dick and Gail Kazmar, Bobbie, Dick and Joe Wechter, Don and Linda Bivens, Karen and Brian Smith, Lt. Logan Smith, Earl Thomas, Brock and Glenna Bult, R.C. Slocum, Paul Groncki, Jim Rodda, Bobbie Earle, Wayne and Kaye Morris and for anyone I may have missed, especially you, my loyal readers who have been with Kaz's Korner since its inception Sept. 12, 1966.