Jim Beam

Thanks to God and my Houston cardiologist, I have 92 reasons to celebrate this Thanksgiving. That’s how many Thanksgivings I’ve enjoyed because of good health and good fortune. I grew up during the post-Depression years. We didn’t realize we were poor because everyone else we knew at that time was in the same boat. LaGrange […]

Any politician who says political contributions don’t buy influence is simply “blowing smoke.” For those not familiar with that term, its common meaning is “to deliberately confuse or lie to someone to get an advantage.” Tyler Bridges, an investigative reporter with The Advocate, showed his readers how political contributions helped McNeese State University President Wade […]

The voters of New York City apparently love Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old socialist they elected Tuesday to be their next mayor. News reports say he’s a new star for Democrats, but he’s actually a liability. The Democratic Party won big Tuesday but it needs to change its liberal public face and place its major emphasis […]

Have nicknames suddenly become taboo? I can remember the days when a nickname was something to be cherished. You weren’t anybody unless you had one of those extra names. Now nicknames are forbidden fruit in some quarters. I got hit from three sides recently during a question-and-answer session before a local civic club. “All you’re […]

(Editor’s Note: Jim Beam has a tendon problem on his right hand and will publish some columns from the past until it heals). Sept. 26, 1982 Only the memories remain.   The news cut deeply. A large chunk of my social life had been wiped out in a matter of hours. I didn’t want to […]

(Editor’s Note: Jim Beam has a tendon problem on his right hand and will publish some columns from the past until it heals). June 9, 1985 Lunchtime won’t be the same   The man is a Lake Charles institution. And when he leaves our city soon — he refuses to say exactly when — he’ll take […]

(Editor’s Note: Jim Beam has a tendon problem on his right hand and will publish some columns from the past until it heals). Dec. 31, 1992 Those of us on the down side of middle age don’t have any choice. Our time for dreams is short, so our memories are something we are happy to […]

(Editor’s Note: Jim Beam has a tendon problem on his right hand and will publish some columns from the past until it heals). From Sunday, June 17, 1990 Fathers have a tremendous influence on our lives, but do we really understand and appreciate the role fathers play? We observe Father’s Day with appropriate gifts but […]

(Editor’s Note: Jim Beam has a problem with a tendon on his right hand and will publish some columns from the past until it heals). From July 26, 1962 Citizens of the 7th Congressional District of Louisiana go to the polls Saturday to choose a Democratic Party nominee for election to the U.S. House of […]

The death of Louis Lambert, 84, a longtime Louisiana state senator and member of the state Public Service Commission, brought back memories of one of this state’s most historic elections. Lambert, who died in Sorrento of liver cancer, was a candidate in the 1979 gubernatorial election that saw a major change for governor. Other candidates that […]