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St. Petersburg Times: General Interest Music Lights a Fire
A look at the rare genetic condition of Williams syndrome – those born with it have similar intellectual and physical impairments but also share a high level of social skills and, mysteriously, a passion for music. This story was for many years shared by the Williams Syndrome Association with parents of newly diagnosed children and won a number of awards. Old Warriors, New Friends This is a story of a softball game of peace and reconciliation between U.S. World War II veterans and Japanese soldiers against whom they went to war, played in the shadows of Pearl Harbor. It was one of the most memorable assignments I had at the Times. Ricochet in Dallas A profile of St. Petersburg resident Ruth Hyde Payne, who became unwittingly entangled in the JFK assassination in 1963, putting up a troubled guest in the days leading up to the assassination – Lee Harvey Oswald. She would live with enormous guilt, wondering if she could have prevented the tragedy. Whirlwind Woman A profile of award-winning, omnipresent tennis and Olympics television analyst Mary Carillo from her home in Naples. An Angel Named Clarence A profile of late, great saxman Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, from spending several days with The Big Man near his home n South Florida home, where he did outreach for an inner-city mission while not on tour. Sound Recognition The story of the man credited with inventing surround sound who, sadly, lost the patent to Dolby in a massive legal fight and became destitute. Decades later, – in a technical Emmy ceremony in New York City – he received his just recognition. The added hook: the man is my second cousin, Peter Scheiber. Concussions on their Minds An in-depth report from 2007 about how professional sports finally began dealing with the concussion crisis devastating so many athletes. Stones Cold Thriller My adventure tracking down the Rolling Stones on their first tour stop in Fargo, N.D. – chronicling the craziness that ensued, including a surprise at a local bowling alley on a freezing February night. Reborn in the U.S.A. My coverage in July 1999 of Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band's first tour in 11 years –a celebratory scene at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. Teaming with ace Times photographer Cherie Diez, we also visited Springsteen's childhood home in Freehold, and Asbury Park where the Boss and the band's legend took root. (Fun note: as the story notes, tickets for the sold-out tour ranged between $37.50 and $67.50). The Ballad of the Country Doctor My story about cardiologist-turned-country star Cleve Francis, poised to make waves in country music amid the genre's early 1990s explosion as the only black artist at the time. But after a promising start, he couldn't break through on the country airwaves. What happened to undercut his dream? |
First-Person: Stories About My Family The Baby Bunch
A light-hearted story about my wife and me and how, after having five daughters, we prepared for the birth of our sixth child. Travel for Eight: It's No Breeze A humorous look at the challenges our big family's first flight together, with our six kids ranging in age from 17 to infant. An Unexpected Chill The story of how an innocent search for snow in the Northeast with the kids leads to a jarring, real-world revelation. From Country Roads to Covid Woes: How One Musical Family is Sheltering in Place – A story about a music parody I wrote, recorded and turned into a music video featuring my family and our efforts to deal with the pandemic when it hit in March 2020 (video link included). Stories From All Childrens Johns Hopkins Hospital
All Childrens Johns Hopkins Hospital Marina's Story
A feature in All Children's donor magazine about a young girl whose life was saved by All Children’s doctors and nurses after she was born with a rare condition called a giant omphalocele. Tree of Life The story of All Children's PICU nurses who honored organ donors who saved young lives in a special way. Faces & Places: Heart, Hope and Baby Sammy Baby Sammy was born with an extremely rare condition marked by criss-crossed venticles but surgeons refused to give up on him and saved his life against the odds. USF Foundation A Winning Type of Treatment
An in-depth look at the USF Diabetes Center on its fifth anniversary in 2017 (I felt a special connection to this story since our youngest child has Type 1 diabetes), This story is part of a special storytelling platform I introduced at the Foundation called “Bulls Tales.” Unlocking the Mystery of Stuttering A Bulls Tale story about USF’s renowned program that does cutting-edge research into stuttering. Performance Report One of four USF Foundation annual reports for which I wrote stories. In this one, I wrote the introduction by CEO Joel Momberg and Board Chair George Morgan, and stories titled A Lasting Rugby Tribute, An Artful Showcase for Students, Taking Stock of Their Future at USF St. Petersburg, Capping the Campaign with a Gift from the Heart, Black Leadership Network Encourages Cycle of Education, A Bold Way to Connect with Young Alumni, and the Take a Bow cover story capping the billion-dollar Unstoppable Campaign. |
Pinellas Education Foundation 2019-20 Impact Report
Our new annual report detailing key programs and people in the realm of the Pinellas Education Foundation. I coordinated this project and wrote all the content. 2018-19 Impact Report Our first full-fledged annual report that I coordinated last year and for which I wrote all the stories and content. A Magical Walk on Stage A feature on Pinellas County Schools 2019 Teacher of the Year Nicole Kenngott and an unforgettable evening. Sports Illustrated & Fox Sports Fuld Shows Heart as Legend Grows
A feature story for Fox Sports on former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Sam Fuld and his magnetic effect as a role model for youngsters with Type 1 diabetes – a condition Fuld developed when he was 10 yet never let it hold him back. This piece ranked as one of the most-read stories on the Fox Sports national web site the day it appeared. Decisions, Decisions This is a profile I wrote for Sports Illustrated on one-time two-sports sensation Deion Sanders, while he was trying to decide between a career in baseball, football or both. He did excel in each at the professional level, in fact, before focusing on the gridiron and going on to become an NFL Hall of Famer. Cool Under Fire When the KKK came to Jerome Brown's hometown of Brooksville, Fla., he was waiting with a message of his own. This Sports Illustrated story profiles Brown's meteoric rise and colorful presence with the Philadelphia Eagles, several years before his tragic death in a car accident in Brooksville. And She's Only 13! A Sports Illustrated cover story I wrote on a 13-year-old Jennifer Capriati when she took the women's pro tennis tour by storm, advancing to the finals of her first professional tournament. Too Much, Too Young A Sports Illustrated story about 15-year-old Mary Pierce and the intensely difficult road she traveled with her family in professional tennis. Video Stories
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