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Woke up this morning to see myself on CNN !

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:33 am
by DaveT
(Apologies if this is not the right forum to post this.....)

That's right, yours truly had his mug on CNN..... all over the world !!

Last night, former Texas Governor Ann Richards passed away at the age of 73. The news stories this morning are showing clips from various points in her life and political career. One of the clips was when she was presented a Harley-Davidson in the upstairs rotunda area of the State Capitol to commemorate Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Texas.

As the Harley-Davidson State Safety Coordinator for Texas, I was one of those making the presentation. Just before she came out in front of the cameras, her security officer came up to me and said that she was going to sit on the sportster before the world wide media, and that I had better make sure that motorcycle did not move !

So, I made sure the bike was in gear, then moved in to hold the front brake lever while she mounted up. I then moved to the background, when the picture below was taken. I am just to the right of the right hand rear view mirror.

The clip on CNN today shows me in my bright red H-D State Safety shirt moving in from the left side of the screen to steady the bike again after she got on and raised the bike off the sidestand.

It was a fun day, we took the motorcycle back in her outer office for about 30 minutes while we explained the bike and it's controls to her. Great lady to talk to, just like one of us, no false airs, what ya saw was what ya got with Ann !

Lots of people disagreed with her political stance on various issues (like me on gun control) , but she was a fun lady who believed in living life to its fullest.

And yes, she did take the MSF course and she did get her motorcycle endorsement !

Image

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:47 am
by Commander
Dave T.
That Harley is now on display at the DPS Training Academy in Austin.

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:51 am
by longtooth
While we talk buddy I am looking at your picture. :lol:

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:19 pm
by DaveT
Great talking to you, Jerry ! :smile:

The video clip is now on the http://www.cnn.com website. Just go to 'latest news', then there is a headline about her death and the word 'video' next to it. It is a video clip of her life, about four minutes long.... I'm right about in the middle when she starts talking about riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle for her 60th birthday.

As she mounts the bike, I move into the picture from the left wearing my bright red H-D State Safety shirt to hold the front handbrake and make sure the sporty does not move while she is getting on.

Cool, I can now watch me over and over !

Yep, it's a slow day, LOL......... ;-)

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:25 pm
by quidni
The video won't play for me. :sad:

Was there in August

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:45 am
by StexFJR
For the SMSA Conference and saw the bike along with a lot of other wonderful DPS displays. A must see!!! Congrats on your 15 minutes :)


Dewayne

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:25 am
by propellerhead
She looks like she got her toungue pierced! Hahaha!