Family Tree Maker Online
Navigation Bar
Prev Page Prev Item Contents Index Go to Page Home Page Next Item Next Page

Page 67 of 188

Descendants of JAY WILL KNOWLES




Generation No. 1


1. JAY WILL12 KNOWLES (LEWIS WINFORD11, RUBEN BENJAMIN10, BENJAMIN LEWIS9, BENJAMIN G8, BENJAMIN S7, EDWARD6, HENRY5, HENRY4, WILLIAM3, HENRY2, THOMAS1) was born July 14, 1919 in BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON CO., TEXAS, USA. He married MILDRED LUCILLE CATRETT February 07, 1942 in BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON CO., TEXAS, USA, daughter of FRED CATRETT and IVA WARD. She was born October 31, 1924 in BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON CO., TEXAS, USA.

Notes for JAY WILL KNOWLES:
IN THE SUMMER OF 1929 JAY W. , HIS FATHER AND BROTHERS WERE ON A CAMPING & FISHING TRIP DOWN ON THE RIO GRANDE NEAR DEL RIO, TEXAS. THEY HAD SETTLED IN FOR THE NIGHT WHEN JAY WAS SUDDENLY BITTEN IN HIS SLEEPING BAG BY A SKUNK. WINFORD GRABBED HIS OLD 1911 MODEL COLT 45 AUTOMATIC AND BEGAN BLASTING AWAY AT THE ZIG ZAGGING POLE CAT, MISSING EVERY SHOT. YOUNG RUBEN PICKED UP A ROCK, THREW IT, AND HIT THE VARMINT SQUARELY BETWEEN THE EYES KILLING IT INSTANTLY. RABIES WAS A FEARED KILLER IN THOSE DAYS SO THEY TOOK THE BODY 150 MILES TO THE STATE HEALTH OFFICE IN AUSTIN FOR TESTS. UNFORTUNATELY RUBE'S ROCK DID ITS JOB TOO WELL, RENDERING THE TESTS INVALID, AND JAY W. HAD TO STAY IN AUSTIN FOR A MONTH AND UNDERGO THE PAINFUL TREATMENT OF THE DAY ANYWAY. WITH NO FRIENDS AND BORED HE STARTED TO DIG AROUND IN THE GARAGE OF THE ROOMING HOUSE WHERE HE AND HIS MOTHER WERE STAYING AND FOUND A COFFEE CAN FULL OF ROOFING TACKS. HE THEN FOUGHT OFF THE BLUES SEEDING THE LOCAL STREETS WITH THE TACKS, WELL, UNTIL HE GOT CAUGHT ANYWAY.

ABOUT 1930 JAY W. AND FRIENDS WERE WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN THEY CAME UPON A GRISLY SIGHT. A BLACK MAN HAD BEEN LYNCHED BY THE VIDOR AREA KKK. HE WAS SUSPECTED OF THE RAPE OF A LOCAL WHITE GIRL. THE MAN HAD HAD HIS PRIVATES CUT OFF AND NAILED TO A SIGN AROUND HIS NECK. IT SAID," NIGGER'S DON'T LET THE SUN SET ON YOU IN VIDOR!" THE BOYS HAD HAPPENED ON THIS DISGUSTING BIT OF AMERICANA THINKING THEY HAD FOUND ANOTHER BIT OF VANISHING RURAL LIFE. SEEING THE CROWD GATHERING ON THE COUNTRY LANE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE IN FOR A MEDICINE SHOW WHICH CAME THROUGH SELLING SNAKE OIL AND SUCH THAT TIME OF YEAR. JAY W. SAYS THAT HE REMEMBERS MANY LITTLE TRAVELING FLIM FLAM SHOWS WHICH SNAKED THROUGH THE BIG THICKET OF EAST TEXAS IN THE EARLY 30'S WHEN BEAR, COUGAR, AND ALLIGATOR COULD STILL BE FOUND A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THEIR VIDOR FARM.

JAY W. GRADUATED FROM VIDOR HIGH SCHOOL AT 15 IN 1936 AFTER LETTERING IN 5 SPORTS, AND BEING ACTIVE IN FUTURE HOMEMAKERS OF AMERICA AND THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA. HE WAS STATE MEAT JUDGING CHAMPION AT THE 1935 STATE FAIR IN DALLAS.

HE SERVED HIS NAVY CAREER ABOARD THE USS DORSEY, A DESTROYER, AND THE OLDEST BATTLEWAGON AFLOAT. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BLACKGANG AND SPENT MOST OF HIS SEA DUTY IN THE PACIFIC FLEET. HE HAD A TOUR OF DUTY IN CHINA, HOWEVER HE WAS ALLOWED NO TIME ASHORE BECAUSE JAPAN AND CHINA WERE DEEP INTO THE 2nd SINO- JAPANESE WAR, AND THE POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN CHIANG KAI-SHEK'S CHINESE NATIONALISTS AND MAO'S COMMUNISTS WAS ALSO IN FULL SWING. ON DECEMBER 12, 1937 IN THE CONFUSION OF THE TIMES, SUPPOSEDLY, THE JAPS BOMBED AND SUNK ANOTHER U.S. DESTROYER IN THE CHINA FLEET, THE USS PANAY AND THREE OIL SUPPLY SHIPS, KILLING THREE AMERICANS AND WOUNDING 30 MEN. THE DORSEY AND OTHERS RUSHED TO HER AID. JAY W. WAS DECORATED FOR HIS ACTIONS DURING THIS TENSE EVENT.

THE DORSEY ALMOST WENT TO WAR AGAIN WHILE JAY W. WAS ABOARD HER. ON THE FOGGY EVENING OF OCTOBER 30, 1938, SHE RECEIVED ORDERS TO PUT TO SEA AND AWAIT FURTHER ORDERS WHILE STANDING BY ON ALERT. NOONE KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT THAT NIGHT FOR YOU SEE, THAT WAS THE NIGHT AMERICA WENT TO WAR WITH.......MARS! ON THAT EVENING THE MERCURY THEATER UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ORSEN WELLES TERRIFIED THE NATION WITH A RADIO NEWS CAST VERSION OF H. G. WELLS "WAR OF THE WORLDS" THE DORSEY SETTING IN DOCK AT SAN DEIGO, CALIFORNIA WAS SUDDENLY PUT ON ALERT , SHORE LEAVES WERE CANCELED, AND THE SHIP MADE READY TO PUT TO SEA. JAY W. IN THE BLACKGANG HELPED BRING THE ENGINES TO READINESS AND THEY ACTUALLY STARTED OUT TO SEA BEFORE RECEIVING ORDERS TO RETURN TO PORT. IT WAS THE NIGHT NOONE WHO WITNESSED IT WOULD FORGET AND IT BECAME RADIO'S MOST INFAMOUS BROADCAST.

AFTER HIS TOUR OF DUTY IN THE NAVY JAY W. RETURNED TO EAST TEXAS AND FINDING JOBS SCARCE HE WENT TO PORT ARTHUR AND JOINED THE MERCHANT MARINE. HE WAS EDGY ABOUT HIS NEW JOB BECAUSE THE NAZIS WERE SINKING EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT POSSIBILITY HELP ENGLAND OR FRANCE. AFTER RECEIVING ASSURANCES THAT "MARINE" HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MARINES HE DECIDED TO FIND A SHIP THAT SAILED ONLY IN TERRITORIAL WATERS. HE SIGNED ON TO A GIANT TANKER NAMED THE "ARGONNE" AFTER THE FAMOUS TURNING POINT BATTLE OF WWI. HE WENT DOWN TO THE DOCKS TO BOARD HIS SHIP ONLY TO DISCOVER A 6 STORY U.S. FLAG PAINTED LIKE A GIANT TARGET ON HER SIDE. THIS MADE HIM MORE NERVOUS AND HE ASKED AROUND FOR THE SHIP'S NEXT PORT. HE WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE NEW JERSY. HE FELT BETTER. AFTER GETTING ON THE WAY THE CREW WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE TO PICKUP A LOAD OF FUEL OIL AND THEN TAKE IT TO THE DUTCH WEST INDIES. THE MEN WERE TOLD THAT UNLESS THEY MADE THE FULL TRIP THEY WOULD RECEIVE NO PAY. JAY W. WAS AWARE OF THE DUTCH INDIES NEAR CHINA AND THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS WERE THEY WERE HEADED. HE FIGURED IF THE NAZIS DIDN'T SINK THEM CROSSING THE ATLANTIC, THEN THE JAPS WOULD BLOW THEM OUT OF THE CHINA SEA. IT MADE FOR SEVERAL TENSE DAYS UNTIL HE FOUND OUT THEY WERE GOING OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA. THAT WAS HIS FIRST AND LAST MERCHANT MARINE VOYAGE.

BACK IN BEAUMONT HE LANDED A JOB AT THE MAGNOLIA OIL REFINERY WORKING WITH 4 OTHER KNOWLES' . HE HAD JUST SETTLED INTO HIS NEW POSITION WHEN THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED. HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY. IMPOSSIBLE, BECAUSE HE HAD JUST SERVED HIS ENTIRE MILITARY OBLIGATION IN THE NAVY AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY EXEMPT FROM FURTHER DUTY. HOWEVER, GENERAL HERSEY WAS GEARING UP FOR THE IMPENDING WAR AND MISTAKES WERE COMMON PLACE IN THEIR PRE-COMPUTER WORLD. JAY W. REPORTED TO DUTY IN SAN ANTONIO AND FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS HE TOLD EVERYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN THAT HE WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE THERE. FINALLY A DRILL INSTRUCTOR WHO WAS IMPRESSED WITH JAY'S KNOWLEDGE OF MILITARY DRILL ASKED WERE HE HAD LEARNED IT. JAY W. TOLD HIM THE WHOLE STORY AND WAS DISCHARGED.

HE HELD A COUPLE OF SHORT TERM JOBS IN THE SHIP BUILDING INDUSTRY, ONE IN BEAUMONT, ONE IN HOUSTON AND ONE IN ALABAMA. HOWEVER, DECEMBER 7, 1941 CHANGED EVERYTHING . THE PATRIOT FEVER THAT FLEW ACROSS THE COUNTRY AFTER PEARL HARBOUR SUCKED UP JAY W. AS WELL AND HE FOUND HIMSELF SIGNING UP FOR THE ARMY AIR CORPS.

      HE BECAME CADET COL. AT OFFICER'S SCHOOL AND TAUGHT AT SEVERAL TRAINING COMMANDS BEFORE CAPTURING HIS NAVIGATOR-BOMEDIER WINGS AND PULLING DOWN AN ASSIGNMENT TO A B-17 WING WHICH HAD MOSTLY SUB HUNTING DUTY IN THE PACIFIC. HE WAS STATIONED ALL UP AND DOWN THE WEST COAST FROM CANADA TO MEXICO AWAITING THE ORDERS FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. LUCKILY THE POWERS AT BE CHOSE TO DROP THE A-BOMB AND J. JAY WAS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY OF EXPERIENCING A HANDS-ON FATHER.

      JAY W., STILL A KID AT HEART, WAS AN EXTREMELY ACTIVE DAD
HE COACHED SPORTS, BOTH ADULT AND CHILDREN'S; LITTLE LEAGUE, PONY LEAGUE, & POP WARNER AMONG OTHERS. HE TAUGHT SWIMMING & LIFE SAVING ON A LOCAL, REGIONAL, & NATIONAL LEVEL FOR THE RED CROSS. HE SETUP AND RAN THE MIDWAYS ON PTA CARNIVAL NIGHTS AND VOLUNTEERED AT THE LOCAL CITY RECREATION CENTER. HE WAS A CONSTANT PRESENCE ON THE SAN ANTONIO AND TEXAS AMATEUR SPORTS SCENES THRU OUT THE LATE 40'S AND 1950'S. AS A PLAYER/COACH ON SEVERAL TOP RANKED MILITARY TEAMS HE LED THEM TO MANY STATE, NATIONAL, AND EVEN WORLD TITLES. HIS TEAMS PLAYED EXHIBITION GAMES AGAINST THE NATIONAL TEAMS OF MOST OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE FREE WORLD. JAY W. EVEN BATTED AGAINST THE STRONG PITCHING ARM OF FIDEL CASTRO IN THE YEARS BEFORE REVOLUTION MADE THAT IMPOSSIBLE. HE TOURED FOR A WHILE WITH " THE KING'S COURT ", THE LEGENDARY 5 MAN BASEBALL TEAM THAT TRAVELED THE WORLD DEFEATING ALL COMERS. ESPECIALLY DURING THE KOREAN WAR YEARS HIS TEAMS WERE FILLED WITH PROFESSIONAL AND TOP COLLEGE PLAYERS OF BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, AND BASKETBALL. EVEN ALL PRO RECEIVER FRANK GIFFORD AND BASEBALL LEGEND TED WILLIAMS TRAINED UNDER HIS DIRECTION. THERE WAS A SAYING. A TRUISM OF SORTS, AT LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE IN THE LATE 50'S; " COMMANDING GENERALS MAY COME AND GO, BUT COACH KNOWLES, HE'S HERE FOREVER,", AND INDEED HE WAS FOR HE WAS STATIONED IN SAN ANTONIO FROM 1947 TILL HE RETIRED IN 1964. A VIRTUAL IMPOSSIBILITY IN THE COLD WAR AIR FORCE WHERE YOU SELDOM STAYED IN ONE PLACE LONGER THAN 1 1/2 YEARS. AFTER RETIRING HE WENT INTO OFFICIATING SPORTS, ALL SPORTS AT ALL LEVELS FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND CITY LEAGUES TO COLLEGE AND THE PROS. HE LOVED DOING THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS GAMES BECAUSE HE REALLY GOT TO HAM-IT-UP. HE EVENTUALLY WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF IABO, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL OFFICIALS, AND HE HELD ELECTED POSITIONS IN THE GOVERNING ORGANIZATIONS OF OTHER SPORTS AS WELL.

      ONE OF MY STRONGEST MEMORYS FROM THE SPORTING PERIOD OF MY DAD'S LIFE OCCURRED IN 1951. I WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND THAT SUMMER I WAS TO SERVE AS A BAT BOY ON LACKLAND'S WORLD CHAMPION FAST PITCH SOFTBALL TEAM "THE WARHAWKS". THE TEAM WAS ON A GOODWILL TOUR BY BUS THAT SUMMER, TRAVELING TO TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST AND PLAYING THE LOCAL CHAMPIONS. ON OUR 1ST DAY OUT, ON THE WAY TO PLAY THE WINNERS OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY LEAGUE WE STOPPED IN THE LITTLE SOUTH TEXAS TOWN OF DILLY ( PEANUT CAPITAL OF TEXAS ) FOR LUNCH. THE PLAYERS FILED OFF THE BUS AND INTO A LOCAL ROADHOUSE EATERY OF THE KIND LONG GONE FROM TODAYS SCENE AND BEGAN TO ORDER PLATES FULL OF TEX/MEX FOOD. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE MY DAD NOTICED THAT NO ONE HAD TAKEN THE ORDER FROM HIS CENTER FIELDER, THE ONLY BLACK ON THE TEAM. HE CALLED THE CAFE OWNER OVER AND POINTED THE FACT OUT TO HIM. THE OWNER'S RESPONSE WAS TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THE ORDER, BUT MY DAD'S LEADING BATTER WOULD HAVE TO EAT IT IN THE BUS. AT THIS POINT MY FATHER STOOD UP AND ANNOUNCED " EVERYONE BACK ON THE BUS! " THE TEAM MATES LEFT THEIR STEAMING PLATES AND CLIMBED ABOARD THE UN- AIR- CONDITIONED BUS LEAVING THE BEFUDDLED CAFE OWNER STARING AT 30+ UNPAID FOR DINNERS. THIS SCENE REPEATED ITSELF SEVERAL TIMES THAT SUMMER AT CAFES, MOTELS, AND BARS , AND I LEARNED AN IMPORTANT LESSON IN HUMANITY ON A SUBJECT THAT BEFORE THIS TIME I HAD NEVER TAKEN NOTICE OF...RACISM. JAY W. KNOWLES WAS THE 1ST COACH IN TEXAS SPORTS HISTORY TO PLACE A BLACK MAN ON WHAT HAD BEEN AN ALL WHITE TEAM. HE DID THAT IN 1947.

      BOY SCOUTING WAS, HOWEVER, HIS GREAT INTEREST AREA AND THE ONE THAT ALLOWED THE MOST INTERACTION WITH HIS SON, J. JAY. JAY W. TAUGHT AT THE BOY SCOUT NATIONAL CAMPING SCHOOL AND HE WAS AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE NATIONAL WOODBADGE TRAINING COURSE AT PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH IN THE NEW MEXICO ROCKIES SEVERAL TIMES. HE WOULD TAKE BOYS TO PHILMONT A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND WAS PICTURED IN THE CAMP'S GUIDE BOOK AS WELL AS A 1956 ARTICLE IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. HE ALSO TOOK BOYS TO MANY NATIONAL JAMBOREES AND SERVED ON THE NATIONAL STAFFS OF THESE EVENTS THRU THE 1990'S. HE WAS A CUB MASTER, SCOUT MASTER, EXPLORER ADVISOR, DISTRICT COMMITTEEMAN, ROUND TABLE LEADER AND ORDER OF THE ARROW LODGE ADVISOR DURING HIS SCOUTING CAREER. JAY TOOK GROUPS OF BOYS TO MANY NATIONAL ORDER OF THE ARROW CONFERENCES, HELD ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AROUND THE COUNTRY, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. HE FOUNDED AND SERVED AS EL JEFE DE GRUPO FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE MEXICAN NATIONAL BOY SCOUT CAMP, CAMP AZETICA, OUTSIDE MEXICO CITY. HE ALSO FOUNDED (AND SERVED AS LODGE ADVISOR) THE CUAUHTLI LODGE OF THE ORDER OF THE ARROW WHICH SERVED THE MEXICO CITY AREA. THE US AIR FORCE HONORED JAY WITH MANY LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FOR THIS MEXICAN SCOUTING WORK AND THE NATIONAL MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AWARDED HIM THE COVETED AZTEC AWARD, THE HIGHEST HONOR THEIR GOVERNMENT CAN PRESENT A NON-CITIZEN. DURING HIS LONG TERM OF SCOUTING SERVICE, JAY W KNOWLES EARNED NOT ONLY THE BOYHOOD AWARDS OF EAGLE SCOUT & GOD AND COUNTRY MEDAL, BUT ALSO VIRTUALLY ALL THE ADULT LEVEL AWARDS. THESE INCLUDED THE SCOUTERS' AWARD, THE SCOUTER'S KEY AWARD, AND BOTH THE SILVER AND GOLD ARROW AWARDS. ON DECEMBER 13, 1994 HE WAS INFORMED BY VICE-ADMIRAL STASER HOLCOMB THAT HE HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR THE HONOR OF RECEIVING THE PRESTIGIOUS SILVER BEAVER AWARD. THIS IS THE HIGHEST HONOR A BSA COUNCIL CAN BESTOW. THIS DISTINGUISHED MEDAL WAS PRESENTED AT THE ALAMO AREA COUNCIL'S COURT OF HONOR AT THE FIESTA TEXAS FAIRGROUNDS IN SAN ANTONIO ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 1995. LETTERS OF CONGRATULATIONS WERE READ FROM SENATORS PHIL GRAMM, KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON, AND PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON. OH YEAH, IT WAS HIS AND MILDRED'S WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AS WELL, QUITE A NIGHT. IN ATTENDANCE WERE BOTH OF JAY'S BROTHERS (RUBE & DENVER), WITH THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, ALONG WITH JAY'S CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AS WELL AS MANY OF HIS FORMER SCOUTS.

      BECAUSE JAY W. WAS SO YOUNG (46) WHEN HE RETIRED FROM ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY HE WENT BACK TO SCHOOL ON THE GI BILL AND ATTENDED BOTH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY WERE HE GRADUATED "CUM LAUDE" IN THE LATE 1960'S. HE THEN EMBARKED ON HIS 2ND CAREER, THAT OF SCHOOL TEACHER. FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS HE TAUGHT FULL TIME A VARIETY OF PRIMARY SCHOOL SUBJECTS FOR SEVERAL SAN ANTONIO SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AFTER HIS 2ND RETIREMENT HE CONTINUED TO TEACH ALL GRADES, ALL SUBJECTS, ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO AS A SUBSTITUTE-TEACHER, HE WORKED AT THIS TASK UNTIL HE TURNED 70. I ASKED MY DAD ONCE, " HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO TEACH THE HIGHER MATH AND SCIENCE COURSES THAT YOU HAVE HAD NO TRAINING OF ANY KIND IN?" HE LOOKED SURPRISED AND THEN RESPONDED, " I'VE GOT THE LESSON PLAN FROM THE ABSENT TEACHER AND THE GRADE BOOK. IF SOMETHING SHOULD COME UP THAT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO, I SIMPLY ASK THE STUDENT WITH THE HIGHEST GRADES TO SHOW THE CLASS HOW IT'S DONE. I'VE NEVER REALLY HAD A PROBLEM THAT THAT DIDN'T SOLVE," I GUESS THAT'S THE PROOF OF WHERE MINE AND HARRY'S GREAT OFF THE CUFF BS ABILITY COMES FROM.

      SOME DEFINING FILM MOMENTS:
"THE GRAPES OF WRATH" 1940, BY JOHN FORD WITH HENRY FONDA
"TEX RIDES WITH THE BOY SCOUTS" 1938 AT 1937 NATIONAL JAMBOREE
"THE SANDPEBBLES" 1960'S WITH STEVE MCQUEEN
"THE MEMPHIS BELLE" 1944, B-17 DOCUMENTARY
"12 O'CLOCK HIGH" 1950'S, B-17S AND GREGORY PECK
"MR. SCOUTMASTER" 1950'S



More About JAY WILL KNOWLES:
BOY SCOUTS: EAGLE W/ ALL PALMS, SILVER BEAVER, SCOUTERS AWARD, SCOUTERS KEY, GOD&COUNTRY,
CLUBS: AMER. RED CROSS,
COMPANIES: WRIGHT SPORTING GOOD, NE SCHOOL DIST,SERT-CIBOLO SCHOOL DIST,TEX DEPT OF HEALTH
Education: POE COLLEGE, OHIO, UNIV. OF TEXAS- AUSTIN, ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY GRAD. CUM LAUDE
Friends: L.W. REDDING, R.B. HOLLAND, PHILLIP GROSSBECK
HOBBIES: COLLECTS BOY SCOUT ITEMS, MASTER OF ALL HANDCRAFTS
IN MEMORIAM: FAMILY CALLED HIM " BROTHER " & FRIENDS CALLED HIM " BUTCH "
MILITARY SERV: NAVY---- ARMY----AIR FORCE
Occupation: NAVY, ARMY, AIR FORCE, SPORTSMAN. EDUCATOR
PETS: A TARANULA NAMED GERTRUDE, MANY LIZARDS & SNAKES
POLITICAL SER: AFL/CIO in early 40's
RELIGIOUS: BAPTIST
SPORTS: COACHED SEVERAL WORLD, NATIONAL, STATE, & CITY CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL TEAMS

Notes for MILDRED LUCILLE CATRETT:
      ABOUT 1930 LUCY'S LITTLE BLACK DOG GOT INTO A FIGHT WITH ANOTHER DOG. SHE BROKE UP THE FIGHT AND SINCE HER DOG WAS ALL COVERED WITH BLOOD AND " WHITE FOAMY STUFF" SHE DECIDED TO GIVE IT A BATH AND CLEAN IT UP. WELL, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT THAT OTHER DOG HAD RABIES, A MOST FEARED KILLER IN ITS DAY. LUCY'S DOG HAD TO BE PUT AWAY AND SHE HAD TO UNDERGO THE PAINFUL 21 SHOT TREATMENT FOR RABIES.

      THE POPULAR RED HEAD LEARNED TO PLAY THE PIANO AND WAS A MEMBER OF HER HIGH SCHOOL BAND, AND LUCKILY FOR ME SHE TOOK SEVERAL TYPING CLASSES TO BOOT.

      DURING WWII SHE AND JAY W. LIVED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. KNOWING THAT HE COULD RECEIVE ORDERS AT ANY TIME THAT WOULD SEND HIM INTO HARM'S WAY SHE CHOSE TO TRAVEL AT HIS SIDE NO MATTER THE LEVEL OF INCONVIENCE. THEY HOPPED FROM BUNGALOW TO BUNGALOW FROM ALABAMA TO TEXAS TO OHIO TO NEW MEXICO TO WASHINGTON TO TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA AND BACK TO TEXAS AGAIN. TO HELP KEEP HER MIND OFF THE WAR SHE HELD DOWN JOBS ALL ALONG THE WAY, IN THE SHIP BUILDING INDUSTRY, EDUCATION, AND ON MILITARY BASES. WHEN J. JAY CAME ON THE SCENE HE TRAVELED WITH THEM SLEEPING IN AN OLD WOODEN "SQUIRT" SODA BOX IN THE BACK OF THEIR BARNSTORMING CHEVY BULGEMOBILE. WHEN HIS BOTTLE NEEDED TO BE WARMED UP IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST MILDRED DID SO ON A CAMPFIRE OF WOODEN SIGN POSTS JAY W. HARVESTED FROM THE ROADSIDE, AND WHEN THERE WAS NO POST TO BE PLUCKED SHE WARMED THE MILK ON THE ENGINE BLOCK ALONG WITH THE C RATIONS THAT WOULD BE HER & JAY W.'S SUPPER.                                                             MILDRED WAS THE CLASSIC IDEAL 50'S TV MOM. SHE DIDN'T HOLD A PAYING JOB, SHE JUST RAN THE PTA, TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL, LED A DEN OF CUB SCOUTS, PLAYED CITY LEAGUE SOFTBALL, AND FOUND TIME TO HELP WITH THE KID'S HOMEWORK, CLEAN HOUSE, & COOK A FEW MEALS EACH DAY. SHE RAN THE HOUSEHOLD LIKE THOSE PERFECT TELEVISION SUPER-MOTHERS HARRIET NELSON, DONNA READ AND JANE WYATT. IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG, WE KIDS NEVER KNEW IT. SHE MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE LUCILE BALL, BUT OUR LUCY WAS NO BUNGLER. THERE WAS NOTHING BUT SMOOTH SAILING AND CLEAR SKIES IN OUR LIVES DURING THE BABY BOOMER ERA OF POST WWII AND PRE VIETNAM. SHE ALWAYS HAD A GIANT ICEY PITCHER OF KOOL-ADE READY FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS WHEN WE GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL, ON HOT SUMMER DAYS SHE WOULD SOMETIMES DRIVE A CAR FULL OF KIDS UP TO NEW BRAUNFULS TO SWIM IN THE ICEY SPRING FED COMAL RIVER, AND WHEN MY INTEREST IN GIRLS BEGAN TO BLOSSOM SHE WAS THERE TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS NO MATTER HOW PERSONAL THEY MIGHT BE. I REMEMBER AFTER MY 1ST ENCOUNTER WITH THE INFAMOUS 4 LETTER F-WORD I CAME HOME TO TELL HER I HAD SEEN IT WRITTEN ON THE SCHOOL BATHROOM WALL CONNECTED TO MY 5TH GRADE TEACHER'S NAME. I COULD SENSE HER DISCOMFORT WITH THE SUBJECT, BUT SHE SAT ME DOWN AND EXPLAINED ITS MEANING, NOT ONLY AS IT WAS USED CONCERNING MISS CORNELL, BUT ALSO AS I MAY HAVE RUN INTO IT'S USE IN THE FUTURE. SHE WAS AROUND TO TEACH ME TO SLOW DANCE BEFORE MY 1ST SOCK-HOP AND LATER ON SHE TAUGHT ME TO DRIVE THE FAMILY'S 58 CHEVY. MY 1ST COUPLE OF YEARS IN COLLEGE I STILL LIVED AT HOME AND SHE TYPED DOZENS OF PAPERS FOR ME WHICH I'M SURE I NEVER REALLY THANKED HER FOR.

      IN THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE 40'S, THE ERA OF "THE WILD ONE", SHE EVEN MANAGED TO RIDE A "HARLEY" ( ACTUALLY I THINK IT WAS A 1948 "INDIAN") ALONG SIDE HER OLD MAN, JAY W. THAT STOPPED WHEN KARRELL KAY CAME ALONG IN 1952 THOUGH. IN THE LATE 70'S WHEN HER MOTHER'S HEALTH BEGIN TO FAIL SHE AND JAY TOOK HER INTO THEIR HOME AND CARED FOR HER FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THEIR DAUGHTER AND GRAND DAUGHTER LIVED WITH THEM ON OCCASION THROUGHOUT THE 70'S & 80'S ALSO. HER PASSION FOR SNAP-SHOTS AND FAMILY GOSSIP HAS PROVEN TO BE A GOLD MINE FOR MY WORK ON THIS PROJECT.

More About MILDRED LUCILLE CATRETT:
BOY SCOUTS: CUB SCOUT DEN MOTHER 3 YEARS
CLUBS: PRESIDENT PTA 4 YEARS
COMPANIES: PENNSYLVANIA SHIPYARD, INTERNATIONAL DERRICK & EQUIPTMENT, BUPANE OF IOWA,
Education: SOUTH PARK HIGH IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS
Friends: MARIANNE GODWYN, NARCISSA WODDAIL, MARIE BROWN
HOBBIES: COLLECTS HAND PAINTED CHINA AND ART GLASS,PLAYS PIANO
IN MEMORIAM: " MURDEROUS MIME " THE INSPIRATION FOR WWII B-17 NOSE ART
MILITARY SERV: SANTA ANNA ARMY AIRFIELD OFFICER'S CLUB
Occupation: HOMEMAKER, SECRETORIAL STENOGRAPHER , CIVIL SERVICE
RELIGIOUS: PALM HEIGHTS BAPTIST, MANOR BAPTIST OF SAN ANTONIO
SPORTS: BROKE HER LEG PLAYING CITY LEAGUE SOFTBALL, ALSO IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

Marriage Notes for JAY KNOWLES and MILDRED CATRETT:
      HOW MILDRED AND JAY W. MET DEPENDS ON WHO'S TELLING THE STORY. IT WAS 1941, BEFORE THE U.S. WAS IN THE WAR. JAY W. HAD FINISHED HIS TOUR OF DUTY IN THE NAVY, AND HAD DONE SOME TIME IN THE MERCHANT MARINE. HE WAS BACK HOME IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS AND HAD A 1933 BUICK ROADSTER. MILDRED REMEMBERS THAT HE WAS HER FRIEND NARCISSA'S DATE AT A PARTY AND THAT HE ASKED NARCISSA TO INTRODUCE HIM TO HER. SHE SAYS EVERYONE CONSIDERED HIM AN OLD MAN BECAUSE HE WAS 22 AND THEY WERE ALL 16. IN JAY W.'S VERSION OF THE STORY IT IS MILDRED WHO ASKED NARCISSA,"WHO IS THAT GOOD LOOKING GUY WITH THE GREAT CAR? I JUST HAVE TO MEET HIM." WELL, HOWEVER IT HAPPENED, IT WORKED, AND IS STILL WORKING 54 YEARS LATER.

      FEB. 7, 1995 WAS THE 53RD ANNIVERSY OF JAY AND MILDRED'S WEDDING AND THE PRESENTATION OF SCOUTING'S SILVER BEAVER AWARD TO JAY W. THERE WERE LETTERS OF PRAISE TO HIM FROM SENATORS PHIL GRAMM AND KAY HUTCHINSON, AS WELL AS ONE FROM PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON. THE AWARD CEREMONY WAS HELD BEFORE SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE IN THE MAIN THEATER ON THE FIESTA TEXAS FAIRGROUNDS. THE UNIV. OF TEX. S.A. WOMAN'S CHOIR SANG 4 NUMBERS INCLUDING" AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" AND " TRAIL THE EAGLE ". 100 EAGLE SCOUTS PARTICAPATED ON THE MASSIVE STAGE WHICH HAD A GIGANTIC AMERICAN FLAG HANGING ACROSS THE BACK. A SPECIAL VIDEO FEATURING JAY W. WAS SHOWN ON A 25'X25' SCREEN. MILDRED WAS PRESENTED A DOZEN ROSES AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR ANNIVERSY BROUGHT ROARS OF APPROVAL FROM THE CROWD.

      FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDING INCLUDED; LEWIS DENVER KNOWLES AND GWEN, RUBEN WESLEY KNOWLES AND BARBARA, WINFORD W. KNOWLES, JARRELL KNOWLES WITH HARRY JAY AND DANNIE, KARRELL KNOWLES WITH MICHELLE AND MADELINE MARIE, AND OF COURSE, JAY W. AND MILDRED. THE GROUP ATTENDED A FEAST AFTERWARDS AND TOLD FAMILY STORIES UNTIL THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WHEN IT BECAME THE 85TH BIRTHDAY OF BOY SCOUTING. THIS MARKED THE 1ST TIME ALL OF THESE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE TOGETHER AT ONE TIME.
     
Children of JAY KNOWLES and MILDRED CATRETT are:
2. i.   JARRELL JAY13 KNOWLES, b. January 27, 1945, BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON CO., TEXAS, USA.
3. ii.   KARRELL KAY KNOWLES, b. August 22, 1952, SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR CO., TEXAS, USA.
4. iii.   WINFORD WESLEY KNOWLES, b. December 03, 1957, SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR CO., TEXAS, USA.
Generation No. 2



2. JARRELL JAY13 KNOWLES (JAY WILL12, LEWIS WINFORD11, RUBEN BENJAMIN10, BENJAMIN LEWIS9, BENJAMIN G8, BENJAMIN S7, EDWARD6, HENRY5, HENRY4, WILLIAM3, HENRY2, THOMAS1) was born January 27, 1945 in BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON CO., TEXAS, USA. He married HELEN JANE HARRISON September 19, 1970 in AUSTIN, TRAVIS CO., TEXAS, USA, daughter of JACK HARRISON and PAULA PORTWOOD. She was born May 31, 1950 in WICHITA FALLS, WICHITA CO., TEXAS, USA, and died December 05, 1992 in SEYMOUR, BAYLOR CO., TEXAS, USA.

Notes for JARRELL JAY KNOWLES:
      WHEN MADELINE TROWBRIDGE'S EYES FIRST FELL ON THE NEW BORN JARRELL JAY AT SAINT TERESIA'S HOSPITAL IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS SHE EXCLAIMED, " WHY, WHAT A CUTE LITTLE BOOGER!" THE NICKNAME STUCK, ESPECIALLY WHEN HIS GRANDFATHER WINFORD BEGAN TO CALL HIM " BOOGER RED ". YOU SEE, " BOOGER RED " WAS A NEW MEXICAN COWBOY FAMOUS AS A ONE MAN RODEO WHO TOURED TEXAS, OKLAHOMA AND NEW MEXICO THE 1ST THIRD OF THE 20TH CENTURY. HE CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER BEEN THROWN AND HE IS THE ONLY MAN TO RIDE THE INFAMOUS "KILLER GREY" WHO SUPPOSEDLY KILLED 23 MEN IN IT'S CAREER ON THE TURN OF THE CENTURY RODEO CIRCUIT.

      J. JAY MOVED FROM AIR BASE TO AIR BASE IN THE CLOSING DAYS OF WWII. AS A RESULT HE VISITED MOST OF THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST IN THE 1ST YEAR OF HIS LIFE. IN THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WAR HE LIVED ON THE KNOWLES FARM AT VIDOR IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS JUST SOUTH OF THE BIG THICKET AND A FEW MILES FROM THE LOUISIANA BORDER.

      IN 1948 HIS FAMILY MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. HE LIVED IN THE PALM HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF THE CITY NEAR KELLY AFB. HE WENT TO THE PALM HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH AND ATTENDED CHARLES GRABNER ELEM ENTRY SCHOOL. HE TOOK BOXING AND ACROBATICS AT THE PALM HEIGHTS RECREATION CENTER AND AT 8 HE JOINED THE CUB SCOUTS. HE EARNED THE WEBOLOS CUB RANK AND TOOK SQUARE DANCING LESSONS WITH HIS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, DORIS ANN WILKINS. HE ALSO TOOK TAP AND SCOTTISH FOLK DANCE LESSONS. J. JAY PLAYED 1ST BASE EVERY INNING OF EVERY GAME FOR 3 YEARS OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AND THE FAMILY WENT BOWLING AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. HIS BEST FRIENDS AT THIS TIME WERE JAMES SCOTT BROWN III, JOHN RAY HOLLAND AND JIMMY LOWAK.

      IN 1956 HE JOINED THE BOY SCOUTS WHERE HE HELD SEVERAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND EARNED THE RANK OF EAGLE WITH A BRONZE PALM. AS A SCOUT HE ATTENDED THE NATIONAL ORDER OF THE ARROW CONVENTION IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA IN 1956, THE NATIONAL JAMBOREE AT VALLEY FORGE, PENN. IN 1957, CAMP AZTEC AT MEXICO CITY IN 1957, PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH IN THE NEW MEXICAN ROCKIES IN 1958, THE NATIONAL ORDER OF THE ARROW CONVENTION AT LAWERANCE, KANSAS IN 1958, AND HE WAS ON THE NATIONAL STAFF AT THE 50TH BIRTHDAY JAMBOREE AT COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO IN 1960. JAY ALSO ATTENDED THE INDIAN CREEK SCOUT CAMP IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR FROM 1956 TILL 1961. JAY RECEIVED HIS BROTHERHOOD RANK IN THE ORDER OF THE ARROW IN A LATE NIGHT, STAR LIT, BONDFIRE CEREMONY ATOP THE MASSIVE PYRAMID OF THE SUN AT TEOHTIHUACAN NORTHEAST OF MEXICO CITY SURROUNDED BY MEXICAN SCOUTS DRESSED IN THE NATIVE GARB OF THE ANCIENT AZTEC. IT WAS ON THIS EXTENDED TRIP SOUTH OF THE BORDER THAT THE YOUNG BOY WOULD JOIN THE "SCOUTS DE MEXICO" AND EARN THE RANK OF "SEGUNDO CLASE". AS AN ADULT JAY WOULD HOLD THE POSITIONS OF ASST. CUB MASTER, CUB MASTER, ASST. SCOUT MASTER, AND INSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

      J. J. WENT TO JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL JR. HIGH AND LUTHER BURBANK HIGH FOR THE 10TH GRADE. THE KNOWLES FAMILY MOVED TO THE FAR NORTH WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND HE FINISHED SCHOOL AT ROBERT E. LEE IN 1963. JAY PLAYED TRUMPET IN HIS SCHOOL BANDS FROM 5TH GRADE THRU HIS SENIOR YEAR AND ENTERED STATE UIL DEBATE AND EXTEMP SPEAKING COMPETITIONS THOUGH OUT HIGH SCHOOL. IN 63 HE WAS GIVEN THE FAMILY'S OLD 1958 CHEVY AND THAT SUMMER HE STARTED CLASSES AT SAN ANTONIO JR. COLLEGE. JAY'S HIGH SCHOOL ELECTIVE CLASSES HAD RANGED FROM BAND TO ART, SPEECH TO BUSINESS LAW, ECONOMICS TO DRAFTING TO DRAMA. HE HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF THE BAND CLUBS, THE NATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY, AND THE JUNIOR CLASSICAL LEAGUE, AS WELL AS THE DEBATE SOCIETY.

      AT S.A.C. JAY JOINED THE DELTA IOTA CHI FRATERNITY, THE YOUNG REPUBLICANS, AND THE DEBATE CLUB. HE BECAME THE DELTA HISTORIAN & ASST. PLEDGE TRAINER, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE Y.R.'S, AND THE S.A.C. DEBATERS PRESIDENT. HE RAN IN THE COLLEGE WIDE RACE FOR SOPHOMORE CLASS VICE PRESIDENT, BUT FINISHED SECOND. HE TOOK COURSES IN SOCIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, ECONOMICS, PHILOPHSY, PSYCHOLOGY, SPEECH, AND RADIO-TELEVISION-FILM. HE HAD HIS OWN RADIO SHOW BROADCAST, TOOK PART IN DOZENS OF INTERCOLLEGIATE EXTEMP, PERSUASIVE, AND DEBATE TOURNAMENTS, AND IS PICTURED 10 TIMES IN THE 64-65 YEARBOOK. HIS BEST FRIEND FROM JR. HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL, DENNIS KOHLER, WAS KILLED IN A CAR-TRAIN CRASH THAT YEAR AND HIS 2ND BEST FRIEND FROM THOSE YEARS (ROBERT HERNANDEZ) WAS STABBED TO DEATH WITH A POOL CUE IN A SOUTHSIDE BAR THAT SUMMER. A SCOUTING BUDDY, CHARLES CHUBB, SHOT IT OUT WITH THE FBI IN A FARM FIELD AND WAS KILLED AFTER KILLING 3 LAWMEN EARLY THAT FALL.

      IN THE SUMMER OF 1965 JAY TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. HIS BEST FRIEND FROM S.A.C., JOHNNY CUNNINGHAM, MOVED TO LOS ANGELES TO BECOME A SONG WRITER. JAY JOINED THE YOUNG REPUBLICANS AND THE DEBATE CLUB AT U.T. HE BECAME VERY POLITICALLY ACTIVE AND DEBATED THE MERITS OF SENATOR JOHN TOWER IN A TELEVISED FORMAL EVENT FROM UT'S HOGG AUDITORIUM. HE RETURNED TO S.A. TO TAPE PETITIONS IN FAVOR OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM ON THE WALLS OF THE ALAMO. IT MADE THE WIRE SERVICES AND HIS PICTURE WAS PRINTED IN NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. HE BECAME THE PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE UT YR'S. HE WAS A MEMBER OF UT'S DEBATE AND PUBLIC SPEAKING TEAMS FROM 1965-1967, WINNING AGAINST TOP UNIVERSITIES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. JAY ENROLLED IN THE US ARMY'S ADVANCED OFFICER'S TRAINING PROGRAM AND JOINED THE ARMY THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT ASSIGNED YOU TO ATTEND COLLEGE. JAY WAS TRAINED WITH A MILITARY POLICE MOS. HE SPENT THE SUMMER OF 1966 UNDERGOING ADVANCED COMBAT TRAINING AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY. THAT FALL HE WAS OFFERED HIS 1ST LEIUTANT'S BAR, BUT DECLINED HIS COMMISSION AND REQUESTED A GENERAL DISCHARGE, WHICH WAS GRANTED. HE HAD DECIDED THAT HE COULDN'T ORDER BOYS TO DO WHAT HE HAD COME TO BELIEVE TO BE WRONG. JAY WAS SLOWLY BEGINNING TO SHIFT HIS POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW. HE, HOWEVER, STILL BELIVED IN THE SYSTEM AND SO HE WENT TO WORK PROFESSIONALLY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS IN THEIR PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE AT THEIR STATE HEADQUARTERS.

      JAY'S COLLEGE COURSES WERE NOW CONCENTRATING ON SOCIOLOGY, SPEECH, HISTORY, R.T.F., AND ADVERTISING. HE HAD BECOME BEST FRIENDS WITH WALTER S. FALK, A BRILLIANT YOUNG PHD
CANDIDATE IN UT'S GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT WHO HE HAD MET THROUGH SCHOOL DEBATE ACTIVITIES AND HAD BEGUN TO DATE HELEN HARRISON WHO HE HAD MET IN Y.R.'S. JAY WAS BEGINNING TO ACT AS P.R. MAN FOR SEVERAL CAMPUS CANDIDATES IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT INCLUDING LLOYD DOGGETT FOR STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT, BOB PERKINS FOR ASSEMBLYMAN AT LARGE AND BRIEN MIKESKA FOR ARTS ASSEMBLYMAN, ALL WINNERS. HE WAS ALSO EMPLOYED AS A PAID PR MAN BY SEVERAL LOCAL REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS RUNNING FOR OFFICES RANGING FROM THE TEXAS SENATE AND HOUSE SEATS, TO US REPRESENT IVE AND EVEN CONSTABLE. DURING THIS TIME HE MET MANY TIMES WITH GEORGE BUSH, THE FUTURE PRESIDENT, AND ANOTHER PRESIDENT TO BE, GERALD FORD. FINIAL LY JAY LANDED A PLUM JOB ON RICHARD NIXON'S PR STAFF AT THE 1968 MIAMI PRESIDENTIAL CONVENTION. WHILE OTHER COLLEGE STUDENTS ACROSS THE LAND WERE REBELLING AGAINST THE SYSTEM JAY WAS WORKING HIS TAIL OFF WITHIN IT TO BRING SOME MEANINGFUL CHANGE. HE WAS PARTY TO ALL THE DIRTY AND UNDERHANDED POLITICAL GOINGS ON WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, LEADING A "DIRTY TRICKS" SQUAD OF COLLEGE YR'S IN HARASSING & SPYING ON THEIR PERCEIVED ENEMYS, BUT HE FELT IT WOULD ALL BE WORTHWHILE IF TRUE CHANGE COULD BE BROUGHT ABOUT. IT WAS NOT TO BE THOUGH. JAY WAS TO BE SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY THINGS TURNED OUT, FOR THE VERY PEOPLE HE WORKED SO HARD TO BRING TO POWER ONLY MADE EVERYTHING IN THE COUNTRY WORSE.

      JAY HAD COME FULL CIRCLE. HE DROPPED OUT OF ALL POLITICAL ACTIVITY, ALTHOUGH HE STILL VOTED. HE AND HELEN FORMED A MIND BLOWING HIGH OCTANE LIGHTSHOW PERFORMANCE GROUP AND HE BEGAN TO USE HIS SKILLS TO PERSUADE AGAINST THE SYSTEM, USING ROCK AND ROLL, AND HYPNOTIC MONTAGE IMAGERY TO CREATE ANTI WAR, ANTI BIG BUSINESS MESSAGES. JAY ENROLLED IN UT'S FILM SCHOOL IN 1969 AND OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS RECEIVED 33 HOURS OF CREDIT IN FILM PRODUCTION, SCRIPTWRITING, AND FILM HISTORY. A COUPLE OF HIS CLASSMATES WERE TOBE HOOPER AND TSUI HARK. THE " MIND'S I " LIGHTSHOW BECAME REGIONALLY FAMOUS AND RECEIVED MANY MORE OFFERS TO PERFORM THAN THEY COULD ACCEPT, DOING AS MANY AS 3 SHOWS IN 3 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS A DAY. THEY WORKED WITH MOST OF THE POPULAR BANDS FROM 1969-71 AND SHOT SOME FREELANCE FILMS OF BANDS AND DANCERS FOR A STRING OF TEXAS CLUBS. IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE TURMOIL JAY AND HELEN WERE MARRIED. WHEN HE FINALLY LEFT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HE HAD EARNED COLLEGE MAJORS IN SOCIOLOGY, SPEECH, FILM, AND HISTORY, WITH MINORS IN ADVERTISING, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY, AND GOVERNMENT FOR A TOTAL OF 180 HOURS OF COLLEGE CREDIT.

      IN SPRING 1971 WITH A CHILD ON THE WAY THEY DECIDED TO SETTLE DOWN AND OPENED A COLLECTIBLES STORE EAST OF UT CALLED N. E. MERCANTILE COMPANY. IT WOULD BECOME THE 1ST PURE COMICBOOK & MOVIE COLLECTIBLES SPECIALITY STORE IN TEXAS. JAY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SEVERAL MAJOR "FINDS" OF COMICS AND COLLECTIBLE MOVIE PAPER BETWEEN 71 AND 1986. THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING THE "LONGHORN DRIVE-IN" / INTERSTATE THEATERS "DUMP" DISCOVERY IN AUGUST OF 1972. THIS LOAD CONSISTED OF OVER 10,000 PIECES OF MOVIE PAPER DATING FROM 1948 T0 1972. THERE WAS ALSO SEVERAL HUNDRED 35MM TRAILERS AND RADIO ADVERTISING TAPES IN THE "FIND". SOME OF THE 1SHT MOVIE POSTERS FOUND AND THE NUMBER OF COPIES OF EACH ARE: "FORBIDDEN PLANET"(5), "REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE"(20), "SOME LIKE IT HOT"(7), "WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE"(3), "MOTOR PSYCHO"(12), "FASTER PUSSYCAT KILL KILL"(12), "THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH"(5), "A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS"(20), "ROBOT MONSTER"(3), "BRIDE OF THE MONSTER"(5), "THE ASPHALT JUNGLE"(15), OLD "REPUBLIC" SERIAL POSTERS (50+), AND SEVERAL COPIES EACH OF ALL THE "REEL ART" RE-RELEASES OF THE CLASSIC "UNIVERSAL" HORROR FILMS OF THE 30'S LIKE "DRACULA","FRANKENSTIEN","THE MUMMY","THE RAVEN","THE BLACK CAT", ETC... THE COST OF THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME "FIND"? A MONUMENTAL .08 OF 1 CENT FOR EACH PIECE OF MOVIE PAPER. JAY'S 1ST BIG "GOLDENAGE" COMICBOOK SCORE WAS AT A 1971 GEORGETOWN AUCTION. AN OLD ARMY FOOTLOCKER WAS STUFFED FULL (482) OF WWII ERA SUPERHERO COMICS. THERE WERE "BATMAN", "SUPERMAN", "MARVEL MYSTERY", "MYSTIC", "SUBMARINER", AND "HUMAN TORCH" COMICS; ALL TO BE HAD FOR HIS WINNING BID OF $40. IN JANUARY OF 1972 HIS 1ST SERIOUS LOAD OF SILVERAGE COMICS WOULD INCLUDE UNREAD PRISTINE, MINT CONDITION RUNS OF THE FOLLOWING: (3) SETS OF "AMAZING SPIDERMAN" 1-28, (5) SETS OF "IRONMAN" 1-10, (5) SETS OF "SUBMARINER" 1-10, (5) SETS OF "NICK FURY" 1-10, (3) SETS OF "X-MEN" 1-20, AND (3) SETS OF THE "FANTASTIC FOUR" 1-30 FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $500. SINCE THESE "NEW" COMICS WERE AVERAGING OVER $1 EACH IN COST JAY ALMOST LET THEM WALK OUT THE DOOR. ANOTHER EARLY, VERY IMPORTANT, BUT MUCH SMALLER MOVIE POSTER "FIND" WAS MADE AT THE "RITZ" THEATER IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ON 6TH STREET. THIS LOAD OF 50+ POSTERS INCLUDED ORIGINAL RELEASES OF "BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN", "KING KONG", "BETTY BOOP", AND "SILLY SYMPHONIES", BUT JAY'S VERY 1ST MOVIE PAPER "FINDS" WERE MUCH MUCH SMALLER.

      IN THE WINTER OF 1971-72 JON SWARTZ, A UT PROF WHO WAS SELLING JAY A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF EC HORROR & SCIENCE FICTION COMICS ($300) PULLED OUT (3) FRAMED ORIGINAL RELEASE KING KONG LOBBIES THAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN BY FORREY ACKERMAN WHICH HE SOLD TO JAY FOR $4 EACH. THIS WAS THE SHOP'S 1ST MOVIE PAPER SO JAY HUNG THEM ON THE WALL BY THE SHOP'S PAYPHONE PRICED AT $12 EACH. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER A BEER CAN COLLECTOR NAMED LARRY SPOTTED THEM AND SAID HE HAD SOME OLD MOVIE POSTERS. HE THEN BROUGHT IN A COMPLETE SET WITH SOME DUPES OF ALL THE MOVIE PAPER FROM 6SHT DOWN TO LOBBIES, STILLS &PRESSBOOK FOR HOWARD HAWKS' "THE THING". IN ADDITION HE HAD A 16MM PRINT OF THE MOVIE (THE 1ST JAY WOULD OWN) AND A 1ST EDITION OF THE HARDBACK NOVEL WITH IT'S RARE HANS BOK DUSTCOVER. JAY WOULD SCORE THE ENTIRE COLLECTION FOR $300 IN TRADE. (15 OLD TEXAS CONE TOP BEER CANS) HE PUT A "THING" 3SHT ON THE WALL BY THE KONGS. A FEW DAYS LATER AN ANTIQUE DEALER FROM FREDRICKSBURG NAMED PETTY SAW THEM AND SAID SHE HAD A FEW OLD JOHN WAYNE POSTERS IF JAY WANTED TO TRADE SOME VINTAGE CLOTHES FOR THEM. HE MADE THE TRADE FOR AN OLD 1890'S WEDDING DRESS AND HUNG THE "HORSE SOLDIERS", "SEA CHASE", AND OLD "SING'N SANDY" POSTERS UP IN WHAT WAS BECOMING A NICE LOOKING MOVIE PAPER ROOM AT THE SHOP. NEXT A UT STUDENT BY THE NAME OF JOHN FOX IN SEARCH OF VINTAGE POLITICAL BUTTONS TRADED HIM A "DEATH IN SMALL DOSES" 1SHT, A "COCAINE FIENDS" 1SHT, AND SOME "MOTOR PSYCHO" LOBBIES. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A VISIT FROM DALLAS' INFAMOUS WAREHOUSE DISTRICT DUMPSTER DIVER, SAM "THE GARBAGEMAN" WHO SOLD JAY 5000 MINT UNOPENED COLOR "HARD DAYS NIGHT" GUM CARDS ALONG WITH 500 COPIES EACH OF 2 DIFFERENT COLOR STILLS FROM THE MOVIE AND SEVERAL SETS OF THE LOBBIES & 1SHTS ALL FOR $250. JAY ADDED "MOVIE COLLECTIBLES" TO HIS NEWSPAPER AND YELLOW PAGES ADS THAT SPRING AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

      AFTER A PROJECTION BOOTH FIRE AT THE "HARLEM" THEATER DEEP IN EAST AUSTIN DOZENS OF "ALL-BLACK CAST" POSTERS WERE FOUND ALONG WITH ANOTHER "KING KONG", ALL FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $100. A UT PROF SOLD HIM A FINE COMPLETE RUN OF "ALL STAR" COMICS WITH 7 DUPES FOR $250. THEN FOR $150 IN A GARAGE IN ROCKWALL, TEXAS (5) 35MM PRINTS OF THREE STOOGES SHORTS WERE DISCOVERED ALONG WITH POSTERS FOR "METROPOLIS", "THINGS TO COME", "TRANSATLANTIC TUNNEL", "KING SOLOMON'S MINES" AND "THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES". IT WAS IN THIS GARAGE BELONGING TO AN OLD TIME (HE WAS 80+) FILM PROJECTIONIST THAT (500) SILENT MOVIE "HEARLDS" WERE UNEARTHED. ANOTHER UT PROF SOLD JAY A COLLECTION OF OLD RADIO & SERIAL PREMIUMS ALL MINT IN THEIR ORIGINAL SHIPPING PACKAGES FOR $400. IT WOULD INCLUDE: "CHANDU" MAGIC TRICKS, A "TOM MIX STRAIGHT SHOOTER" RING AND I.D. BRACELET, A "SUPERMAN SECRET COMPARTMENT" INITIAL RING AND A "SUPERMEN OF AMERICA" BUTTON & LETTER, A "CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT MYSTIC SUNGOD" RING AND DECODER BADGE, A "LONE RANGER ATOMIC BOMB" RING AND THE "L.R. MARINE CORP" RING, AND ABOUT 25 OTHER RINGS & DECODER BADGES. IN A BARN IN LA GRANGE, TEXAS INSIDE AN OLD OAK ICE BOX HE HAD GONE THERE TO BUY JAY FOUND A BOY (WHO HAD BEEN KILLED IN WWII)'S COLLECTION OF 1930'S DC COMIC BOOKS. MOSTLY LOW NUMBERED "DETECTIVES" & "MORE FUNS" THE 78 BOOKS HAD BEEN PLACED THERE BY THE BOY'S LONG DEAD MOM FOR SAFE KEEPING WHEN SHE HEARD HE DIED. THE OLD FARMER/HUSBAND/FATHER SAID THAT IF JAY GAVE HIM $100 FOR THE ICEBOX HE COULD HAVE THE COMICS FOR ANOTHER $25. AT THE "EL CAPTAIN" DRIVE-IN HE SCORED 25 BEAUTIFUL OLD MEXICAN 1SHTS, MANY OF THEM "EL SANTOS" FOR $50. A FRESHLY MARRIED SCI-FI COLLECTOR SHOWED UP ONE DAY WITH "MARVEL COMICS #1". HIS MOTHER HAD FOUND IT AT A HOUSTON GARAGE SALE FOR $5 AND IF JAY WOULD PLEASE JUST GIVE HIM $500 FOR HIS HONEYMOON IT WOULD CHANGE OWNERSHIP. THAT STILL IS THE RECORD FOR THE MOST MONEY JAY HAS EVER PAID FOR AN "OLE FUNNY BOOK". IN THE PANHANDLE OF FLORDIA AT A SMALL TOWN JUNK/ANTIQUE SHOP JAY WAS TO DISCOVER (20) POSTERS OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND OTHER SILENT STARS FOR $3 EACH, AND IN A USED CHILDREN'S BOOK STORE IN CALIFORNIA HE TURNED UP DOZENS OF 1930'S "TERRY TOONS" 1SHTS ALONG WITH 100 PAGES OF ORIGINAL TERRY TOON ART FOR "MIGHTY MOUSE" AND OTHERS. THE POSTERS AND ART WERE PRICED AT $5 EACH. HE FOUND COPIES OF "BATMAN #1" AND "CAPTAIN MARVEL #1" IN ARIZONA FOR A COMBINED PRICE OF $300. IN THE FALL OF 1976 HIGH IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES AT A SMALL TOWN GAS STATION/ANTIQUE/JUNK SHOP JAY DISCOVERED A COMPLETE SET OF 1SHTS FOR THE 1943 "BATMAN" SERIAL FOR $10 EACH. AT A FORT WORTH GARAGE SALE IN 1984 HE PICKED UP A COMPLETE RUN OF "JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA" FOR ONLY $20. IN THE MID 1980'S ON A LONELY RANCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY HE FOUND AN INSERT TO "FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN", 3 LAUREL & HARDY 1SHTS, A 3-SHT TO "TOUCH OF EVIL", (2) DRACULA HALF SHEETS, SOME EARLY "TARZAN" PAPER, A 1/2SHT TO "SERGANT YORK", AND DOZENS OF "B" WESTERN POSTERS. HE PICKED IT ALL UP FOR $200.

      AFTER THAT 1986 SCORE, POSTERS AND OLDER COMICS BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND IN QUALITY; BUT HE REGULARLY DISCOVERED ONE HERE AND ANOTHER THERE. HIS FRIENDS JOKED THAT HE WAS A PAPER MAGNET. A 1SHT TO "THE THING" FOR $7 AT A FLEA MARKET, A 1SHT TO "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" FOR $5 AT A GARAGE SALE, A HALFSHEET TO "BRUTE FORCE" FOR $25 IN DALLAS, A CEL OF MICKEY MOUSE FROM "MICKEY'S TRAILER" FOR $200 FROM A NEWSPAPER AD, A COPY OF "AMAZING FANTASY 15" FOR $35 IN A LITTLE TOWN SOUTH OF HOUSTON, A 1SHT TO "THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD" FOR $6 AT A COLLECTOR'S SHOW, A 3 CEL SETUP OF THE MUSHROOM DANCE FROM "FANTASIA" FOR $250 IN A SUBURB OF SAN ANTONIO, A FULL COLOR 1SHT TO THE 1940'S "BATMAN & ROBIN" SERIAL FOR $40 IN HOUSTON, A BEAUTIFUL B & W STILL PHOTO AUTOGRAPHED BY MARILYN MONROE FOR $10 FROM A NEWSPAPER AD, A 1SHT TO AN OLD LAUREL & HARDY FEATURE FOR $5 AT A GARAGE SALE, A 1939 AUTOGRAPHED PRODUCTION CEL OF DAFFY DUCK FOR $250 AT A FLEA MARKET, A 1SHT OF "TO HAVE OR HAVE NOT" FOR $50 AT A COLLECTOR'S SHOW, A 16MM WIDESCREEN/STEREO COPY OF "2001" FOR $125 AT A GARAGE SALE, A HALF SHEET FROM KARLOFF'S "THE MUMMY" FOR $75 AT A COLLECTOR'S SHOW, FULL-SIZED "VULCAN GAS COMPANY" ROCKNROLL POSTERS FOR 5 CENTS EACH FROM A GARAGE SALE, AND A PRODUCTION DRAWING OF THE OLD WITCH FROM "SNOW WHITE" FOR $300 TRADE AT A COLLECTOR'S SHOW, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THE OLD MAGIC WAS GONE, NO MORE CHEAP, BIG LOADS OF VINTAGE PAPER WERE TO BE HAD.

      THEN IN MAY OF 1998 400 PIECES OF FILMIC MEMORY WALKED IN THE FRONT DOOR OF JAY'S HOUSE FROM SOMEONE HE DIDN'T KNOW OR EXPECT TO COME BY, LITERALLY "A FRIEND OF A FRIEND OF A FRIEND OF A FRIEND SAID YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED" KIND OF DEAL. MINT CONDITION 6 SHTS, 3 SHTS, AND 1SHTS TO "STRANGERS ON A TRAIN", "NOTORIOUS", "THE VIOLENT YEARS", "BREATHLESS"; HALFSHEETS TO "CHAMPION", "BEGINNING OF THE END", "THE UNEARTHLY", "THE REBEL SET"; INSERTS TO "THE WRONG MAN", "THE NAKED SPUR", "JAILBAIT", "SOME CAME RUNNING"; WINDOW CARDS TO "A STAR IS BORN", "THE HUSTLER", "EASY RIDER", "THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA"; PRESS BOOKS FOR "SHOCK CORRIDOR", "THE TERROR", "SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH", AND "THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH"; LOBBY CARDS AND STILLS (INCLUDING BEHIND THE SCENES SHOTS FROM "TOUCH OF EVIL") ALL FOR LESS THAN 1/2 OF 1% OF THEIR CURRENT RETAIL VALUE. MORE THAN 25 YEARS AFTER HE ENTERED THE COLLECTIBLES BUSINESS JAY IS STILL MORE-OR-LESS IN THAT GAME, GOING TO COLLECTIBLE SHOWS, FLEA MARKETS, ESTATE & GARAGE SALES, SNIFFING OUT THE GOOD/CHEAP "FINDS", WHEEL'N & DEAL'N, SPECULATING, BUYING, & TRADING.

      FROM THE FALL OF 1976 UNTIL 1987 JAY TURNED OUT HUNDREDS OF CUSTOM MADE ART OBJECTS IN LEATHER, WOOD, STONE, BRONZE AND OTHER METALS. AFTER THE DIVORCE IN 1984 HE WORKED OUT OF THE ARTS WAREHOUSE, A CORPORATE SPONSERED ART STUDIO COMPLEX IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM THE STATE CAPITOL AND THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION. WITH THE RAPID ECONOMIC DOWNSIZING OF THE MID-80'S THE AUSTIN ARTS COMMUNITY LOST IT'S CORPORATE BACKERS AND JAY TURNED BACK TO USING HIS SIZABLE POP CULTURE COLLECTIONS AS HIS MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME. THE 1ST ART SHOW JAY SETUP AT WAS "THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER ART SHOW" IN THE SPRING OF 1963. HE TURNED OUT HIS 1ST LIMESTONE SCULPTURES IN THE LATE 60'S AND EARLY 1970'S. HE MAINTAINED A LARGE COURTYARD & BOOTH FROM WHICH HE SOLD HIS ART AT "THE TEXAS RENNIE FAIR" NORTH OF HOUSTON FROM 1976-87 AND DURING THIS SAME TIME HE WAS LICENSEE BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO SELL HIS ART IN THE 23RD ST. ARTS MARKET ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE UNIV. OF TEXAS. HE WAS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARTISTS IN THE MARKET AND HE SERVED AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARTS VENDING COMMISSION. JAY WAS A MEMBER OF THE "TEXAS DESIGNER/CRAFTMEN" GUILD , WAS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE GRANT WRITING COMMITTEE OF THE "UNIVERSITY YMCA", AND HE VOLUNTEERED AS A BOY SCOUT MERIT BADGE COUNCILER FOR ART, SCULPTURE, WOODCRAVING, METALWORK, & WOODWORK.

      THE 1ST WORLD PREMIERE MOVIE JAY SAW WAS IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1957 WHEN HE AND OTHER BOY SCOUTS VISITING THE BIG APPLE GOT INVITED IN TO SEE "THE PRIDE AND THE PASSION". THEIR SEATS WERE IN THE BALCONY BUT FAR BELOW ON THE STAGE THEY GOT TO SEE FRANK SINATRA, SOPIA LOREN, & CARY GRANT. LATER HIS DAD WOULD TAKE HIM TO THE PREMIERE OF "SHENANDOAH". THESE WERE BETTER SEATS (ABOUT 15 ROWS FROM THE STAGE) AND HE GOT TO SEE KATHERINE ROSS, PAT WAYNE, DOUG McCLURE, GLEN CORBETT, AND THE GREAT JIMMY STEWART GIVE SHORT TALKS FROM THE STAGE. NEXT JAY ATTENDED AND PLAYED IN THE BAND (TRUMPET) AT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "THE ALAMO" AT THE BROADWAY IN SAN ANTONIO. OF COURSE HE GOT TO SEE LIVE ALL THE PRINCIPALS; JOHN WAYNE, CHILL WILLS, RICHARD WIDMARK, FRANKIE AVALON, AND THE REST. HE HAD MOVED TO AUSTIN WHEN THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY AROSE AND THAT WAS THE PREMIERE OF "BATMAN" AT THE PARAMOUNT. ADAM WEST, BURT WARD, THE BATCAR, BATBOAT, AND A FISTFUL OF VILLAINS WERE ON HAND FOR THAT ONE. THEN CAME THE "BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS" ALSO AT THE PARAMOUNT. HE TOOK LITTLE HARRY (IT WOULD BE HIS 1ST WORLD PREMIERE) TO THAT ONE AND THEY SNAPPED SOME PICTURES OF DOLLY, BURT, AND THE GIRLS. THE PARAMOUNT WAS THE LOCATION FOR THE US PREMIERE OF "BEFORE SUNRISE" WHERE JAY , DANNIE & HARRY SAW ETHAN HAWK AND OTHERS CONNECTED TO THE PRODUCTION AND ATTENDED A PARTY AFTERWARDS. THE PREMIERE OF "FROM DUSK TO DAWN" WAS ALSO AT THE CLASSIC PARAMOUNT WITH TARANTINO AND OTHERS AND IT TOO WAS FOLLOWED BY A BUFFET/PARTY THAT JAY, HARRY, & DANNIE ATTENDED. THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "TRAVLER" WAS ALSO AT THE PARAMOUNT IN AUSTIN AND THE FATHER & SON PARTIED AFTERWARDS WITH BILL PAXTON AND SEVERAL OTHER OF THE STARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PREMIERES OF "LITTLE FILMS" HERE IN A

More About JARRELL JAY KNOWLES:
BOY SCOUTS: EAGLE W/PALM,CUB MASTER,ASST.SCOUTMASTER,OA BROTHERHOOD,INSTIT. REP.
CLUBS: VICE PRES. ALAMO HERPOTOLOGICAL SOC.,PRES.SAC DEBATE SOC.,TEX.DESIGNER CRAFTMEN,
COMPANIES: STUART ADVERTISING,MIND'S I LIGHTSHOW,N.E.MERCANTILE CO.,J'S 20TH CENT.ESOTERICA
Education: ROBERT E LEE HIGH S.A., SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, UNIV. OF TEXAS - AUSTIN
Friends: WALTER S.FALK,SAM SCHOTT,BOB MAGNUSSON,JOHNNY CUNNINGHAM,JAMES S.BROWN
HOBBIES: PRIMATIVE CULTURE ARTIFACTS,&POP CULTURE OBJECTS,CREATE FOLK ART PIECES,TRUMPET
Medical Information: SURVIVED: PELLET RIFLE WOUND TO HEAD, PIRATE SWORD THROUGH CHEEKS, AXE TO FOREHEAD, BRICK TO FOREHEAD, NECK-IMPALEMENT ON CYCLONE FENCE. ALL CAUSED BY THE DREADED JAMES SCOTT BROWN, HIS BEST FRIEND
MILITARY SERV: OFFICER CANIDATE SCHOOL GRAD., MOS MILITARY POLICE, DECLINED COMMISSION,
Occupation: DEALER IN POP CULTURE COLLECTIBLES, ARTIST- CRAFTSMAN,
PETS: FUZZY 1ST DOG,PORKY THE HOGNOSED SNAKE,& PRISSY THE BOXER
POLITICAL SER: NIXON STAFF,MIAMI,1968,EMP. REPUBLICAN PARTY TEXAS 67-68,PRES.AUSTIN YARS, 1967
RELIGIOUS: RAISED A BAPTIST,LIKES THE CATHOLIC'S STYLE,& EMBRACES ALOT OF ZEN PRINCIBLES
SPORTS: COLLEGE INTERMURAL BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL

Notes for HELEN JANE HARRISON:
      HELEN JANE WAS RAISED BY HER GRANDPARENTS, HARRY AND HELEN PORTWOOD AT THE DIFFERENT RANCH HEADQUARTERS THEY LIVED ON THROUGHOUT THE 1950'S.

      WHEN HELEN WAS A VERY YOUNG CHILD THE BLOCK RANCH HOUSE WHERE SHE LIVED BURNED TO THE GROUND BEFORE HER EYES DESTROYING MOST OF THE PORTWOOD FAMILY HEIRLOOMS INCLUDING A NOW PRICELESS COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN FURNITURE, ART NOUVEAU STATUES, AND DOZENS OF 10'X14' PERSIAN CARPETS AND RUNNERS. AMONG THESE ITEMS WERE THE LITTLE GIRL'S DOLL COLLECTION, SOME PIECES OF WHICH WERE GENERATIONS OLD. WHEN HELEN FIRST MOVED IN WITH JAY KNOWLES IN 1969 AND FOR A FEW YEARS THEREAFTER SHE HAD INTENSE AND CONSTANTLY RECURRING NIGHTMARES CENTERING AROUND THE BLOCK RANCH FIRE. IN THESE BRUTALLY REALISTIC DREAMS HELEN'S DOLLS SCREAMED IN PAIN AND CALLED FOR HER TO JOIN THEM IN THE BLAZING INFERNO, FEEDING AN ABNORMAL FEAR OF FIRE AND CONVINCING HELEN THAT SOMEDAY THE DOLLS WOULD SUCCEED IN PULLING HER TO HER FIREY FATE. SOME WEEKS AFTER HER DEATH JAY HAPPENED TO RUN ACROSS MARK, ONE OF HELEN'S LOVERS AFTER THEIR DIVORCE, AND IN TALKING ABOUT HELEN JANE AND HER SELF DESTRUCTIVE NATURE MARK INFORMED JAY OF A WEIRD DREAM HELEN KEPT HAVING ABOUT HER DOLLS SETTING HER ON FIRE. THE DREAMS HAD RETURNED AFTER A 10 YEAR ABSENCE.

      AFTER THE BLOCK FIRE HELEN AND HER GRANDPARENTS MOVED TO THE ROUND TIMBERS RANCH HEADQUARTERS. THE 30 ACRE COMPOUND HAD A SWIMMING POOL AND A DOZEN BUNK HOUSES, ONE OF WHICH WAS GIVEN TO HER AND BECAME HER PLAY HOUSE.

      WHEN HELEN TURNED 12 SHE WAS SENT AWAY TO GIRLS SCHOOL AT SAINT MARY'S HALL IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. SHE WOULD LIVE THERE UNTIL SHE STARTED COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN JUST DAYS AFTER TURNING 17. WHILE AT ST. MARY'S SHE PLAYED THE ORGAN AT CHURCH SERVICES AND SERVED AS CAPT IAN OF THE SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY TEAM. HER ROOMATES AT SCHOOL WERE LOIS CHILES ( 007'S GIRL IN "MOONRAKER" ), JUDY ROSS ( AN ART MAJOR WHO WOULD LATER BECOME A CALL GIRL ), DIANE " KITTEN " HOLLOWAY ( TV EDITOR FOR THE AUSTIN STATESMAN NEWSPAPER ), AND MARCIA GASS ( A COLLECTIBLES DEALER WHO WOULD MOVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM HELEN AND JAY IN THE 1970'S )

      AT UT SHE PLEDGED A SORORITY, DELTA ZETA, BUT QUICKLY GREW TIRED OF THE SNOOTY AIR OF HOUSE LIFE. SHE HAD ALSO JOINED THE UT YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLUB WHICH WAS A MUCH MORE FRIENDLY GROUP OF KIDS AND THEY SOON BECAME THE CENTER OF HER COLLEGE SOCIAL LIFE. SHE BECAME THE ROOMATES OF A YR OFFICER NAMED CARMEN GALVAN, WHO WAS DATING ANOTHER OFFICER NAMED JAY KNOWLES AND THEY RAPIDLY BECAME A THREESOME GOING TO MOVIES, THE LAKE, AND PARTIES TOGETHER. IN 1968 THEY MOVED IN TOGETHER IN A LARGE STUDIO STYLED DUPLEX ON TOWN LAKE IN THE TERRYTOWN AREA OF WEST AUSTIN. SHE, CARMEN, AND JAY ATTENDED THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION IN CORPUS CHRISTI AS PAGES AND THE TWO GIRLS PLANNED TO GO TO MIAMI WITH JAY FOR THE NATIONAL CONVENTION THAT SUMMER, BUT TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE HELEN JANE GOT MARRIED TO A VIET NAM VET SHE MET FOR THE 1ST TIME ON A WEEKEND VISIT TO THE RANCH JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE.

      THAT MARRIAGE ENDED IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AND SHE RETURNED TO AUSTIN FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER OF 1969. SHE AND JAY ENROLLED IN FILM SCHOOL AND SOON MOVED IN TOGETHER AND WOULD STAY THAT WAY UNTIL THE APRIL, 1984 DIVORCE.

      THEY ATTENDED THE ATLANTA POP FESTIVAL AND THE LEWISVILLE POP FESTIVAL AND TOOK A LOT OF POP MEDIA TYPE COURSES TOGETHER AT UT AND IN THE SUMMER OF 1969 THEY STARTED THE "MIND'S I" LIGHTSHOW COMPANY AS AN OFFSHOOT OF THEIR "AUSTIN VISUAL ARTS ASSOCIATES" FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY. THEIR FIRST STEADY WORK WAS FOR THE MAFIA BACKED BATCO, OWNERS OF SEVERAL STRIP CLUBS IN CENTRAL TEXAS. THEY WOULD FILM THE DANCERS AND PUT TOGETHER ADS FOR THE DIFFERENT CLUBS TO BE SHOWN IN NITE CLUBS AROUND THE STATE. THIS LED TO BATCO HIRING THE LIGHTSHOW FOR ITS 1ST LONG TERM GIG, THE PEARL STREET WAREHOUSE, A POPULAR GAY BAR NEAR THE UNIVERSITY. FOR 6 MONTHS THEY DID 3 SHOWS A WEEK AT THE CLUB DRAWING 1000'S OF NON-GAY STUDENTS INTO THE CLUB TO SEE THE SPECTULAR 360 DEGREE ENVIRONMENTS CREATED BY HELEN AND JAY. THEY HIRED 2 BOOKING AGENTS AND OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS THE COUPLE PERFORMED HUNDREDS OF SHOWS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS WORKING 5 TO 7 NIGHTS A WEEK.

      IN 1971 HELEN DECIDED SHE WANTED TO HAVE A BABY SO THEY SOLD THE LIGHTSHOW EQUIPMENT TO ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, LOWELL FOWLER WHO IS STILL IN THAT BUSINESS, AND OPENED THEIR LITTLE COLLECTIBLES STORE IN EAST AUSTIN WHERE THE UT BOOK PUBLISHING OPERATION NOW SETS. THEY PAID $20,000 CASH FOR A 3000 SQUARE FOOT TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY HOUSE ON A DOUBLE LOT IN THE HYDE PARK PART OF CENTRAL AUSTIN AND SETTLED INTO A COMFORTABLE LIFE STYLE OF SHOP KEEPING AND TRAVEL, 1ST IN THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST, THEN IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA. THEY WOULD TRAVEL ABOUT 2 MONTHS OF THE YEAR FROM 1972 TILL THE END OF 1983.

      IN 1977 THEY CONVERTED THE RENT HOUSE AND GARAGE COMPLEX INTO A 1000 SQUARE FOOT ARTIST STUDIO. OVER THE FOLLOWING YEARS HELEN WOULD DEVELOP INTO A PROMISING BRONZE SCULPTRESS, TURNING OUT DOZENS OF PLENTIFUL DESK TOP SCULPTURES WHICH SHE SOLD AT THE TEXAS RENAISSANCE FAIR AND IN THE DRAG ARTS MARKET ACROSS FROM THE UNIVERSITY.

      ON HER BIRTHDAY IN 1981, SHE RECEIVED THE BEST PRESENT SHE WOULD EVER GET, DANNIE KNOWLES WAS BORN. THEN ON HER BIRTHDAY IN 1983 SHE WOULD RECEIVE THE WORST OF PRESENTS. AS THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE CUTTING INTO THE CUSTOM MADE BETTY BOOP B-DAY CAKE A TEXAS RANGER APPEARED AT THE FRONT DOOR TO INFORM HER THAT THE ONLY FATHER SHE REALLY EVER HAD, JUDGE D. J. BROOKRESON, HAD BEEN KILLED. WITHIN DAYS HER GRANDMOTHER PORTWOOD SUFFERED A STROKE AND HER MOTHER HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. HELEN WAS CALLED TO THE RANCH. FOR THE NEXT 3 MONTHS SHE WAS BOMBARDED WITH PROPAGANDA AIMED AT GETTING HER TO DIVORCE JAY AND MOVE TO THE RANCH WITH THE KIDS. GIVEN HER MENTAL STATE AND THE NONSTOP PRESSURE FROM HER GRANDFATHER, SHE GAVE IN AND MADE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF HER LIFE.

      AT THE RANCH SHE WAS GIVEN ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY AND NONE OF THE BENEFITS, AND WAS NEVER TO REGAIN THE HAPPINESS SHE HAD IN AUSTIN. SHE SLIPPED BACK INTO THE HEAVY DRINKING SHE HAD ABANDONED WHEN SHE GOT TOGETHER WITH JAY AND SHE WOULD NEVER RECOVER FROM IT. ON D. J. BROOKRESON'S BIRTHDAY IN 1992 HER DOLLS WOULD FINALLY WIN THEIR TUG-A-WAR FOR HER SOUL AND SHE DIED VERY DRUNK IN A TRAGIC HOUSE FIRE ON LAKE KEMP A FEW MILES FROM THE SITE OF THE BLOCH RANCH FIRE AND JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM WHERE D. J. HAD KILLED HIMSELF ON HER BIRTHDAY A FEW YEARS BEFORE.

      "AND IN THE END, THE LOVE YOU TAKE IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE YOU MAKE." ARTIST MIKE KALUTA TO HELEN JANE KNOWLES, DETROIT, MICH., MARCH, 1974. "HELEN, MOSTLY..... IN A LOST MOMENT I'VE THOUGHT OF YOU, ALWAYS SORRY FOR NOT WRITING SOONER, ALWAYS WONDERING. I'VE SEEN YOUR CHILD REFLECTED IN ALL THE HAPPY CHILDREN I'VE SEEN SINCE." MIKE KALUTA, AUGUST, 1976 IN AUSTIN.

      SOME DEFINING FILM MOMENTS: (THESE MAY HELP IN UNDERSTANDING HELEN JANE)

->      "GONE WITH THE WIND" 1939, "THE EARTH...THE RED DIRT OF TARA IS ALL YOU'LL EVER NEED..." (PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE MITCHELL/LEIGH RELATIONSHIP)

      "GIANT" 1956, ELIZABETH TAYLOR, MERCEDES McCAMBRIDGE, CAROL BAKER, CHILL WILLS

      "HUD" 1963, WITH PAUL NEWMAN, PATRICIA NEAL, MELVYN DOUGLAS (WATCH DOUGLAS)

->      "THE LAST PICTURE SHOW" 1971, ARCHER CITY AND BEN JOHNSON (THE ENVIRONMENT IS THE CLUE IN THIS FILM)

->      "CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF" 1958, BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND BURL IVES (BIG DADDY IS THE ONE TO WATCH HERE)

      "JANE ERYE" 1944, ORSON WELLES, JOAN FOUNTAINE, ELIZABETH TAYLOR, MARGARET O'BRIEN (WATCH SCHOOL YEARS HERE)

      "THE GROUP" 1966, CANDICE BERGEN, JESSICA WALTER, JOANNA PETIT, SHIRLY KNIGHT, JOAN HACKET

      "THE GRADUATE" 1967 WITH CATHERINE ROSS AND ANN BANCROFT (MOTHER & DAUGHTER ARE WHO WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE)

      "THE TRIP" 1967 WITH DENNIS HOPPER, PETER FONDA,ETC..

->      "THE FURIES" 1950, WITH BARBARA STANWYCK, WALTER HUSTON, JUDITH ANDERSON (PAY EXTRA CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS ONE, MAY BE THE BEST CAPTURE OF HELEN'S PSYCHE ON FILM)

      "LONE STAR " 1996 BY JOHN SAYLES (ANOTHER WHERE THE ENVIRONMENT IS THE CLUE)

->      "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" 1967, WITH PATTY DUKE, SUSAN HAYWARD, SHARON TATE, BARBARA PARKINS, LEE GRANT

->      "DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES" 1962 WITH LEE REMICK & JACK LEMMON (REMICK IS THE KEY IN THIS ONE)

      "THE LOST WEEKEND" 1945, WITH RAY MAYLAND AND JANE WYMAN

      "THE VOICE IN THE MIRROR" 1958 WITH JULIE LONDON

->      "WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF" 1966, BY MIKE NICHOLS WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR (FOR A LOOK INTO HER LAST YEARS)

More About HELEN JANE HARRISON:
BOY SCOUTS: CUB SCOUT DEN MOTHER FOR 3 YEARS
Cause of Death: BURNED TO DEATH IN BED, 5 TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR DRUNK DRIVING
CLUBS: LIFEMEMBER NAT.CUTTINGHORSE ASSO.;TEX.DESIGNER CRAFTSMAN ASSO.;DELTA ZETA;UTYR'S
COMPANIES: PORTWOOD RANCH & COMPANY,MIND'S I LIGHTSHOW,N.E.MERCANTILE CO.
Education: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, SAINT MARY'S HALL GIRLS SCHOOL
Friends: ERICA ALTES,NOEL RIVAS,RANDY ECKELS,DEBBIE QUEISENBERRY
HOBBIES: ARTS&CRAFTS,SEWING,GARDENING, PLAYED THE ORGAN
IN MEMORIAM: " SNOOKS ", "BABY SNOOKS"
Medical Information: 1977-SPINAL MENINGITIS, 1985-HORSE HOOF TO FOREHEAD AND SHOT HER IUD THROUGH REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS, 1987-HORSE SMASHED HER INTO TREE DAMAGING HER LIVER AND A KIDNEY; VERY CROSSED EYED, LAZY EYED
Occupation: ARTIST, FARMER, RANCHER,453-80-0103
PETS: SONNY WAS HER FAVORITE HORSE,BOGART THE AFRICAN GRAY PARROT
POLITICAL SER: YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLUB SOCIAL CHAIRMAN,COUNTY CONV. DELEGATE
SPORTS: FIELD HOCKEY,VOLLEYBALL,& FENCING TEAMS

Marriage Notes for JARRELL KNOWLES and HELEN HARRISON:
      JAY AND HELEN WERE MARRIED AT 2:00PM IN A CIVIL CEREMONY PERFORMED BY JUDGE FRANK MCBEE," THE LAW SOUTH OF THE RIVER ", ( FATHER OF THE FOUNDER OF TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ) AT HIS HOME IN SOUTH AUSTIN. THE JUDGE WAS NEARLY DEAF AND HAD ONLY ONE LEG. HE WAS LISTENING TO THE UT-SOUTHERN CAL. FOOTBALL GAME DURING THE ENTIRE SERVICE. THE BRIDE WORE WHITE SILK WITH PINK SWEETHEART ROSES. WALTER FALK WAS THE BEST MAN AND RUTH IMBERTON WAS THE MAID OF HONOR. OTHER GUESTS FOR THE CEREMONY-GAME WERE JAY W AND MILDRED KNOWLES, CHARLEY ROSE, WINFORD WESLY KNOWLES, JAY BROOKRESON, AND MICHELLE SHIELDS ( THEN AN INFANT ). THEY WERE ALL SURE THAT THE JUDGE THOUGHT THE BABY WAS JAY AND HELEN'S.

      THE RECEPTION-PARTY WAS HELD THAT NIGHT AT THE COUPLE'S HOME. THERE WERE 3 TURKEYS BRAISED IN BRANDY AND STUFFED WITH APPLES, OYSTERS, WILD RICE AND A POUND OF HOMEGROWN HERB POPULAR WITH THE YOUTH OF THE DAY. OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE THAT EVENING WERE; BRIAN MIKESKA ( WHO MADE THEIR WEDDING RINGS FROM PERSONAL GOLD ITEMS ), REX BOWER, LOWELL FOWLER AND SUE, KEN BALDWIN, JUDY ROSS, SOL MANDEL, DIANE" KITTEN "HOLLOWAY, BOB PERKINS, WES MASTERS, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

      THE FALK HAS SOLD OVER 60,000 WATERCOLORS SINCE THEN. RUTH RETURNED TO HER FAMILY'S PLANTATION IN SAN SALVADOR. WHEN REVOLUTION OVER RAN THE COUNTRY SHE MOVED TO PARIS,FRANCE. ROSE MOVED TO HOUSTON WERE HE BECAME AN ARMS-DEALER/OIL LAND MAN WITH A SERIOUS COKE HABIT. WIN BECAME AN ATOMIC MISSLE SUB XO. BROOKRESON DIED OF AIDS. MIKESKA MADE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN PRECIOUS METAL. FOWLER MADE MILLIONS LIGHTING SHOWS FOR THE LIKES OF MICHEAL JACKSON, THE EAGLES, CHER, AND MADONNA. KITTEN IS A SUCCESSFUL NEWSPAPER WOMAN. SOL ( HARRY JAY'S GOD FATHER ) WAS RUN OUT OF TEXAS ON DRUG CHARGES, BUT BECAME A MEGA RICH ROCK AGENT IN NEW YORK. ROSS BECAME A CALL GIRL. PERKINS IS A RESPECTED DISTRICT JUDGE, AND WES BLEW HIS BRAINS OUT. THE OTHERS HAVE SIMPLY FADED AWAY.
     
Children of JARRELL KNOWLES and HELEN HARRISON are:
  i.   HARRY JAY14 KNOWLES, b. December 11, 1971, AUSTIN, TRAVIS CO.,TEXAS, USA.
  Notes for HARRY JAY KNOWLES:
      HARRY JAY KNOWLES WAS CONCEIVED WITH MUCH EFFORT OVER SPRING BREAK OF 1971 ON A PLAIN 1880'S BRASS BED ON WHICH HIS GREAT GRAND PAW HARRY PORTWOOD HAD BEEN BORN IN 1903 ON THE STAKED PLAINS OF NORTH TEXAS. THE BED IS STILL IN THE FAMILY AND AT THE TIME IT RESTED (EVEN IF IT'S OCCUPANTS DIDN'T) IN AN APARTMENT HIGH ON A BLUFF OVERLOOKING TOWN LAKE OFF RIVERSIDE DRIVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. JAY & HELEN WERE QUITE BUSY THAT WEEK PERFORMING SEVERAL LIGHTSHOWS WITH Z Z TOP AND OTHER POPULAR ROCK BANDS AT FRAT HOUSES AND CLUBS IN CENTRAL TEXAS. RETURNING HOME IN THE WEE MORNING HOURS EVERY NIGHT THAT WEEK THEY AMAZINGLY STILL MANAGED TO FIT HARRY IN.

HARRY WAS DUE DECEMBER 3RD 1971, BUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD TO WAKEUP, SO HIS UNCLE WINFORD MISSED HAVING HIM BORN ON HIS BIRTHDAY. AT 1AM ON DEC.5TH WE HAD TO RUSH HELEN TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT ALAS THERE WAS NO ROOM AT THE INN. ST. DAVID'S WHERE WE HAD PREPAID FOR THE DELIVERY HAD ALL BIRTHING FACILITIES IN USE. THEY SENT US TO SEATON INSTEAD. ONCE THERE WE FOUND THAT ALL OF THEIR FACILITIES WERE ALSO OCCUPIED. OUR DOCTOR, GARY R. JONES, MET US AT SEATON AND DECIDED TO GIVE HELEN A SHOT TO DELAY THE BIRTH ABOUT 24 HOURS. SO GRANDPA BROOKRESON MISSED HAVING HIM BORN ON HIS BIRTHDAY. THE DUE DATE WAS NOW MOVED TO A PROBABLE DEC. 7TH, PEARL HARBOR DAY, WE MADE A LOT OF JOKES ABOUT HELEN DROPPING A BIG BOMB AND SINKING THE ARIZONA OR THE OKLAHOMA, BUT THE 7TH CAME AND WENT WITH NO SNEAK ATTACK FROM HARRY. HE WOULD SNOOZE UNTIL DEC. 11TH, HIS GRANDMA PAULA'S BIRTHDAY, AT 10:16AM. HE WAS BORN AT ST. DAVID'S AND WEIGHED 6 POUNDS, 10 1/2 OUNCES, AND WAS 19 1/2 INCHES TALL. HELEN WAS IN LABOR ONLY ABOUT 1/2 HOUR

HARRY WAS NAMED AFTER HARRY PORTWOOD, HIS GREAT GRAND FATHER, WHO IN TURN HAD BEEN NAMED AFTER HARRY HALSELL A WRITER OF WESTERN FICTION. THE JAY WAS FOR HIS GRANDFATHER JAY W. KNOWLES. HARRY IS A PET NAME FOR HENRY WHICH IS TEUTONIC FOR "HOME RULER". JAY IS FROM THE OLD GERMAN AND MEANS "QUICK AND LIVELY". SO, HARRY JAY KNOWLES TRANSLATES TO, "THE LIVELY KING OF THE HILLS!" HIS GODFATHER IS SOL MANDEL.

      AS A TWO YEAR OLD HARRY'S FAVORITE SONGS WERE; "DIG,DIG,DIG" FROM DISNEY'S SNOW WHITE ( HARRY WAS ALWAYS A SOUND TRACK FREAK ), AND THE ALLMAN BROTHER'S "RAMBLIN' MAN". HARRY LOVED TO TRAVEL! FROM 1972 THRU 1976 HARRY CRISS CROSSED THE COUNTRY FROM THE GREAT LAKES AND THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TO THE GREAT PLAINS, THE DESERT SOUTHWEST, AND UP AND DOWN THE PACIFIC COAST A DOZEN TIMES. HE WENT EVERYWHERE HIS PARENTS COLLECTIBLES BUSINESS TOOK THEM, DETROIT, ST. LOUIS, TULSA, OKLAHOMA CITY, NEW ORLEANS, BATON ROUGE, HOUSTON, DALLAS, COLLEGE STATION, EL PASO, SANTE FE, TUCSON, SAN DIEGO, LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, AND LAS VEGAS. HIS DAD BELIEVED IN SEEING THE SIGHTS WHILE THEY WERE THERE SO HARRY WENT TO DISNEYLAND EVERY TIME THEY WERE IN L. A., THEY VISITED SOUTHERN MANSIONS, THEMEPARKS, ZOOS, MOUNTAIN TOPS, WATERFALLS, VOLCANOS, PRIMAL FORESTS, SANDY WASTELANDS, SWAMPS, INDIAN CLIFF DWELLINGS, BURIAL SITES, GHOST TOWNS, HAUNTED HOUSES, HIPPIE CRASH PADS, EVEN THE DAILY PLANET OFFICES IN METROPOLIS, ILL.

      IN DEC.OF 1976 THE TRAVEL STOPPED BEING PART WORK, PART FUN AND BECAME TOTALLY PLEASURE DRIVEN. THE LONG KNOWLES MEXICO/CENTRAL AMERICA EXPLORATIONS HAD BEGUN AND HARRY THE SEASONED TRAVELER, THE RAMBLIN' MAN, WAS READY, WILLING, AND ABLE .

      IN DEC.OF 1977 HARRY AND HIS PARENTS LEFT AUSTIN TO SPEND 6 WEEKS TRAVELING MEXICO FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. THEY VISITED SAN LUIS POTOSI, SAN MIGUEL ALLENDE, MEXICO CITY, PALENQUE, CAMPECHE, MERIDA, UXMAL, CHICHEN ITZA, ISLA MUJERES, AND OTHER SITES. THEY TRAVELED BY CAR, BUS, TRAIN, AND BOAT. HARRY AND HIS DAD RODE ON THE BACKS OF GIANT SEA TURTLES, THEY DINED IN MEXICO CITY'S ZONA ROSA ON ARGENTINE BEEF SMOTHERED IN GARLIC AND BLUE CHEESE, AT MERIDA'S GRAN HOTEL THEY FEASTED ON POLLO WRAPPED IN GUAVA SOAKED BANANA LEAVES, AND IN SAN MIGUEL THEY BLOATED THEMSELVES ON ALL MANNER OF FRESH FRUIT PICKED WITHIN FEET OF THEIR ROOM AT THE CONVERTED 1500'S NUNNERY. HARRY TOOK IN STAR WARS IN A MASSIVE 10,000 SEAT MOVIE PALACE. HE CLIMBED MANY PYRAMIDS AND WATCHED THE FAMOUS NIGHT LIGHT SHOW AT THE 35OO YEAR OLD TEOTIQUACAN'S CITY OF THE GODS. HARRY ASTOUNDED MEXICAN FISHERMEN BY EXHIBITING EXTREME MACHISMO SUCKING THE EYEBALLS OUT OF THE FISH HEADS THEY WERE EATING. HE WAS A GAME 6 YEAR OLD AND HE CLIMBED THE JUNGLE MOUNTAIN TEAMING WITH GREAT CATS, HOWLER MONKEYS AND EXOTIC BIRDS BEHIND THE TEMPLE OF INSCRIPTIONS WITH HIS DAD, WHERE HE ALSO SWAM WITH ALLIGATORS IN THE QUEEN'S BATH JUNGLE RIVER POOL BEHIND PALENQUE'S GLYPH COVERED PALACE WALLS, CLIMBING THE CLIFFS OF CASCADING WATER RUSHING DOWN THE RAIN FOREST MOUNTAINS. AT THE SUMMIT OF THE PYRAMID OF THE SKULL HARRY WOULD DISCOVER A FRESHLY DISEMBOWELED LAMB, AND VENDORS OF CHAMPIONES ( MAGIC MUSHROOMS ) SHOWED THEM MANY INTERESTING SITES OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.

      FOR A WEEK SURROUNDING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IN NOV.OF 1978 HARRY, WITH JAY AND HELEN, ALONG WITH ARTIST WALTER FALK AND ACTIVIST SANDWICH VENDOR ROLAND DENOIE, TRANSVERSED THE RUGGED SIERRA MADRE OF THE NORTH CENTRAL DESERT OF MEXICO. THE OBJECT OF THIS TRIP WAS TO FIND THE MEXICAN GHOST TOWN OF CATORCE, SO NAMED FOR THE 14 MINES THAT SURROUNDED THE 16TH CENTURY CITY. GUIDEBOOKS INFORMED THE EXPLORERS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO LODGINGS, FOOD, OR DRINK AVAILABLE WITHIN 50 MILES OF THE SITE AND THAT THE ONLY WAY IN OR OUT OF THE RUINS WAS A ONCE A DAY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MINI-BUS TO BE CAUGHT AT A REMOTE DESERT CROSSROADS THIRTY MILES SOUTH OF SAN CAYETANO DE LAS VACAS, NORTH OF MATEHUALA. HAVING CAPTURED THE VAN, HARRY AND COMPANY CLIMBED INTO THE MOUNTAINS WHOSE VERY NAME MEANS " CLOSED ". SUDDENLY A ROCK WALL DEAD END PRESENTED ITSELF TO THE GROUP AND THE GUIDE INFORMED THE HEARTY BAND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL THROUGH A 3 MILE UNLIT, FLOODED, DRIPPING ABANDONED MINE SHAFT TO GET TO THE ACTUAL SITE, UNLIVED IN SENSE THE 1914 REVOLUTION WHEN PANCHO VILLA FLOODED THE 14 MINES AND SACKED THE TOWN OF 10,000 PEOPLE. THE DARK, SPOOKY, CRUMBLING TUNNEL WAS LIT ONLY BY OCCASIONAL CANDLES AT SMALL, PERSONAL SHRINES TO DEAD MINERS, OR TRAVELERS LOST TO FREQUENT CAVE INS. THE OVERLY ATMOSPHERIC TREK WAS WELL WORTH IT, THE STONE CITY WAS HUGE, COMPLETE WITH BULLRING AND SEVERAL MASSIVE CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND TO THEIR PLEASENT SURPRISE A FEW FAMILIES STILL LIVED THERE, CLAWING OUT A LIVING IN THE ROTTING MINES. THEY ARRANGED TO SLEEP IN THE HOME OF SUCH A FAMILY AND STAYED TO EXPLORE FOR 3 DAYS. ON THANKSGIVING DAY THE PEONS KILLED A GOAT AND HARRY FEASTED. ROLAND HAD BROUGHT SOME FRENCH WINE, HELEN HAD SOME ITALIAN ANTIPASTO, JAY HAD PACKED SMOKED SHELL FISH AND FROG LEGS, THE FALK HAD POUNDS OF PATE' AND HARRY HAD CARRIED BOTTLES OF NOCHE BUENA DARK BEER. THEIR HOST PREPARED THE YOUNG GOAT ON A SLOW SMOKE, LOW HEAT FIRE AND FILLED LARGE EARTHEN POTS WITH BLACK BEANS, SPICED RICE, AND POLLO TIPICO. IT WAS A MEAL HARRY WOULD NEVER FORGET. THIS TRIP WAS TRAVEL- AS- YOU-FIND-IT. THEY CAUGHT A RIDE 70 MILES TO A MOUNTAIN (15,000 FEET) WATERFALL IN THE BACK OF A LUMBERMAN'S TRUCK AND WHEN A BUS LEFT THEM STRANDED IN THE DESERT AT 2AM ROLAND FIRED OFF 6 PISTOL SHOTS AND A STRING OF SPANISH INSULTS AT THE DRIVER. NONE OF THE BULLETS FOUND THEIR MARK, BUT THE CURSES WERE DEAD ON. THE FALK FLAGGED DOWN A CATTLE TRUCK 2 HOURS LATER AND HARRY THOUGHT THEY HAD ALL EATEN THEIR LAST BURRITO, FOR THE TRAILER WHERE THE GRINGOS WERE TO RIDE WAS FULL OF STOLEN CALFS AND ARMED AND MASKED BANDITOS. THE DESPERATOS OFFERED THE ADULTS SOME DRIED, HONEY CURED PYOTE AND THE NEXT FEW HOURS WENT BY INTERESTINGLY.

      IN DEC.OF 1979 HARRY, HIS PARENTS, ROLAND DENOIE AND HIS SON DIRK SPENT 4 WEEKS EXPLORING THE EAST AND WEST COASTS OF MEXICO. THEY TRAVELED TO TAMPICO, VERA CRUZ, TUXPAN, EL TAJIN, HUEJUTLA, PAPANTLA, MEXICO CITY, CUERNAVACA, ACAPUCO, PLAYA AZUL, URUAPAN, AND SAN MIGUEL ALLENDE. THEY SPENT A WEEK ON ROLAND'S GRANDPARENT'S 12,OOO HECTORIE PLANTATION AT TAMPOL IN THE EASTERN COFFEE AND VANILLA BEAN REGION. THEY RODE HORSES ALONG DENSE JUNGLE TRAILS UNDER PAPAYA AND MANGO TREES FILLED WITH SCREAMING PEACOCKS. THEY VISITED OMEC PYRAMIDS, WITNESSED SACRIED INDIAN RITUALS AND WERE A PART OF THE HOLDING OF COURT BY A SPANISH DON AS PEONS BROUGHT GIFTS OF FOOD, CROPS, CRAFTS, AND DRINK TO ROLAND'S GRANDFATHER. IT WAS ON THIS TRIP THAT HARRY 1ST ATE RAW SQUID, GRILLED LIZARD AND FRIED CONCH, AND HE DISCOVERED THE SECRET PLEASURES OF FINE FRENCH SAUCES IN THE ZONA ROSA'S EMBASSY SURROUNDED WORLD CLASS 5 STAR EATERIES. IN A SMALL WEST COAST VILLAGE HARRY GOT A ONCE- IN-A- LIFETIME TREAT, WARM, FRESH, RAW IGUANA EGGS SQUEEZED FROM THE TUBES OF A RECENTLY GUTTED LIZARD.

      IN DEC.OF 1980 HARRY, JAY, HELEN, AND DANNIE RIDING UNSEEN ON HER MOTHER'S BOLETO, FLEW TO CANCUN FROM SAN ANTONIO TO START A 5 WEEK ODYSSEY THROUGH MEXICO, BELIZE, AND GUADAMALA.THEY WENT TO THE MAYAN FORTRESS CITY OF TULUM, THE UNDERWATER CITY OF COBA, THE PIRATE STRONGHOLE OF CHETUMAL, ALTUN HA WITH IT'S JADE FILLED TEMPLES, THE BRITISH COLONIAL CENTER OF BELIZE CITY, CAYE CAULKER ISLAND WITH IT'S FORESTS OF WILD POT, LAS RUINAS DE XUNANTUNICH, THE 4000 YEAR OLD MAYAN CAPITOL OF TIKAL, THE DARK PRIMAL JUNGLE ISLAND CITY OF FLORES, THE WALLED SPANISH CITY OF MERIDA, THE LARGEST CITY IN THE WORLD MEXICO D.F. ,THE OPAL CUTTING CENTER OF QUERETARO, AND THE HEART OF THE MEXICAN REVOLT AGAINST SPAIN SAN MIGUEL ALLENDE. AT 4AM IN THE REMOTE JUNGLE OF PETEN, GUATEMALA AMONG 350+ FOOT TREES THEIR BUS BROKE DOWN, AND THEY WERE LEFT STRANDED WITH 3 ISRAELI ES AND 2 AUSSIES ON A DARK, MUDDY, ONE-LANE JUNGLE ROAD IN THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY'S REVOLUTION TORN PRIMAL FOREST. IN OVER 12 HOURS ONLY 4 VEHICLES CAME BY. THE FOURTH, A TOYOTA PICKUP GAVE THEM A RIDE 40 MILES TO TIKAL WHERE THEY WERE TO EXPLORE, NIGHT AND DAY, AMONG JUNGLE CATS , SPIDER MONKEYS, AND COLORFUL BIRDS FOR 5 DAYS. THEY STAYED AT THE HOME OF SOME LOCALS IN THE TREES BEHIND THE CORAZON DE JESUS FOR THERE WAS NO ROOM AT THE INN. ON THIS TRIP HARRY WAS TO EAT LOBSTER COOKED A DOZEN DIFFERENT WAYS AS WELL AS DEER, FEREL JUNGLE PIG, AND SOME BEAUTIFUL WILD BIRDS.

      IN ALL HARRY WOULD MAKE 12 EXTENDED TRIPS TO POINTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER BETWEEN 1976 AND 1983. IN 1985 HE WOULD GO TO THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES WITH JAY W. AND MILDRED KNOWLES TO VISIT WITH HIS UNCLE WINFORD IN VIRGINA BEACH. THEY WOULD GO TO WASHINGTON D.C., BALTIMORE, PHILADELPHIA AND SEVERAL OTHER SPOTS. IN 1986 HE WOULD RETURN TO THE EAST WITH HIS FATHER AND GRANDPARENTS TO ATTEND HIS UNCLE'S WEDDING. THEY DROVE THRU 4 EASTERN STATES ON A WORLD-WIND TOUR OF FLEA MARKETS AND COLLECTIBLE SALES. THEN IN 1988 HE WOULD JOURNEY ALONE TO THE NATION'S CAPITOL TO TAKE PART IN THE NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE WHERE HE WOULD BE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE MOCK NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. HE WOULD MEET PRIVATELY WITH THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND VICE-PRESIDENT DAN QUAYLE.      HE WATCHED " MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON " IN A 1920'S MOVIE PALACE AND SPENT HOURS ROAMING THE HALLS OF THE NATION'S # 1 MUSEUM.

      THE HAIR JOINED CUB SCOUTS AT THE AGE OF 7 1/2 AND QUICKLY ADVANCED THROUGH WOLF, BEAR, & WEBOLOS WITH A FISTFUL OF GOLD AND SILVER ARROWHEADS TO BOOT. AT 10 1/2 HE JOINED BOY SCOUTS. HE LOVED CAMPING & TRAVEL SO HE ROSE IN RANK AS FAST AS THE RULES WOULD ALLOW AND CAMPED IN THE PINEY WOODS, ON COASTAL DUNES AND IN THE DESERTS OF THE BIG BEND & GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS. HE WAS A NATURAL LEADER AND HELD EVERY POSITION AVAILABLE TO BOYS. HARRY EARNED THE SCOUTS HIGHEST RANK OF EAGLE AND ADDED 2 PALMS TO THAT. HE RECEIVED ALL THE OUTDOORSMAN MERIT BADGES AND THEN PICKED UP ONES LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING, JOURNALISM, COMPUTER SCIENCES, ART, SCULPTING, WOODCARVING, WOODWORK, METALWORK ,& MUSIC. HARRY WAS TAPPED OUT FOR THE SCOUT'S "ORDER OF THE ARROW", AN ORGANIZATION OF HONOR CAMPERS BASED ON AMERICAN INDIAN MANHOOD RITES AND VALUE SYSTEMS, AT A MIDNIGHT CAMPFIRE CEREMONY STEEPED IN FOLKLORE DEEP IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY NORTHWEST OF AUSTIN. HE ATTENDED THE 1985 NATIONAL JAMBOREE IN VIRGINIA.

      HARRY HAS WORKED UNDER MANY HATS. IN THE EARLY 70'S HE WOULD BUY-SELL-TRADE NON-SPORTS GUM CARDS AT THE COLLECTIBLE SHOWS THAT HIS PARENTS SETUP AT. FROM 76-83 HE WOULD DESIGN-PRODUCE-SELL HIS OWN LINE OF LEATHER CRAFTS AND BRONZE BELT BUCKLES ON AUSTIN'S DRAG AND AT ART SHOWS. IN 1977 HE WORKED AS A FALCONER'S ASST. HANDLING CROWS, FALCONS, AND EVEN A GREAT GOLDEN EAGLE. FROM 78 TO 79 HE WORKED WITH THE CAROL SHANNON BELLY DANCE TROOP HELPING THE SHAPELY WOMEN INTO THEIR OUTFITS AND APPEARING ON STAGE FROM TIME TO TIME. THEN IN 1980 MAGICIAN BILL PALMER (MERLIN) HIRED HARRY AS HIS ASST. HE WOULD AID WITH MANY COMPLEX ILLUSIONS, SOMETIMES IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF VIEWERS UNTIL AFTER THE DIVORCE IN 1984. DURING THIS PERIOD HARRY ALSO ASSISTED DAVID COPPERFIELD WITH SOME OUTDOOR ILLUSIONS. AT THE RANCH HE WORKED IN THE FIELDS AND BARNS, AT ONE TIME ALONG SIDE ALL PRO FOOTBALL STAR TONY DEGRATE WHO WAS STAYING IN SHAPE HAULING HAY. IN 1989 HE CAME BACK TO AUSTIN TO LIVE AND REJOINED HIS DAD IN THE COLLECTIBLES BUSINESS. 1990 SAW HARRY GET A SPEAKING ROLE IN VANESSA REDGRAVE'S " BALLAD OF A SAD CAFE" WITH ROD STIEGER AND KEITH CARRADINE. IN 1991 HE WAS AN EXTRA IN DOLLY PARTON'S "BIG T" WITH GARY BUSEY AND WILLIE NELSON, AND IN 1997 HE GARNERED A SMALL SPEAKING PART IN "COLIN FITZ" WITH WILLIAM H. MACY. HARRY FILED HIS SAG PAPERS IN THE LATE SPRING OF 98 AND PULLED DOWN A HEALTHY PAYCHECK FOR A SMALL SPEAKING PART IN ROBERT ROGRIGUEZ & KEVIN WILLIAMSON'S " THE FACULTY ".

      IN THE SUMMER OF 1989 HARRY ENROLLED AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE MAJORING IN RADIO-TELEVISION-FILM. HE TOOK SEVERAL COURSES IN CREATIVE WRITING AS WELL AS WESTERN CIVILIZATION, JOURNALISM, AND DRAMA. HE MAINTAINED A 3.8 GPA ON A 4 POINT SYSTEM, AND DROPPED OUT AFTER EARNING OVER 85 HOURS OF COLLEGE CREDIT WHEN HIS MOTHER DIED IN DEC. 1992. HIS MOM'S ESTATE WAS SUBSTANTIAL BUT IN TOTAL DISARAY. SHE LEFT NO WILL, AND NO KNOWN INSURANCE. THERE WERE FARMS, OIL INTERESTS, AND HER INHERITANCE FROM HER GRANDFATHER WHICH WAS IN PROBATE, BUT SHE WAS $250,000 + INDEBT AND THERE WERE SEVERAL LAWSUITS PENDING. IT WAS UNSURE EXACTLY WHAT SHE OWNED BECAUSE THE FIRE THAT CLAIMED HER LIFE ALSO DESTROYED MOST VITAL RECORDS. ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SHE HAD NOT FILED FEDERAL TAXES SINCE HER DIVORCE FROM JAY IN 1984. HARRY JUMPED RIGHT IN, HE BECAME EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE, SELLING PROPERTY, PAYING DEBTS, DEALING WITH LAWYERS, ACCOUNTANTS, AND THE IRS. HE AND HIS DAD FOUGHT FOR AND GAINEDCUSTODITY OF HIS SISTER DANNIE AND IN 20 MONTHS THE ESTATE WAS SOLVENT THOUGH FROZEN IN A BLIND TRUST TILL DANNIE TURNED 18.

      IN DEC. 1994 HARRY PURCHASED A PACKARD BELL COMPUTER FOR THE FAMILY. ( THIS WAS NOT HIS 1ST PC, THAT WAS A TEXAS INSTRUMENTS MODEL HE BOUGHT WITH HIS OWN MONEY IN THE FALL OF 1982 AT AGE 11. THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A RADIO SHACK UNIT AND THAT BY A COMMODORE PET. ) HE SURFED THE NET, VISITED CHAT ROOMS, AND MADE POSTINGS OF MOVIE NEWS ON MANY SITES. HE EVEN WROTE FOR THE INFAMOUS DRUGE REPORT. IN JAN. 1996 HE GAVE IN TO POPULAR DEMAND AND OPENED HIS "AIN'T IT COOL NEWS" WEB PAGE. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY "THYME", THE AUSTRALIAN SCI-FI NEWS MAGAZINE, CONTACTED HIM ABOUT WRITING FOR THEM WHICH HE DID OVER SEVERAL ISSUES. THEN HE HAD A STORY PRINTED IN A BRITISH SCI-FI MAGAZINE AND IN SOME STAR WARS FAN MAGS.. IN THE LATE SPRING OF 96 "THE BOSTON GLOBE" RAN A FRONT PAGE STORY ON HARRY. HE WAS BEGINNING TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN SEVERAL SMALL DESKTOP PUBLICATIONS,

      EARLY IN 1997 "WIRED" MAGAZINE RAN A FEATURE ON HIM, AND THEN IN MARCH AN ARTICLE ON HARRY APPEARED IN PARIS' SLICK "SPECTATEUR" MAGAZINE THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT FRANCE, BELGIUM, & HOLLAND. FINALLY IN APRIL 97 A LITTLE LOCAL RECOGNITION CAME HIS WAY AS THE "AUSTIN CHRONICLE" DID A STORY ON THE "KING GEEK" AND ASKED HIM TO JOIN THEIR STAFF "DOING WHAT YOU DO BEST." THE BIG BREAK CAME IN EARLY MAY 97 WITH THE PUBLISHING OF A 3 PAGE STORY ON HARRY & HIS SPECIAL BRAND OF "GONZO JOURNALISM" IN THE INTERNATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY" . HIS FEATURE COLUMN DEBUTED IN LATE MAY IN THE MAJOR MOVIE MAGAZINE "SCI-FI UNIVERSE". THAT SAME WEEK HIS PREMIERE AS A COLUMNIST IN THE "AUSTIN CHRONICLE" OCCURRED. IN JUNE "PEOPLE MAGAZINE" DID A STORY ON HIM, AS DID LONDON'S 2ND LARGEST NEWSPAPER "THE GUARDIAN" THAT MONTH HE WAS FEATURED ON THE "TODAY IN LA" TV SHOW, HIS SITE WAS SHOWN ON "ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT", AND HE STARTED A LIVE TALK RADIO SHOW "QUIET ON THE SET" BEAMED OUT OF LAS VEGAS FROM KVBC-FM 105.1 ON SUNDAY NIGHTS. ABC RADIO NATIONAL, BASED OUT OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, TRANSMITTED A LIVE RADIO BROADCAST TO THE ENTIRE SOUTH PACIFIC AREA ( NEW ZEALAND, TASMANIA, BORNEO, TAHITI, INDONESIA, THAILAND, ETC.) ON THE SUBJECT OF HARRY, BATMAN, AND THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AT THE END OF JUNE. HARRY HAS BEEN INTERVIEWED BY "ROLLING STONE", "FORBES ASAP", "THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER", AND BOTH THE "LA TIMES" AND THE "NY TIMES". SELDOM A DAY GOES BY THAT HE IS NOT CONTACTED BY SOMEONE CONNECTED TO THE FILM INDUSTRY; PRODUCERS, WRITERS, REVIEWERS, OR EFFECTS PEOPLE. HE HAS BEEN APPROACHED FOR PAID WRITING POSITIONS (SEVERAL OF WHICH HE ACCEPTED) ON THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED "FILM THREAT" MAGAZINE, "FILM SCORE" MAGAZINE, ENGLAND'S "STARBURST" & "NEON" MAGAZINES, PREMIERE MAGAZINE, "TOON" MAGAZINE, NEW YORK MAGAZINE, AND TIME/WARNER BOOKS. QUENTIN TARANTINO HAS DUBBED HIM "THE WOLF BLITZER OF THE INTERNET" AND GEORGE LUKAS HAS SAID "I ADMIRE YOUR SPIRIT... YOU HAVE BEEN HIGHLY TOUTED TO ME AS THE KING OF INTERNET MOVIE NEWS."

      MAJOR FEATURE STORY ARTICLES HAVE BEEN PRINTED ON HARRY IN " WEB ", " DETOUR ", " VENT ", "NEWSWEEK", " MILLIMETER ", " US ", " YAHOO ", " TOON ", "EMPIRE", "SPIN", " VARIETY ", "JAM", " SWING ", "DETAILS", "TEXAS MONTHLY", "INC.", "COMPUTER LIFE", "AGE", "SPIRIT", AND " THE NEW YORK TIMES " MAGAZINES. HE HAS ALSO HAD FEATURE STORIES ON HIM APPEAR IN " THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ", " USA TODAY ", " NY POST ", "THE KANSAS CITY STAR", "THE DARTMOUTH", "THE LA TIMES ", " SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE ", "TORONTO STAR", " DETROIT FREE PRESS ", "DALLAS MORNING NEWS", "THE HOOSIER REVIEW", "THE INDEPENDENT", "THE OTTAWA CITIZEN", "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS", "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE ", "THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER", "THE NASHVILLE SCENE", SOUTH AFRICA'S "SUNDAY TIMES", AND OVER 550 OTHER STORIES ABOUT HARRY HAVE BEEN PRINTED IN NEWSPAPERS AROUND THE WORLD FROM ISRAEL TO NORWAY, FROM CANADA TO SPAIN TO THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK. MANY INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINES HAVE BEEN COVERING HARRY'S STORY, THEY INCLUDE GERMANY'S "DER STERN" AND "FOCUS", HOLLAND'S "VOLKSKRANT" AND "MOVIE", FRANCE'S "COURRIER INTERNATIONAL" AND "SFX", SPAIN'S "DIARIO", AND BRAZIL'S "SET MAGAZINE". HE HAS APPEARED IN DOZENS OF BRITISH MAGAZINES INCLUDING A MAJOR PHOTO ESSAY IN THE ISSUE OF THE " LONDON SUNDAY MIRROR " THAT BROKE THE PRINCESS DI DEATH STORY. HE WAS EVEN FEATURED IN GLORIOUS COLOR IN THE AMERICAN GROCERY STORE TABLOID " THE STAR".
     
      THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 100 TALK RADIO SHOWS WITH HARRY (INCLUDING HOWARD STERN) BROADCAST AROUND THE WORLD AND DOZENS OF TV SHOW APPEARANCES, INCLUDING THE BRITISH ISLES' "EBC NETWORK", AND "BBC WORLD", " NBC ALL NIGHT", " DUTCH NAT. TV ", " TNT ROUGH CUT", " ZDF GERMAN NAT. TV", " HARDCOPY", " E ENTERTAINMENT ", MEXICO CITY TV, " EXTRA ", " BRAZILIAN NAT. TV ", " GOOD MORNING AMERICA ", " CANAL 1 FRENCH NAT. TV ", " CBS LATENIGHT ", GALA VISION, FOX NETWORK NEWS, "JAPANESE NAT. TV", "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS", "3SAT GERMAN LANG. SATELLITE TV", "INSIDE EDITION", "ORF AUSTRIAN NAT. TV", "MSNBC", AND " ACCESS HOLLYWOOD ". AT LEAST ONE DOCUMENTARY HAS BEEN SHOT ON HARRY, THAT BY A HAMBURG, GERMANY FILM TEAM FOR "LUFTHANSA AIRLINES" TO BE VIEWED BY ALL INTERNATIONAL FLYERS IN APRIL OF 98. DURING THE SUMMER OF 98 HBO FILMS PRODUCED AN INDEPENDENT SHORT FICTIONAL FILM ABOUT HARRY CALLED "APOCALYPSE KNOWLES" FOR THEIR CABLE NETWORK. ON 4-24-99 HARRY APPEARED IN THE LATE GENE SISKEL'S CHAIR AS THE GUEST CRITIC ON THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED "SISKEL AND EBERT, AT THE MOVIES" SHOW BEAMED OUT OF CHICAGO TO A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE. THIS WAS BEYOND A DREAM COME TRUE, IT WAS A NEVER EVEN DREAMED IT COULD POSSIBLY IN A MILLION YEARS HAPPEN EXPERIENCE.

      IN LATE 1997 " WIRED " MAGAZINE PUT HARRY AT # 10 ON ITS LIST OF 25 PEOPLE THAT ARE CHANGING HOLLYWOOD THRU TECHNOLOGY; " MOVIELINE " MAGAZINE PLACED HIM AT #82 ON ITS LIST OF 100 BEST THINGS TO HAPPEN TO HOLLYWOOD; " ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY " PICKED HIM AS THE 101ST MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, ( HE WAS AT 25 THE YOUNGEST ON THE LIST ); AND IN JUNE OF 1999 " PREMIERE MAGAZINE " SELECTED HIM TO THEIR 100 MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN ENTERTAINMENT LIST (#98). AT LEAST ONE HARDCOVER BOOK HAS COVERED HARRY, THAT BEING "TITANIC AND THE MAKING OF JAMES CAMERON" BY PAULA PAULSI WHICH DEVOTED 3 PAGES TO THE PART HARRY PLAYED IN THE SUCCESS OF THAT MOTION PICTURE.

      IN EARLY NOV. 97 A LIFELONG DREAM CAME TRUE FOR HARRY WHEN THE PRODUCERS OF " STARSHIP TROOPERS " FLEW HARRY TO HOLLYWOOD FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE AND 2 DAYS OF WORLDWIND PARTIES AND POWER LUNCHES. HIS HEAD STILL SPINNING 10 DAYS LATER HE AND HIS DAD WERE FLOWN BACK TO LA FOR THE PREMIERE OF THE " ALIEN 4 " FILM AND 4 DAYS OF TRIPS BEHIND THE SCENES AT 4 DIFFERENT STUDIOS. ON THIS TRIP HARRY ADDRESSED A PACKED HALL, AT THE PLUSH L.A. OMNI HOTEL (WHERE WE WERE PUT UP), FILLED WITH HOLLYWOOD EXECS WHO GREETED HIM WITH THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE. UPON HIS RETURN TO AUSTIN HARRY CHECKED HIS E-MAIL ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE FLOWN TO THE PRESTIGIOUS " SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL " ON UTAH'S SKI SLOPES IN JANUARY OF 98. HARRY WAS PICKED TO ADDRESS THE GATHERING OF TOP INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS. HARRY WAS ALSO CHOSEN TO BE ONE OF THE JUDGES AT THE 21ST ANNUAL ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL IN 1998, HE WAS FLOWN TO THE CAPITOL OF DIXIE FOR 5 DAYS IN MAR.OF 98 WHERE IN ADDITION TO JUDGING OVER 70 FILMS HE GAVE THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE EVENT. HE WAS BACK IN AUSTIN ONLY 18 HOURS WHEN HE HAD TO CATCH A FLIGHT TO LAS VEGAS FOR THE SHO-WEST CONFERENCE AS THE GUEST OF DEAN DEVLIN & ROLAND EMMERICK, THE WRITING-DIRECTING-PRODUCING TEAM OF SUCH MEGA HITS AS "STARGATE", "INDEPENDENCE DAY" ,AND "GODZILLA." HE WAS BACK TO SLEEP ON HIS NATIVE SOIL ONLY A SCANT 30 HOURS WHEN HE BEGAN THE 10 DAY SXSW FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL HERE IN AUSTIN. HE SPOKE ON VARIOUS PANELS & DISCUSSION GROUPS, AND WATCHED ANOTHER 35+MOVIES. THEN AT THE END OF MAR. "DREAMWORKS" FLEW HARRY UP TO DALLAS TO PARTY AND PREVIEW SOME OF THEIR FILMS FOR 1998. IN LATE MAY HE AND A GUEST WERE FLOWN ALL EXPENSES PAID TO NEW YORK FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE NEW "GODZILLA". HE & HIS FATHER WERE THE GUESTS OF THE DIRECTOR AT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "ARMAGEDDON" AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER ON JUNE 29TH FOLLOWED BY A SPACE SHUTTLE SIDE CONCERT BY "ARROWSMITH" AND A FEAST BENEATH A SATURN 3 ROCKET. UNIVERSAL PICTURES FLEW HARRY TO LONDON AUG.12-15 TO TOUR THE SET OF THEIR UPCOMING "MUMMY" MOTION PICTURE. FURTHER, HE SPOKE AT CANADA'S BANFF INTERNATIONAL TV FESTIVAL JUNE 7-14 OF 98; AND AT THE "SIX CRITICS ON TODAY'S CINEMA" AT WASHINGTON DC'S SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ON JULY 22-24, 1998, HE SPOKE FOR OVER 4 1/2 HOURS, SHOWING OBSCURE FILM CLIPS TO THE STANDING ROOM ONLY AUDIENCE OF OVER 850; HE AND I WERE THE GUESTS OF HONOR AT "DRAGONCON", A NATIONAL SCI FI/FANTASY CONVENTION IN ATLANTA ON THE 2ND -6TH OF SEPT. ALSO IN SEPT WE WERE FLOWN TO THE WORLD PREMIERE OF JACKIE CHAN'S "RUSH HOUR" AT HOLLYWOOD'S FAMED CHINESE THEATER. IN 1999 HARRY WAS A GUEST OF HONOR AT THE TORONTO FILM FEST IN CANADA, THE ROTTERDAM NATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN HOLLAND, THE WINNIPEG CANADA FESTIVAL, THE CONVERGENCE FESTIVAL IN MINNEAPOLIS MN, AND OF COURSE SXSW HERE IN AUSTIN.

      THE MEDIA FRENZY, HARRY'S 15 MINUTES AS WARHOL PUT IT, IS UNRELENTING IN ITS ATTACK. AT THE END OF JAN.OF 98 VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE FLEW HARRY OUT TO IT'S BEVERLY HILLS OFFICES TO DRESS HIM IN ARMANI CLOTHES AND SHOOT HIM FOR THEIR UPCOMING "HOLLYWOOD" ISSUE. ON FEB. 1ST A 7 PAGE ARTICLE ON HARRY WITH A FULL PAGE PHOTO TO BOOT APPEARED IN US MAGAZINE, ON THE 2ND HIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN NEW YORK MAGAZINE, ON THE 3RD THERE WAS A NEWSWEEK PHOTO SHOOT AT THE HOUSE, ON THE 4TH HAIR WAS WRITTEN UP IN PLAYBOY, (NO, NOT THE LETTERS COLUMN), ON THE 7TH HE WAS IN THE STATESMAN'S GOSSIP COLUMN, ON THE 8TH HE VISITED 20 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS IN PARADE MAGAZINE, ON THE 10TH KEYE TV FILMED AT THE HOUSE, ON THE 11TH A TEAM OF REPORTER-PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM THE LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (IT'S LARGEST NEWSPAPER) SPENT THE DAY WITH US, ON THE 12TH HE APPEARED IN THE NEW YORK POST AGAIN, ON THE 13TH CRACKED MAGAZINE CALLED AND TALKED FOR 90 MINUTES, ON THE 14TH WE LUNCHED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF CENTROPOLIS SPECIAL EFFECTS, ON THE 16TH HE HIT THE STANDS IN THE BRITISH PUBLISHED NEON MAGAZINE AND HAD AN IN DEPTH ARTICLE APPEAR IN "THE DARTMOUTH", ON THE 22ND A SPECIAL 2 PART FEATURE STORY ON HARRY AIRED NATIONWIDE ON THE FOX NEWS NETWORK, ON THE 26TH RONALD REAGEN JR., HIS PRODUCER, CAMERAMAN, & SOUND MAN ALL SPENT FROM 8AM TILL 7PM WITH US FILMING & RECORDING EVERYTHING WE DID OR SAID ALL DAY EVERYWHERE FROM EACH ROOM OF THE HOUSE, TO THREADGIL'S CAFE, TO GLEN'S BARN, TO STARBUCK'S COFFEE, TO BARNES&NOBLE BOOKS, TO WAITING IN LINE FOR THE ADVANCED SCREENING OF "THE BIG LEBOWSKI" , ALL FOR REAGEN'S CABLE SHOW WITH IT'S WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE. AS HARD AS THIS MONTH IS TO BELIEVE, IT IS REALLY QUITE TYPICAL OF HARRY'S LIFE SINCE JUNE OF 97, WITH NOV. 97 & MAR. 98 BEING

  More About HARRY JAY KNOWLES:
BOY SCOUTS: EAGLE SCOUT WITH 2 PALMS,ORDER OF THE ARROW,JR. ASST. SCOUTMASTER,85 NAT. JAMBO
CLUBS: AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY,SEYMOUR DEBATE CLUB,SEYMOUR DRAMA CLUB,ACC DRAMA,FFA,
COMPANIES: PORTWOOD RANCH & CO,JAY'S 20TH CENTURY ESOTERICA,AINT-IT-COOL-NEWS.COM
Education: SEYMOUR HIGH SCHOOL,AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 89-92,RTF MAJOR
Friends: DENNIS CAMPA,ROLAND DIRK DENOIE,EDWARD SHELTON,PAUL HART,GLEN OLIVER
HOBBIES: ART,WRITING,MOTION PICTURES&RELATED SUBJECTS,SAX&TROMBONE,COLLECTS MONSTER MASK
IN MEMORIAM: FOR HARRY PORTWOOD&JAY W.KNOWLES,TARANTINO DUBBED"WOLF BLITZER OF CYBER SPACE"
Medical Information: DREADED EAR INFECTIONS EVERY 4-5 YEARS
Occupation: GONZO JOURNALIST,POP COLLECTIBLES DEALER,RANCH,FARM,& OIL INTERESTS
PETS: OLD JOHN WAS A FAVORITE HORSE, DOCTOR DOMENTO WAS HIS FAVORITE DOG
POLITICAL SER: WORKED FOR"CLEAN-WATER-ACTION"A CITIZEN'S WATCHDOG GRP & VOLS AT STATE FILM LIBR
RELIGIOUS: "MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU"
SPORTS: CITY OF AUSTIN SWIMMING 77-83,WON RIBBONS FOR BACKSTROKE,BREASTSTROKE,AND RELAY
  ii.   DANNIE HELEN LORAINE KNOWLES, b. May 31, 1981, AUSTIN, TRAVIS CO., TEXAS, USA.
  Notes for DANNIE HELEN LORAINE KNOWLES:
      DANNIE HELEN LORRAINE KNOWLES WAS CONCEIVED IN A GOLDEN "FORTY-NINER" STYLE TENT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE "TEXAS RENESIANCE FESTIVAL" SOMETIME DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF AUGUST, 1980. JAY , HELEN, AND HARRY ALONG WITH ARTIST WALTER FALK AND POTTER PHIL GILES WERE AT THE SITE DEEP IN THE PINEY WOODS NORTH OF HOUSTON, TEXAS CAMPING AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE BOOTHS WHICH THEY WOULD BE SELLING THEIR CRAFTS FROM IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR.

      IN 1980, ACCORDING TO THE U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, THERE WERE 39,844 KNOWLES' IN THEIR FILES AND IT WAS THE 1110TH MOST COMMON NAME IN THOSE FILES! JAY AND HELEN DECIDED TO WORK TO INCREASE THOSE NUMBERS.            

ON MEMORIAL WEEKEND, 1981 AUSTIN FOUND ITSELF IN ONE OF IT'S WORST FLOODS OF THE CENTURY. 13 PEOPLE DROWNED IN TOWN, ONE WITHIN BLOCKS OF JAY AND HELEN KNOWLES' HOUSE IN HYDE PARK NEAR WALLER CREEK. ONE WOMAN'S BODY WAS NEVER FOUND. HELEN WAS NEAR TERM AT JUST UNDER 9 MONTHS. AT THE HEIGHT OF THE STORMS IN THE PRE-DAWN HOURS AS RAIN POURED FROM THE SKY HELEN'S WATER BROKE! TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL JAY AND HARRY HAD TO CROSS TWO VERY SWOLLEN CREEKS WITH AN EXTREMELY COMBATIVE HELEN JANE. THEY MADE IT AND DANNIE WAS DELIVERED AT 8:39 AM BY DR. ROGER MENDELSON AT SEATON HOSPITAL ON THE BANKS OF DEADLY SHOAL CREEK. THE CREEK HAD CLAIMED 7 LIVES THAT NIGHT. DANNIE WEIGHED IN AT 6 POUNDS AND 7 OUNCES. SHE WAS 19 INCHES TALL AND HAD A 12 AND 1 HALF INCH BUST. THE WOMAN WHO HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND WAS A DOCTOR TRYING TO CROSS SHOAL CREEK. ALTHOUGH HELEN'S WATER BROKE AT THE HOUSE SHE WAS IN LABOR ABOUT 5 HOURS AT THE HOSPITAL.

DANNIE HELEN LORAINE KNOWLES WAS NAMED AFTER TWO GREAT GRAND AUNTS WHO NEVER HAD CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN. ON HER FATHER'S SIDE THERE WAS LORAINE WARD CRAVEY AND ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE THERE WAS DANNIE PORTWOOD FANCHER. BOTH WOMEN'S HUSBANDS DIED EARLY AND THE WIDOWS NEVER REMARRIED. DANNIE PORTWOOD WAS NAMED AFTER THE TEXAS RANCHING LEGEND DANIEL WAGGONER, A CLOSE FRIEND OF HER FATHER . THE HELEN WAS INCLUDED IN HER NAME BECAUSE THE 1ST BORN FEMALE CHILD IN EACH GENERATION ALONG HER MOTHER'S LINE FOR AT LEAST 7 GENERATIONS WAS NAMED HELEN. HER GODFATHER WAS ROLAND DENOIE WHO DIED FROM A GUNSHOT TO THE HEAD IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1988.

      IN DECEMBER OF 1982 DANNIE WOULD MAKE HER 1ST TRIP TO MEXICO. IT WOULD BE A 3 WEEK STAY IN SAN MIGUEL ALLENDE AND MEXICO CITY. SHE LOVED THE NIGHT LIT SPIRES OF THE CENTRAL CHURCH AND THE 10S OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS THAT WERE EVERYWHERE. SHE PLAYED FOR HOURS IN THE PARKS WITH THE LOCAL KIDS AND WAS AMAZED AT THE GARDENS OF THE COURTYARD OF THEIR LODGINGS, BURSTING WITH GIANT BRIGHTLY COLORED FLOWERS. THIS CENTRAL LIVING AREA ALSO HELD RABBITS AND MANY BEAUTIFUL, EXOTIC BIRDS WITH WHOM SHE PLAYED. SHE RODE A PACK BURRO TO COLLECT FIREWOOD FOR THEIR ROOMS AND TRIED HER FOOT AT SOCCER WITH KIDS HER AGE IN THE CENTRAL JARDIN. SHE RODE THE "AZTEC EAGLE" TRAIN FOR 15 HOURS BACK TO THE BORDER.

      AS A RESULT OF THE 1984 DIVORCE DANNIE WOULD SPEND HER YEARS BETWEEN 1984 AND 1992 IN A FAIRLY LONELY LIFE AT THE ROUND TIMBERS RANCH 28 MILES EAST OF SEYMOUR AND ABOUT 60 MILES SOUTH OF WICHITA FALLS. SHE HAD HER BROTHER, BUT AS HE GOT MORE INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF A TEENAGER SHE WOULD BE BE LEFT ALONE WITH HER IMAGINATION WHICH SHE BEGIN TO EXPLORE IN DETAIL.THE MANY ANIMALS AT THE RANCH BECAME HER REAL PLAYMATES AND THE DOZENS OF DOGS HER GUARDIAN ANGELS. SHE QUICKLY NAMED EVERYTHING THAT MOVED AND MADE PETS OF PIGS, GOATS, CHICKENS, AND HORSES.

      SHE MADE A LOT OF SMALL TRIPS AS HER DAD WOULD COME AND GET HER EVERY OTHER WEEKEND. THEY WOULD GO TO DALLAS, FORT WORTH, WICHITA FALLS, BUT MOSTLY AUSTIN ON THESE 2 DAY VISITS. SHE BURNED UP A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES IN THOSE YEARS. IT WAS A 12 HOUR ROUND TRIP TAKEN IN A 48 HOUR VISIT, SO HER FATHER WOULD ATTEMPT TO CRAM A LOT OF EXPERIENCES INTO EACH OF THOSE PERIODS THEY HAD TOGETHER. THEY WOULD GO TO ZOOS, CIRCUS', MOVIES, PARTIES, PLAYS, CONCERTS, THEMEPARKS, ANYTHING TO MAKE THE VISIT MEMORABLE SO IT WOULD SEEM TO LAST LONGER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS A YOUNG DAUGHTER OF FELLOW CRAFTSMAN MARIA THOMAS WOULD HELP WATCH DANNIE WHEN JAY HAD HER AT THE ARTS WAREHOUSE STUDIO HE SHARED WITH WALTER FALK AND BEKI CLARKE. ELIZA AND HER YOUNGER SISTER WOULD PLAY WITH DANNIE AND GENERALLY KEEP HER ENTERTAINED DURING THE LONG SUMMER DAYS IN 1985 AND 1986. ON DECEMBER 6, 1991 ELIZA AND 3 GIRLFRIENDS WERE BUTCHERED IN AUSTIN'S MOST SAVAGE AND BIZARRE UNSOLVED MURDER. THE GIRLS WERE CLOSING UP THE " I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S YOGURT " SHOP A FEW BLOCKS FROM WERE DANNIE NOW LIVES WHEN THEY WERE ATTACKED, RAPED, TORTURED, KILLED, AND THEN SET ON FIRE.

      IN DECEMBER OF 1992 SHE WOULD MOVE TO AUSTIN TO LIVE WITH HER DAD AND BROTHER. JAY SOON BECAME AWARE THAT DANNIE HAD NEVER SEEN IN PERSON THE SEA, A REAL MOUNTAIN, OR EVEN A DESERT, SO HE AND HARRY BEGAN TO PLAN AN EPIC TOUR OF THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST. THEY WOULD SET OFF IN AUGUST OF 1993 FOR A 23 DAY ADVENTURE AIMED AT GIVING DANNIE AN EXPERIENCE SHE COULD NEVER FORGET. THEY WENT TO GRANT N.M., ICE CAVES WITH 200,000 YEAR OLD ICE, LAVA BEDS, VOLCANO RIMS, 2000 YEAR OLD INDIAN CLIFF CITIES LIKE EL MORO, THE PAINTED DESERT, THE PETRIFIED FOREST, THEY FLEW IN A 4 SEATER INTO THE GRAND CANYON, LAS VEGAS, DEATH VALLEY AT 200' BELOW SEA LEVEL AND THEN YOSEMITE VALLEY WITH IT'S GIANT RED WOODS AT 10,000' ABOVE SEA LEVEL, SNOW IN AUGUST, THEY TREKKED THE 49ER TRAIL,SAN FRANCISCO, HIGHWAY #1 AND IT'S SEA CLIFFS 1000' HIGH, THE CASTLE OF SAN SIMEON, HOLLYWOOD, THE ACKER MANSION AND IT'S COLLECTIONS, UNIVERSAL CITY, DISNEYLAND, SAN DIEGO AND ITS ZOO, TOMBSTONE, AND FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS AMONG OTHERS. DANNIE SWAM IN THE FRIGID PACIFIC, CLIMBED CLIFFS, VISITED MUSEUMS AND EXPLORED MASSIVE PRIVATE COLLECTIONS, SHE SAW MOVIES IN BEAUTIFUL FILM PALACES AND VISITED UNBELIEVABLE LUSH MANSIONS, SHE STOOD AT THE BASE OF 400' TREES AND FELT THE FREEZING COLD WINDS BLOWING OUT OF 4 MILE DEEP LAVA TUBES. THEN THERE WAS THE FOOD. THERE WERE DOZENS OF WORLD CLASS MEALS AT SOME OF OUR COUNTRY'S MOST FAMOUS, LANDMARK SPOTS. DANNIE TRIED DUCK, SQUID, CONCH, SUSHI, CALAMARI, LEG-OF-LAMB, AND LOTS OF OTHER EXOTIC STUFF. SHE ATE IN CHINATOWN, JAPANTOWN, AND GREEKTOWN. SHE TASTED THE DELIGHTS OF NORTH BEACH ITALIAN MAFIOSO CAFES, SHIEK MELROSE PLACE WALKUPS, FISHERMAN'S WHARF'S VENDORS, BRITISH PUBS, AND MOVIE STAR'S HAUNTS. SHE STUFFED HERSELF AT HIPPIE ESPRESSO BARS, ITALIAN BAKERIES, SOUTHWESTERN BLUECORN HEAVENS, KOSHER DELIS, AND ARNOLD'S PLANET HOLLYWOOD. ONLY ONCE DURING THE 23 DAYS WOULD SHE EAT SOMETHING ORDINARY AT SOMEPLACE NORMAL, AND THAT WAS AN ACT OF SHEAR DESPERATION ONE HOT L.A. AFTERNOON, WHEN EXHAUSTED EVERYONE WENT FOR WHAT -A- BURGERS NEXT DOOR TO A HOLLYWOOD COMICBOOK SHOP ON VINE. IT WAS ON THIS TRIP THAT SHE WOULD MEET DOZENS OF COMICBOOK ARTISTS INCLUDING JACK KIRBY, BERNI WRIGHTSON, DAVE STEVENS, MIKE PLOOG, MATT GROENING, TRINA ROBBINS, STAN LEE, MIKE KALUTA, WILL EISNER AND JEFF JONES. SHE WOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH UNCLE FORREY, FORREST J. ACKERMAN ( PUBLISHER OF FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND ) AND HIS COLLECTIONS FILLED 4 STORY HOUSE. AT THIS WRITING IN 1995 SHE HAS VISITED WITH FORREY ON 3 OCCASIONS.                                                 FROM MAY 30 THRU JUNE 2 ND OF 1996 DANNIE EXPLORED NEW YORK CITY. THE VIKING BAND WENT THERE TO PLAY ON THE "TODAY" SHOW AND TO PERFORM A CONCERT AT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. DRESSED IN HER FORMAL POWDER BLUE BEADED GOWN SHE HAD SUPPER THE 1ST NIGHT AT THE MANHATTAN HARD ROCK CAFE UNDER A BEAUTIFUL JIMI HENDRIX OUTFIT & SIGNED GUITAR FOLLOWED BY AN EVENING PERFORMANCE OF "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" AT BROADWAY'S HISTORIC MAJESTIC THEATRE. THE 2 CONCERTS OCCURRED ON HER BIRTHDAY AND SHE SAW A METS-DODGERS GAME AT SHEA STADIUM LATER THAT NIGHT. ON THE 1ST SHE TOURED THE CITY; WALKING THE CANYONS OF 5TH AVE.; CLIMBING TO THE HEIGHTS OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING; LUNCHING AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER; PHOTOGRAPHING THE HARLEM THEATRE, THE CORNER WHERE JOHN LENNON WAS KILLED, ST, PATRICK'S, & GRANT'S TOMB AMONG OTHER SPOTS FROM THE DOCKS TO THE VILLAGE. THAT NIGHT SHE SLIPPED INTO HER SLINKY CRUSHED BLACK VELVET DRESS & FULL LENGTH VICTORIAN BLACK LEATHER COAT AND WAS OFF TO BROADWAY AGAIN, THIS TIME TO THE IMPERIAL THEATRE TO EXPERIENCE "LES MISERABLES" AFTER A GREAT MEAL IN AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT WHERE SHE WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE OWNER AS AN AUSTIN MOVIE POSTER DEALER. WHAT A RUSH!!!!

      1997 WAS A TROUBLED YEAR FOR DANNIE. SHE FELL IN WITH THE WRONG CROWD FROM SCHOOL, EXPERIMENTED WITH DRUGS, AND HER GRADES FELL OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE SCALE, SHE DROPPED OUT OF BAND, AND SHUT HER DAD AND BROTHER OUT OF HER LIFE. LUCKILY SHE RECOGNIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER AND RESOLVED TO TURN HERSELF AROUND. IN EARLY 98 SHE WENT COLD TURKEY, CUTTING HERSELF OFF FROM THE DRUGS AND THUGS WHO HAD LED HER TO THEM. IT WOULD WORK.

      AT 5:30AM ON APRIL 14TH OF 1998 DANNIE REPORTED TO THE SET OF DIRECTOR ROBERT (DUST TO DAWN) RODRIGUEZ & WRITER KEVIN (SCREAM) WILLIAMSON'S NEW HORROR MOVIE FOR EXTENSIVE MAKEUP AND COSTUME TESTS. FOR YOU SEE DANNIE HAD BEEN CAST AS "TATTOOED-PIERCED GIRL #2" IN THE LATEST HIGH SCHOOL/TEENAGED SCIENCE FICTION-HORROR-THRILLER. THE FILM TO STAR ELIJA (DEEP IMPACT,ICE STORM) WOOD, ROBERT (TERMINATOR 2) PATRICK, JOSH (HALLOWEEN H2O) HARNETT, SELMA (DUST TO DAWN,DESPERADO) HAYEK, FAMKE (GOLDENEYE, DEEP RISING) JANSSEN, CLEA (LITTLE WITCHES) DUVALL, BEBE (CHEERS,JUMANJI) NEUWIRTH, DUANE (SCREAM II) MARTIN, MEGAN (MILLENNIUM) GALLAGHER, SHAWN (THE POSTMAN,IN & OUT) HATOSY, JORDANA (AS THE WORLD TURNS) BREWSTER, DANIEL (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS,BASIC INSTINCT) BARGEN, CHRIS (THE HEARSE, THELMA & LOUISE) McDONALD, LAURA (SUICIDE KINGS) HARRIS, AND PIPER (CARRIE,THE HUSTLER) LAURIE WOULD NEED DANNIE'S SERVICES FOR 15 DAYS OF SHOOTING OUT AT THE OLD TEXAS STATE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF ON SOUTH CONGRESS IN AUSTIN AND OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THE HILL COUNTRY. DANNIE'S CHARACTER HAS SEVERAL KEY SCENES, INCLUDING CLOSE UPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH SOME OF THE MAIN ACTORS. DANNIE WOULD ACTUALLY PLAY 2 DIFFERENT CHARACTERS IN THE FILM, A DISTURBED LONER STUDENT AND LATER THAT STUDENT POSSESSED BY THE ALIEN ENTITY. MANY OF THE ACTORS AND CREW (APPROX. 30) OF THE FILM ATTENDED DANNIE'S 17TH BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH ABOUT 40 OTHERS TO EAT BARBIE-QUE & CAKE, AND WATCH 16MM MOVIES (TIME AFTER TIME, ABBY,ETC.) & BETTY BOOP CARTOONS IN THE BACKYARD TILL DAWN.

      THE SUMMER OF 98 DANNIE SPENT GOING TO SUMMER SCHOOL, NOT ONLY DID SHE MAKE UP HER FAILED GRADES, BUT SHE ACTUALLY ENTERED THE FALL SEMESTER OF SCHOOL AHEAD OF WHERE SHE NEEDED TO BE. SHE DOUBLED UP ON CLASSES THAT SEMESTER AND MANAGED TO FINISH UP HIGH SCHOOL 1/2 A YEAR EARLY ON DECEMBER 16, 1998, THE SAME DAY SHE WOULD ATTEND THE WORLD PREMIERE OF HER MOVIE "THE FACULTY".      COOL!!! DANNIE WORE HER ULTRA HIP, UBER COOL, CUSTOM MADE, 100% LEATHER, SKIN-TIGHT, ENGLISH/GERMAN MOTORCYCLE SUIT TO THE PREMIERE AT AUSTIN'S MOVIE PALACE, THE PARAMOUNT. SHE ATTENDED THE PRE-PARTY $100 A TICKET AFFAIR AT ANTONE'S HOME OF THE BLUES WITH LOBO, HER BRO & DAD, ERIC, JASON, REBECCA, JED, AND ABOUT 400 OTHER GUESTS. WHERE THEY LISTENED TO THE LIVE BLUES SOUNDS WHILE THEY OVERSTUFFED THEMSELVES WITH SMOKED SALMON, CRAB QUICE, ROAST BEEF, PATE, AND OTHER DELIGHTS. THEN IT WAS OFF TO SEE HER ON THE GIANT SCREEN IN SDDS SURROUND SOUND FROM FORTH ROW CENTER OF THE GLORIOUS PARAMOUNT THEATRE WITH 1300 HYPED FILM FANS. SHE AND HER GROUP THEN TREKKED OVER TO THE LIBERTY LUNCH FOR THE "AFTER" PARTY WERE SHE WAS JOINED BY ROLAND, MARCUS, ANDY, SANDI, TALINE, AND ABOUT 800 OTHERS TO ROCK TO THE SOUNDS OF FLAME TRICK SUBS AND CATCH THE EROTIC MOVES OF SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS. HER CORE GROUP OF 18 (THE ABOVE NAMES PLUS 4 PARIS GEEKS AND ANOTHER FROM CLEVELAND) THEN DROVE TO THE 24 HOUR KERBY LANE CAFE FOR EARLY MORNING MUNCHIES AND RIOTOUS GEEKING-OUT OVER THE NEW TEENAGE/MONSTER/THRILLER MOTION PICTURE EPIC THEY'D JUST EXPERIENCED. NOT TOO SHABBY OF A GRADUATION PARTY NIGHT, HUH? WELL? CAN YOU TOP IT?                                                            

  More About DANNIE HELEN LORAINE KNOWLES:
BOY SCOUTS: WAS A BROWNIE IN GSA.,
CLUBS: LANIER ART CLUB
COMPANIES: PORTWOOD RANCH & COMPANY,JAY'S 20TH CENTURY ESOTERICA
Education: SEYMOUR ELEM.,BURNET MID.SCH.AISD.,LANIER H.SCH.AISD.,
Friends: CIARA GAMMON,JANETA LUNA,MARY ANDERSON
HOBBIES: SEWING,ART,BEADING, PLAYS THE TRUMPET,COLLECTS DOLLS&FEMALE ACTION FIGURES
IN MEMORIAM: NAMED FOR DANNIE PORTWOOD AND LORAINE WARD,HER MOM CALLED HER "ROSEBUD"
Occupation: RANCH,FARM,& OIL INTERESTS,POP CULTURE COLLECTIBLES
PETS: DONOTELLO&BABYFACE HORSES,SPLINTER TURTLE,HOUDINI GERBIL,SADIE DOG,RAPTOR GECKO,
RELIGIOUS: June 21, 1996, DELEGATE TO THE TEXAS BAPTIST EVANGELISM CONFERENCE IN DALLAS AT REUNION ARENA
SPORTS: SEYMOUR GIRLS BASKETBALL 90-92,SHIPE SWIMNING TEAM 93,ICE SKATING


Page 67 of 188

Prev Page Prev Item Contents Index Go to Page Home Page Next Item Next Page

Home | Help | About Us | Biography.com | HistoryChannel.com | Site Index | Terms of Service | PRIVACY
© 2009 Ancestry.com