You know, sir, that was an interesting job, managing that privately-owned student union; it was my first encounter in life with big-time confidence men.
The building was owned by the chairman of the First Congressional District (Nebraska, seat of the capital, Lincoln) Democratic Party.
Just before I came along, it was managed by the president of the Lancaster County Young Democrats.
My predecessor as manager got fired because he was skimming the till, going on trips with fellow Young Democrats to New York, to Chicago, to Las Vegas.
I bumped into this job by accident. I lasted in it for four years, four times longer than my four predecessors put together (read that again), and ran an honest and open and tight ship. It was great.
The owner owned an insurance company, which preoccupied most of his time, separate from anything involved with me.
The owner, this prominent Democratic personality in Nebraska, was discovered to have kited more than $7,000,000 in checks from his insurance company.....five minutes after he had put a gun inside his mouth, in January 2002.
I wrote about it, and my story was used by the Lincoln Journal-Star during January-March 2002, for "background" about stories of his financial escapades and shenanigans.
As soon as I can find it--it is no longer on disc, but black ink on white paper--I'm going to erase my "profile" and post that story here. It's rather long, but I think illuminating.
And I think instructive about people pretending to be what they are not.
I'm looking forward to that, let me know when it is up.
but, if it is at all possible, would you leave the bird pic up? minimize him if you must, but i do enjoy gazing upon his lovely image...
Well, I don't know if he left a family or not, but it does show greed personified -- but not by a very smart man.
Perhaps he thought that he would never be caught and he was not prepared for the consequences.
Not to equate the level of the crime, but I remember when we were kids and we would be involved in the planning of some nefarious deed that we knew would draw the wrath of the adults, we always weighed the level of punishement we may receive against the "glory" of the deed. Most of the time I came to the conclusion the deed was not worth it and left the candy and soda thieves to their business.
Of course there was that time that old man Dvorak's house was TP'd ... but the felon was never apprehended. Neither was the rapscallion caught who ... ah ... well that's really off topic and it would really take a long time to explain how the Roman Candles, flower pots, and road flares were carefully taken apart, combined in a certain way with some "things" from under the sink; how the cherry bomb was used to touch the whole thing off, and the effects caused to that garbage can ... MAN did that lid sail!!
Ahem ... But you must have had quite an intersting time inheriting that mess and taking care of business. I hope your successor continued in your tradition. It will be interesting to read your story.