bill russell

in 1994, henry kreiger and i were commissioned to write a song for the opening ceremony of gay games iv here in new york city … lillias white brilliantly performed it on the columbia playing field as the torch was lit … the organizers liked it so much they had lillias repeat it for the closing ceremony at yankee stadium … now the song has been adapted as the official anthem of the gay games and will be performed this month in sydney, australia for gay games vi …

my father died 10 years ago this month … everyone knew him as “cowboy russell” a nickname he acquired when he showed up for the first day of high school football practice in his typical rancher’s garb … i wrote this poem for and read it at his funeral — quite the cowboy affair … his hat and lasso were on the casket and the pallbearers wore cowboy shirts and boots … music included kenny roger’s “the gambler” (his favorite song) and “home on the range” … after his burial in the black hills national cemetary, friends and family came back to the ranch for many margaritas