CHITCHAT CORNER
Van Cliburn's 50th
LINDA K. BALLARD

April 11, 2008 marked the 50th anniversary of Van Cliburn's win at the International Techaikovsky competition in Moscow. Kilgore received a lot of publicity this week when the PBS station in Dallas showed a one-hour program about this anniversary. Early scenes of Kilgore were shown, as were pictures of Van's parents, Rildia Bee and Harvey L. Cliburn. Dan Rather was the commentator.

Van Cliburn, Jr., the American pianist (and former Kilgoreite) achieved worldwide recognition in 1958, when at the age of 23, he won the first quadrennial International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, at the height of the Cold War. He began taking piano lessons from his mother at the age of three.

Patricia McKinney's KHS Acapello Choir students have been invited to sing the national athem during the Spurs game in San Antonio this weekend. She promises to tell more and have proof in the way of pictures upon their return home. "I had such fun helping Felicia prepare for this trip," said one proud grandmother, Wanda Wheeler. "Naturally, we had to go on a shopping trip that included the prom needs to a much needed swimming suit for this trip, she laughed.

"We are so very proud of Shayla," said Sheila Gossett. This seventeen-year old young lady has been in track for three years. Recently, she cleared a 5 ft. 1 inch jump that earned her a trip to the Regional competition that will be held at Texas A&M in Commerce on April 25th. (Way to go Shayla!)

If you need a bigger cheering team, Shayla, you may want to take along Miss Catarena Peek who has recently been chosen as eighth grade cheerleader. We hear she was quite surprised to learn she made the team. "When she came out from the tryouts, her face was totally expressionless," said her mother, Cheri. "I thought, oh, no, what has happened, as the other girls were coming out crying or showing a lot of emotions and there was my daughter not even smiling. When we asked her if she was okay, she said, yes, but, I don't think I did very well…then when the winners were posted and it was like a wave emotions hit her all at once. A smile came across her face and she screamed "I have to call my daddy!" She got him on the phone said, "I won!" then hung up on him to go jump and squeal with the rest of her friends." At least dad, Ricky Peek, was the lucky man of the day to receive such a call. Congratulations, Catarena!

Last, but not least is 17 year old Courtney Hodgkins, daughter of Gail and Randy Hodgkins. She has just completed the second half of the district golf tournament at Lakewood Golf course in Marshall. "She's the only one from Kilgore chosen for the regionals," said proud grandmother Dude Mullins. This makes the second year in a row that Courtney has been chosen for the regionals, but this year was more difficult as Courtney has recently undergone foot surgery. She is still in the process of recovering from the surgery and to play golf is still a painful ordeal. She was very concerned her game would be "off " due to the surgery. (Best of wishes to you Courtney, for showing much stamina, strength and faith in continuing to compete.)

Well, it started at age three for Van Cliburn and who knows at what age great things can be accomplished. May our youth never give up on trying and may they know we are proud of all of them! And May His Love and Laughter Fill Your Hearts and Your Homes Throughout the Week. We may be reached at 903-984-2593 or by e-mail at chitchatlinda@aol.com.