Another television icon is gone. Sherman Hemsley, "George Jefferson," died today at age 74.

I met Hemsley outside the Peoria Civic Center Theater on September 19, 2006, as arrived to perform in a traveling play. He had his lunch and his wardrobe in his hands as he exited the transport van. He promised to come back outside after he dropped things off inside. Sure enough, about ten minutes later, he popped out to say hello, sign a couple of autographs, and pose for this shot.

One of the original nice guys in Hollywood is gone. Actor Ernest Borgnine died today at age 95. I had the privilege of meeting him twice.

The first shot is from an appearance in Peoria, Illinois, in 2008 to promote the Hallmark Channel, while the second shot is a year later at a collector's convention in Chicago. Both times he was gracious and took time to visit, take pictures, and sign the items I had brought. At the Chicago event, it was neat to sit a table away and see him have breakfast with another fellow Hollywood star, Mickey Rooney. They reminisced about the "old days" over scrambled eggs, bacon, french toast, OJ, and coffee. Classic.

Bands with multiple members usually means a night's work. And that was the case last Wednesday with Chicago. The band was opening their summer tour at Sangamon Auditorium on the campus of the University of Illinois-Springfield.

I was able to get photos and autographs with a little over half the band before the show and then the rest following the show. Unfortunately, founding member Robert Lamm was the lone "no" when asked for a photo. He said, "I just don't take pictures with people." He did sign a couple of photos, though.

In no particular order, here are James Pankow, Jason Sheff, Keith Howland, Lee Loughanne, Lou Pardini, Tris Imboden, Walt Parazeider, and Wilfredo Reyes.

This past Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I was the host for an American running legend. Bill Rodgers, a four-time winner of the Boston and New York City Marathons, an Olympian, and a member of the Track and Field Hall of Fame, was the special guest of the 20th Anniversary Passavant-Powerade 5K and 10K. I serve as Race Director for the event.

Here's Rodgers in my office next to a poster he signed for me several years ago.

And, here is Rodgers with a group of my running friends after a 4-mile run Friday morning.

Here's Canadian singer k.d. Lang following her show at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts May 17 in Bloomington, IL. It's funny how these meetings go down. We were told by security that they'd have to "hold us back" because they had instructions that Lang wouldn't be signing autographs. Funny, k.d. didn't get the message. As she made her way out the stage door and to the waiting transport van, she pulled a black Sharpie from her front pocket and proceeded to walk right over to me and a few other waiting fans to sign some autographs and take pictures.

She sings one of my top ten favorite songs. Here's a live performance from the UK's Jools Holland show.

On the way out of Bloomington, I noticed a group of tour buses at a local hotel and decided to take a look. The stop earned me this photo with Ivan and Jason from the metal band Five Finger Death Punch who were in town for a concert the following night.

Here's the only person to host The Today Show, The NBC Nightly News, and Meet the Press: Tom Brokaw. Brokaw was in St. Louis tonight to conclude the St. Louis Speaker Series at Powell Symphony Hall. He signed an 8x10 for the collection and posed upon his arrival.

Brokaw hosts a new show on the Military Channel beginning this fall. The show replays Brokaw's most famous interviews as he offers commentary.

Kevin Costner and Modern West were the featured guests at last night's 24th Annual Bob Costas Benefit for SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. The two-time Academy Award winner stopped for this photo and signed a Modern West CD for the collection upon his arrival in town Friday night.


Earlier in the evening, luck was on my side as I only had to wait a few minutes to catch musician Leon Russell as he made his way to his bus following his concert at the Argosy Casino in Alton, IL. Russell posed for this photo and signed a greatest hits disk.