Messages

May 24, 2007
UPDATE ON ALICE VAN GUNDY
In the Reminisce Extra magazine, on the last page, is a follow-up story about Alice.  This is the May 2007 issue on magazine stands now.  The magazine is printed by Reiman Publications.  The article is about a half page on page 67.  Thanks, Shawn

Alice Van Gundy Parrish 60 years later.

Here is an article just done in the home town paper for Alice in Florida.  You can even see what she looks like now.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070303/NEWS0103/70302095/1013/LIFESTYLES

Shawn 

OKLAHOMA CITY NEWSPAPER TAKES STORY.

Look in the Daily Oklahoman on Friday March 2nd to see the article of the Love Letters.  Just do a search of Shawn Irons to go directly to the article.  You can also see a good "young" picture of Robert Kinion.

Shawn 

2-27-07
Here is more new information on Alice Van Gundy.  Robert Kinyon, the writer of the letters called me on Valentine's day to get Alice's phone number so he could talk with her.  They had not had any contact for over 60 years and didn't know if either one was still alive.  I have had contact with ABC news Good Morning America.  I have pitched the story a little over a week ago to Ronna Waldman in New York.  I have had a few e-mails in the meantime from her but the media seems to drag their feet or are EXTREMELY busy so I have not had a definite answer either way.  The Stillwater newspaper here in Oklahoma is running a follow-up story on Sunday, March 4th.  The Oklahoman newspaper is running the story this Thursday, March 1.  I have to be gone for a few days to see my family but if I don't hear anything from GMA or any other media, Alice's letters will be mailed back to her by Federal Express.  It is just too much money, almost $1,000.00 for me and my husband to fly out to Florida and give her the letters.  I have tried every way to figure out a way to hand deliver the letters and was hoping the media, like a talk show, would help me do this.  Thanks to everyone for their interest in this wonderful, feel good story.

We got an e-mail from GMA (Good morning America)  they wanted to speak to us about the Love Letters Story.  I called today (the persons day off)  She was real excited about the story once it was explained.  She was going to take it to her boss.  She though that it would be neat to bring everyone together to return the letters.  I want get my hopes up just yet but would that be neat to say that Moline and Winfield was part of the story.  Will let you know.

Shawn 

KOTV 6 TULSA

KOTV 6 out of Tulsa came and did an interview with me today about the story of Alice and Robert.  It should be on the 6pm news.  You can also go online at KOTV6.com and click e-clips to see the interview.  I don't know at this point how it will turn out.  Please let me know what you think

Shawn 

I got the chance to talk with Robert and his wife, Joan of 53 years.  I would never have thought that I would have the opportunity to talk to two World War II veterans.  I found that Robert and his whole Marine platoon had scarlet fever and that is why he was in the Naval hospital for 5 months.  His wife was really nice over the phone and they both seemed very excited about all of this going on.  As I mentioned before, he is only 60 miles from where I live so one day I might get a chance to meet him.  Shawn 

*** ROBERT E. KINYON FOUND ***

I just got off the phone with Doug Moe columists of The Capital Times newspaper in  Madison, Wisconsin.  He has run the article of Alice Van Gundy and Robert E. Kinyon love story and that he was from the Madison area and was wanting information about him.  Within a few hours he had located and spoke to Robert who lives in the Oklahoma City area.  Doug is doing a follow-up story tomorrow reference finding Robert.  Of note is that last spring Alice was in Stillwater, Oklahoma and was just 60 miles from where Robert lives.  What a small world.  See what Doug Moe wrote today.

http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/moe/index.php?ntid=118735

Shawn 

Here is what I came up with searching the internet...

According to lore, the undergarments referred to quaintly as long johns date back to 1879.

As the story goes, in a smoke-filled Boston boxing arena, the bare-knuckled brawler Big John Sullivan was a formidable force with a big mouth. The American scrapper was famous for his no-nonsense fighting style and his braggadocio. His I can "lick anybody, any time, anywhere" blustering was as famous at the time as Ali's "sting like a bee" boast.

Big John was also celebrated for duking it out in a one-piece union suit, the men's long-sleeved undergarment that buttoned up the front and had a rear hatch to save one from having to undress completely to use the washroom.

Ultimately the flannel undergarments became the boxer's trademark and as his fame grew, the union suit came to be more commonly known as long johns.

Hope this helps.

Shawn 

I believe that is called G E N E L O G Y where everyone is connected in some way.

Shawn