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Post by Mike Powell on Feb 18, 2016 14:46:47 GMT -6
Reading some more on Jutland today that dealt with Jellico and Beatty in the aftermath. Made me think of Dark Cloud; the need for care in disputing him made me check and double-check my facts, made me study and learn. He was always an occasion to rise to, a lout in full. The mold of that man was definitely broken after. Here's to you, DC. Sleep well, you are remembered.
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Post by fred on Feb 18, 2016 16:04:11 GMT -6
Reading some more on Jutland today that dealt with Jellico and Beatty in the aftermath. Made me think of Dark Cloud; the need for care in disputing him made me check and double-check my facts, made me study and learn. He was always an occasion to rise to, a lout in full. The mold of that man was definitely broken after. Here's to you, DC. Sleep well, you are remembered. I agree, Mike. Odd, but I think of him all the time. One of the best things I did was pay tribute to him in the Strategy book. It was the least I could do, especially since much of it was written with him in mind: "check and double-check my facts." He would have pilloried me if I had not done so. Most of all, however, were his emails and kind words, encouraging me after my cancer operation. I miss him a lot... especially when I see his "live" membership on these boards popping up. Very best wishes, Fred. |
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Post by fred on Feb 18, 2016 18:42:19 GMT -6
Fred, Yes, you've mentioned him to me and I would have liked to have known him. It sounds like he had all of his ducks in a row, if you'll pardon the cliche. Pequod Pequod, You would have gotten a kick out of him... providing it wasn't his foot doing the kicking. He was an ornery cuss; an absolute marvel with the English language; and as brilliant as they come. He disliked "fanboys" intensely, regardless of who they touted. He always demanded support for positions and he questioned everything. He was also quick to admit being wrong-- which was seldom-- and had a wit to beat the band. Many people hated him, including some good friends of mine, but I do believe that was because they did not really understand him. There was a time when Dark Cloud-- his real name was Richard MacLeod and he lived in Boulder... fairly prominent in the theater scene there, once having his own band (the early '70s) and having his own weekly radio spot-- and I were really on the outs, and I deserted these boards, migrating to those next door. I would always sneak a peak over here, however, just to see how badly I was being treated... DC would read those boards, then post here, his most famous thread being, "They wish they had said that... and they did." He made a post when he was being particularly savaged over there (no one could take him on, one-on-one, and that included me: he was unbeatable) and he started it off by saying, "I am not a thug... [meaning himself]...." I do not know why, but that struck me deeply. It seemed that hard, outer shell he wore had been pierced, how, I do not know, where or by whom, I do not know. I decided right then and there to go from antagonist to neutral/understanding. Shortly thereafter, I made some sort of announcement on the other boards about my first book, Participants, being published, and Dark Cloud put up a post mentioning it, along with the phrase, "good for Fred." People who dislike you, who "hate" you, who do not respect what you do, never put up something like that. I realized right then and there what a goddam fool I had been, not only toward DC, but toward Diane Merkel as well. I apologized to both of them and they, in their own way, graciously accepted... a damn sight more than I ever deserved, but both of them are and were better people than I am. In Red's famous words, I miss my friend. Best wishes, Fred. |
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Post by dave on Feb 18, 2016 18:54:15 GMT -6
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Post by fred on Feb 18, 2016 20:06:03 GMT -6
I found an old DC thread Jutland Anniversary and some other posts of his.... Someone is keeping his Website alive. Somewhere on there is the best article ever written about the singing group, The Kingston Trio, my favorite group. Best wishes, Fred. |
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Post by fred on Feb 18, 2016 20:07:34 GMT -6
Fred, Your poignant portrait of DC reveals as much about Fred Wagner as it does about Richard MacLeod. I'm not sure you have the sharp edges that DC had, but your command of the English language, while not Shakespeare, is certainly Miltonic in its ability to move heaven and earth in the search for the truth on a certain battle on a remote hill in Montana. While Shakespeare is not read in this jaded age, and Milton is all but forgotten, your study of Custer's last battle will be read and reread for centuries to come, and in that regard, will become a classic. Pequod Robb, Thank you. That is all I can say; you have humbled me. Thank you. Very best wishes, Fred. |
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Post by dave on Feb 18, 2016 21:03:10 GMT -6
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