A moment of silence, please for Kansas City Star columnist ex officio Skip Sleyster…
For decades Sleyster’s column/”advertisement” ran in the Sunday Star’s Local or Metropolitan section. At a significant discount from rates paid by regular advertisers, I was told over the years.
Not a bad bargain – not only did the Star get a paycheck-free columnist, he paid them!
The 85 year-old Sleyster checked out “unexpectedly” April 30, headed no doubt for that slag heap/flea market beyond. However he left a little something to remember him by in Sunday’s newspaper.
“Springtime comes one day and leaves the next,” his column begins. “It will be nice when it comes to stay. I do like summertime. The cold winter doesn’t make it easy on life.”
Naturally what appears to be Sleyster’s swan song includes a plug for “Stihl saws” and a dig at former KC Mayor Emanuel Cleaver’s traffic light infested 71 Highway makeover.
“Stop lights on a freeway doesn’t let traffic proceed as it should,” he writes. Our council should take a look at the mess on 71 Highway.”
Sensing Sleyster’s end was near last year I asked how he wanted to be remembered.
notthefunk
God bless you Skip. You will be missed. Who’s gonna fill those shoes?
craig glazer
Skip you were a wonderful guy, you told it like it was, you even liked me and my Dad, thank you…If there is a heaven you belong there old buddy