by Katha Sheehan
Red Rover died this week, in all his glory, with his spurs on, defending his henhouse and his wife Belle against the assault of a pack of wild dogs, in an avocado grove in Homestead, Florida.
“A king asks no mercy.” In life he accomplished great things and became internationally famous by simply being true to himself and showing the world the glory that is a Rooster.
He hatched on Grinnell St. where it T-bones the Key West Cemetery, and was captured by me in July of 1999 at the insistence of a neighbor. You never know what little phone call will pay you $20 and the ride of a lifetime.
Because of Red Rover, I started the Chicken Store. RedRo became a star. He was on the front page of the Citizen, then made his appearance on all the major TV networks, Insomniac with Dave Attell, Martha Stewart, the Sunday Telegraph and even the cover of Rob O’Neal’s Key West picture book. He was probably the most videotaped and photographed chicken in the world. He even flew to Chicago once to film a commercial, and was treated like royalty. I wrote a book loosely based on Red Rover, called “Tales of an Island Rooster.”
Rover revisited the streets of his birth in triumph, applauded by the public, as the hood ornament leading the parade during the last Chicken Fest celebration.
Rover retired to this grove in Homestead and ran free all his days since March 2008. “See what you have done,” I told him recently as we rested in the dappled shade, “this is all because of you.” And he looked around at all the happy, free chickens and he was well content.
His first wife was Blondie,a beautiful leggy honey-colored girl. They had a daughter who died at one month of age. He ultimately broke her heart with his dalliances with other hens, and she left him for a new home in the Panhandle.
His second wife was Liberty. They loved to explore together. Exploring was her downfall, and she perished in an accident in 2005. She lives on in a bumper sticker, “Choose Freedom.”
His third wife was Belle. He gave his life to preserve hers. If possible, she will hatch his eggs posthumously. She is devastated and in seclusion. He also left one mistress. A second mistress perished in the massacre.
Red Rover ’s beautiful baritone voice will never again celebrate the dawn, and I will very much miss it. His beautiful green feet will no longer dig the earth, and the earth will be the poorer for it. Rest in peace, sweet prince.
Katha Sheehan may be contacted at KathaDS@aol.com.
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PAGE ONE COMMENTARY
August 22, 2008 — kwtnCity Manager Approves Promotion of Convicted Drug Dealer to Department Head
AFTER LESS THAN 3 YEARS IN CITY GOVERNMENT,
GREG VELIZ NAMED HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND
PARKS & RECREATION. HE STARTED OUT AS A SEWER
LINE INSPECTOR.
NO OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES GIVEN
OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR JOB
by Dennis Reeves Cooper
If you’re a longtime reader of this newspaper, you will not
be particularly surprised to learn that Greg Veliz, a convicted
drug dealer and ex-con who has been an employee of the City
of Key West for less than three years, has been promoted to head
one of the city’s major departments. According to a memo dated August 19 and signed by City
Manager Jim Scholl, Veliz is
the new Community Services
Director.
Community Services is a
new department which combines
Public Works and Parks
& Recreation. Veliz replaces R.B.
Havens, who resigned abruptly
last week. City officials have
not officially announced that
resignation or provided any
explanation for Havens’ sudden
departure.
Officials do admit, however,
that before promoting
Veliz to his new position, they
didn’t bother to post the job to
give other employees— employees
who may have more
seniority and more professional
qualifications than does Veliz
and who have managed to get
through life so far without going
to prison— an opportunity
to compete for the job.
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