My New Year is off to an interesting start. In the past few months,  I’ve lost some people I loved, some weight and I read some fantastic books 

Monty DuPuy died in early December at the age of 85. I had the good fortune to work with Monty for nearly ten years in the 90’s. He was really something. A legend in these parts, Mr. Monty began his career as a radio man with the top-rated “Monty in the Morning Show.” But it was the TV Show “Monty’s Rascals” that was his true claim to fame. Monty was quoted as saying “Monty’s Rascals was a minor thing that I did.” Monty was the weatherman on my top rated morning show “Love and Hudson.” He did his thing every morning from his kitchen table at his lovely home near Paris Mountain. He was delightful, we used to chat before he did his forecast and I adored him. It was my greatest honor to nominate Monty for entry into the SC Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame and to take part in his induction. He was a gentlemen in every sense of the word. I real show business legend but humble and kind.

Monty Dupuy and his lovely wife Miriam moved to the Woodlands at Furman a few years ago and it was my great pleasure to get to know Miriam and to spend a bit more time with Monty. Miriam and Monty faithfully delivered Meals on Wheels together for 35 years, which has to be something of a record for that agency. Monty’s mind started to slip in his waning years but there were always glimmers of the superstar he used to be. He was charming and flirtatious at times but the thing I always admired most was his kindness. I’ve worked with plenty of talented broadcasters in my career but he was my favorite. He said some really kind things about my talents in one of our last conversations and I will always cherish his respect for me and our time together.

Another big loss suffered early this year was the death of my favorite Democrat Joanne Montague. Joanne was a storyteller so it was fitting that she was telling one of her stories when she was felled by a stroke. She died the way she lived fighting hard for the rights of the oppressed. Joanne was raised in Belton, SC but active in the Greenville County Democratic Party since 1968. She was a journalist, a teacher, a dedicated volunteer, served as President of the SC Democratic Women’s Council and a member of the Council’s Hall of Fame, she was a delegate for the National Democratic Convention three times. She served on numerous boards including League of Women Voters, March of Dimes and the National Education Association.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Greenville and truly lived her faith every day of her life.

Many people talk a good game about doing onto others but Joanne really walked the walk. She was always willing to pitch in and loved to lead. She knew everyone’s birthday, had her finger on the pulse of the entire Democratic Party in Greenville County. I wish we could have downloaded her brain into a computer hard drive because she was the heart and soul of our local party. She will be missed for that knowledge, her dedication, her sense of humor and fun and her ability to inspire people. It’s tough to be a Democrat in South Carolina, but people like Joanne helped keep you going.

It will take all of us to try to fill her shoes. I’ve taken over as Editor of The Bray, the newsletter of the Greenville County Democratic Party and I will feel Joanne’s presence as I labor over this publication. I hope to honor her memory with my work and my deeds.