COLUMN: A son’s book sparks memories of dad’s columns

The Vietnam War-era story is written by a man who served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1963-69 when the war was raging. It is his first book.

Son of the late Bill and Virginia Dukes, Richard says the published book is a dream come true. He plans a sequel, “Jonathan’s Story.”

Richard, who lives in Mississippi, has always had “the God-given gift of a creative mind.” So did his father, “Mr. Bill,” who Richard calls “a gifted storyteller.”

Which brings us to the second part of the story: “Mr. Bill.”

Many in Orangeburg today are too young to remember Bill Dukes, who died in 2002 at 94. The many insights about Orangeburg and its people that he accumulated over the years were told to T&D readers via a column Dukes penned during the 1980s titled “Changing times.” Filled with humor, it delved into Orangeburg history, with close looks at special sites, houses and historic spots.

Dukes’ stories were gleaned from 45 years of operating a service station as an Esso and Gulf dealer before retirement in 1972. Of note, a football standout himself, Dukes also served as a high school and college football official for 30 years.

T&D reporting legend Joyce W. Milkie in 1998, when Dukes marked his 90th birthday, described him as “one of the best-known and best-loved men in Orangeburg.”

No wonder – with his infectious personality, attitude and love of life.

Consider his words as told to Milkie: “I’ve had a wonderful life and a great family. You know, people try to get more and more and it just causes worry. Worry kills more people than anything else, I believe. Sometimes, yes, there is struggle to keep things going. You have a business, three kids in college, but you just have to keep on and do the very best you can because if you let the worry get you, you can’t do anything. Some people just get too much and others indulge in self-pity because they don’t.”

No worry, Mr. Bill’s columns are accessible. While they were published long before the internet was around, they are available today via your computer. The Times and Democrat’s 80,000-plus print pages from 1872 forward can be found at TheTandD.com/archives. A subscription is $29.95 for six months. You’ll get spoiled by being able to look back at Bill Dukes’ stories and much more from decade after decade.

Not to be “forgotten” is son Richard, who is due congratulations on the book. It is available as an e-book on social media as well as in paperback from Amazon and Barnes & Noble online stores. A 30-second promo of the book can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvRzmj2bMrQ