The North Texan welcomes letters from readers. Send letters, with writer's full name and address, by e-mail to north_texan@unt.edu, fax to (940) 369-8763, submit on the web at the "Contact us" link) or mail to The North Texan; University of North Texas; University Relations, Communications and Marketing; P.O. Box 311070; Denton, Texas 76203-1070. Letters may be edited for length and publication style.

Steve Poe

Steve Poe (Friends We'll Miss, fall '07) was both my professor and my friend, but also the big brother I never had. He made me feel worthy of being and gave me the confidence to be who I am. If you would like to post comments about Steve or read what others have written, go to stevepoe.blogspot.com.

Erum Shaikh ('02, '04 M.A.), adjunct faculty, Department of Political Science

Ben Chappell

I read with deep sorrow the article about Ben Chappell's passing in the fall issue. He was one of the best friends I ever had. We served together in the U.S. Air Force Security Service in the early 1950s. He was the one who persuaded me to attend North Texas, where I received my B.A. in journalism. In addition, he was the best man at my wedding to the former Helen Houser ('58).

Over the years, we drifted apart, but I did speak to him a year or so ago in connection with the 50th reunion of our Air Force unit. He was a great friend.

Clifford F. Rockwell ('58) 
via e-mail

Javelin records

I was a javelin thrower for North Texas from 1970 to 1971 and can testify that I saw Bill Schmidt throw over 260 feet more than once in his career at school.

This far surpasses the 65.62 meters that Heath Smith threw this year (Did You Know, fall '07). I realize the javelin was officially redesigned years ago to not fly as far because of stadium sizes, but you need to qualify this.

Also, Bill Schmidt won the bronze medal at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972. His throw was just over 280 feet.

Craig Ulrich ('73)
Carrollton

Missing evidence

Concerning the "Hot Rod Artist" article in your fall issue, I'm sure the basic premise is correct: Bryan Fuller is a very talented artist, far more talented than your basic metal-enhancing craftsman.

As a reader who likes to see evidence proving or illustrating the writer's point, however, I was sorely disappointed. Where are the big, bright, sharp, colorful photos of prime examples of Bryan Fuller's rolling art? I see three swipes of a nice green color. I see a tiny artist rendering. I see a small silvery-gray looking tank and rear fender on a small photo of a cycle. I see a swell portrait of the artist.

I see no serious, bold, eye-popping evidence to support the story's words. I've seen far more rolling art during a spin around Fort Worth on Loop 820 than you've given the readers. Maybe you need a new page editor with an eye for art on the page as well as on wheels?

Worth Wren Jr. ('70)
Fort Worth

McMurtry experts

To the person who asked advice about verification of Larry McMurtry's autograph ("Ask an Expert," fall '07), I have a suggestion. Take it to the Lonesome Dove Inn in Archer City, where Larry has his many bookstores. People at the inn or the bookstores are very familiar with his signature, having seen it hundreds of times. My sister, Mary Webb, and I own the inn, and she runs it. (My graduation year from North Texas would have been '58, as Larry's is, but I transferred and graduated from another college.)

Ceil Slack Cleveland
Durham, N.C.

Hector and Agnes

	Kendall Hall paid tribute to Hector the Eagle Dog and Agnes the squirrel in the 1989 Homecoming Parade.

Reading the article on Hector and Agnes' bid for Homecoming king and queen (Timetracks, fall '07) brought back a lot of fond memories. I remember the unlikely pair's campaign and the council's decision to disqualify them. 

I was living in Kendall Hall at the time, and our residence hall association, along with the residents, decided to enter a float in the parade commemorating the duo's short run. We stayed up all night for a week shaping crepe paper into the lovable dog and squirrel, finishing shortly before the parade began. 

Our float wasn't as fancy as most of the others, but I know we had just as much fun making it and received a lot more applause as we rolled by. It all came together for us about halfway through the route when we passed Hector and his owner watching the parade and received his official approval. 

Unfortunately, most of my college pictures are in storage right now, but I did manage to find one of our float. I'm sure if they hadn't been disqualified, we would have had a very furry king and queen.

Michael Wetter ('92)
Fort Worth

I always thought Hector was hot, with his spots, his muscles and his speed at catching Frisbees and balls. One of the cheerleaders tied a green bandana around his neck and put shades over his eyes, and he wagged his tail and dropped his tongue.

I guess some of us are still having fun with that campaign 15 or 20 years later. I am now a mother of three, and one of them will soon be graduating high school. Go Mean Green!

Kathy Brown Wallace ('93)
Austin

I remember His Majesty Hector the Protector of all things great and green on the football scene and Her Highness Agnes of Dog (not God, an inside joke at games because of some movie, I think). Agnes, so sweet and always so dear, of whom rabies shall not we fear. Oh, Agnes, oh my sweet Agnes ... know how did I love thee, for I cannot count the ways, even at 1 a.m. in the morn.

Thanks for a reminder of perhaps the most interesting time I ever had while a student at North Texas. And fortunately, thanks to Agnes spurning my advances, I actually earned my degree in English lit and became an English teacher.

Robert "Bobby" Palmer ('93)
Houston

I remember Agnes' ads all over campus, that she was nuts about Brian and voting for Brian — he was cute but he was not mine! I think girlfriend had good taste, though. As for Hector, he looked like a 101 of something Disney, but he was handsome in his green bandanas, pawless boots, Eppy caps and gold necklaces — he was pimping!

After leaving North Texas, I earned a master's degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore and began a career in advertising. At 34, I became a mother for the first time this year and again last year. Finally, I'd like to 15 years late thank North Texas for changing the name of Eppy to Scrappy, finally — something we should have done in 1991.

Cathy Campbell Blue ('94)
via e-mail

Great cover story in the fall issue as usual. I've always wanted to be either a biker chick or a hot roddin' momma. Re: Hector and Agnes — Maybe it was all silly, but I certainly voted for them. I remember seeing the whole affair on the local TV news, that a dog and a cow had been named Homecoming queen at a school elsewhere, so I thought, why not?

One of my art class assignments was to draw them in pastels a week before Homecoming! I forget which teacher assigned it, but our dog-and-squirrel soap opera was a whole lotta fun and hard work. I wish I still had those pieces of art (no idea where they vanished to or when).

Kat Rodriguez Garcia (attended 1989 to 1992)
San Antonio

I think I voted for Harold the Hero Dog and Angie the Squirrel (or something like that), so I may assume that my vote did not count for Hector and Agnes. I hate to think it was my vote that cost the dog and squirrel the crown. Go Mean Green! Thanks for the story.

Ricky Young ('90)
Houston

I cannot believe anyone actually remembers that Homecoming comedy. I guess people are all still laughing and enjoying how silly it was. I have been married to Todd, who attended North Texas in 1988 or 1989, for 15 years and we have three kids, Todd Jr. (12), Lizzie Mae (9) and Jacob Riley (2). We are about to leave Houston for Kansas City. Go Mean Green!

Beth Newman Burson ('90)
Houston

U.S. citizens

Regarding the story "The Fight Doctor" in the summer issue, people from Puerto Rico do not immigrate to the United States.  They are U.S. citizens.

Pedro J. Vanga ('90)
via e-mail