Al Hunter’s Story Archive

American Pie and the Day the Music Died, Part 1

January 31, 2019 | by Al Hunter

Sixty years ago this Sunday was the day the music died. On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson were killed along with pilot Roger Peterson in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The event was immortalized by Don McLean in his 1971 … Read More

Do You Remember January 22, 1973?

January 24, 2019 | by Al Hunter

Were you alive on January 22, 1973? If so, consider this a reminder, if not, let me show what a typical day was like for a late-stage Baby Boomer like me. January 22, 1973 was a Monday in the Age of Aquarius. “All in the Family” was #1 on television … Read More

God is Bigger than Elvis

January 17, 2019 | by Al Hunter

This article originally appeared in the May 11, 2012 issue. In just a couple of months, it will be 55 years since Elvis Presley starred in his second film, a film called Loving You. The film was noteworthy for a few different reasons; it was Elvis’ first movie in color, … Read More

Presidential Patent

January 10, 2019 | by Al Hunter

This article first appeared in October of 2009. Can you name the only President to hold a registered patent with the U.S. patent office? It’s Abraham Lincoln. In 1849, the relatively unknown 40 year old lawyer from Springfield, Illinois asked for, and was granted, Patent No. 6469 for a device … Read More

A Christmas Card from the Indianapolis Clowns

January 3, 2019 | by Al Hunter

My wife and I have developed a Christmas time tradition of visiting Gatlinburg, Tennessee every December. We’ve been traveling to the area on and off for over 25 years. Back then the region retained an atmosphere where one could imagine Dolly Parton walking down the sidewalk but nowadays, one might … Read More