Add a message : Refresh There are now 30 messages in our guestbook. Viewing messages 1 to 30. Muzzy | expertwork~AT~comcast~DOT~net I'd like to apologize for all the ads that have appeared on this guestbook. I think I have them all deleted. I'll try to do a better job monitoring that. I have changed some settings that should help block the spam. 15 June 2006 - Chicago Bill Moore | bbmoore~AT~vectorsecurity~DOT~com Me and your Dad were buddies from grade 7 thru tenth grade when I moved to Va. We played alot of sports together. Your grandpa was our coach, Heights! I remember Saturday morning basketball. Your Dad was a great star and hotshot.. I was alot better looking. I knew your Dad when he had hair. I went with Kent and Heights to the football camp in Rockaway beach, both to work on the place and to go to camp. Those were great times. Your Dad went skinny dipping in that river down there! We stole abunch of cantilopes. One of your Dads dogs got bit by a snake and his head swole up like a pumpkin. Ask your Granpa bout that. Somebody stole the tractor and I was stupid enough to jump on! We got in alot of trouble when we crashed! I think Kent had sence enough not to get on the damn thing! We went duck hunting with my Dad and Heights. Your Dad got tripped up on the ice and fell down in the duck pond and filled up his waiders with ice water! You should have heard him wine! I dont remember your Dad having any girlfriends, he was terribly shy. I am glad to see that he figured out that Girl thing so that he could have a Kali! I like that name. I was very fond of your Dad. We was buddies! 14 June 2006 - Manakin Va Cindy Borgstadt (Cousin) Kali, Kent was the oldest of seven cousins and we all looked up to him. Growing up on our frequent trips to Quincy, he was the one making us all laugh whether it was playing putt-putt (Grandma Rose always had passes for us) or sitting around her table eating lunch. I was always in awe of his ability to communicate - in his columns, his letters or telling a funny story. Although anyone who knew him appreciated his great sense on humor, I think his most important quality was he made you feel good just being around him - a rare and incredible gift. As you said your Dad loved music and my most distinct personal memory was when I was about 13 and Kent was 17. We were at Grandma's and he had just bought a record of John Lennon's new song "Instant Karma". We must have listened to it twenty times. I loved it because your Dad loved it. Even today everytime I hear that song I think of Kent and realize how approriate the lyrics are: "Who on earth do you think you are? - a superstar well how right you are. And we all shine on - like the moon and the stars and the sun" Kali I know you miss your Dad, but know that he is always with you, guiding you. Your Dad lives on in you and your brother. We are all the sum of the people who have touched us, but none more than those we have loved and have loved us. 28 May 2006 - Lenexa, Ks Kelly Griffith | kgriffith~AT~orlandosentinel~DOT~com Dear Kali, Dear, you were, oh, about 3 or 4 years old when I remember you last. Your father and I would sneak cigarettes (Don't you ever do that! I gave up the nasty habit years ago!) in the Shreveport Times newsroom late at night working the Sports Department, hoping Frank Sutherland, and later, Judy Christie, our editors, wouldn't find out. We were like junior high kids in that way. I want you to know that every night he was in town, he would leave the TImes sports department around 6 p.m. or so in order to spend his evenings with you and Vince and Deb. It never failed. He'd always return around 9 p.m. or so, after you were in bed, and stay till 2 a.m., but he always made sure he was there during those hours with his family. I've never forgotten that as I've had kids of my own, remembering what a tremendous journalistic job Kent did and yet still maintained that commitment to family. My last conversation with Kent was around August 2001. He called me and his opening line was a personal joke that sent me rolling. I knew when I said Hello who it was and it had been a while since I'd talked to him, so hearing from him was so nice. I had no idea it would be a last. Swear to god, I was crying I was laughing so hard. I never met a man like him before or since. I still think of him often and usually cry when I do. I wonder if I ever won't cry when I think of Kent? Kelly Griffith Orlando Sentinel Bureau Chief/Columnist/Blogger www.orlandosentinel.com/acrossthepond 12 May 2006 - Orlando, Florida Chuck Hageman (Cousin) | chageman~AT~adams~DOT~net Hi Kali. This is a great idea. Just heard about it in KC Wednesday, while visiting with other family members. I'm one of Kent's cousins also, and we are remembering Kent as another rock of the family, our Uncle Bob, is about to pass away after fighting a great fight over the last year. We spent a lot of time reminiscing about the family gatherings and how close we all were and are, in spite of the distances we lived from each other. For those who never met Kent, you really missed out. In my life I have never met anyone with his wit and humor, sense of timing, and sheer number of stories. No offense to the other cousins, but I think we all agree, Kent was our favorite. He was a presence wherever he went, and held court at whatever table he was at. Which was quite often, as his fondness for food was legendary. We miss Kent dearly, and I still cry thinking about not calling him often enough, or seeing him when I passed through Columbia on business, even though we were only a couple hours away. Times like we are facing as a family, with Bob's eventual passing, make me realize how important family is and why we have to keep their memories alive. I hope to see all of you in Quincy very soon, please make sure you get here so we can get together again in celebration of Bob's life and sharing of the family's history. To the rest of the family, I love you all and hope to see you soon. Kent, we miss you. 12 May 2006 - Quincy, Illinois Suzie Watkins (cousin) I have nothing but good memories about Kent. Going to Quincy, ILL, all the cousins hanging out, Kent was always the funny one. I honestly cannot remember a time that he did not have us all laughing. God how I miss those days!!!! Ofcourse Kent got his good sense of humor and caring personality from his parents (Bill & Do), they too have spent their lives making others feel that they're important, that no matter what they have done in their lives they are still special. I see from the articles that I have read that Kent touched everyone around him, I know he did me. Thank you Kent for putting laughter into my life. I miss you!! Suzie 8 May 2006 Toby Bascom Dear Kali, I got to know your dad when he was a very little boy in - if my aging memory serves me correctly - the Summer of 1962 at Camp Kooch-i-Ching where your grandfather was a counselor. I remember Kent as a sensitive, reflective youngster and it came as no surprize to me when I learned that he had chosen a career in journalism. It also came as no suprize that he was a loving father. I was shocked to learn of his senseless death. I have only the fondest memories of Kent. 4 May 2006 - Darmstadt, Germany Chet I just stumbled upon upon Kent's story while searching for images of D'Brickashaw Ferguson, number one linebacker who will probably go first round in this years draft. I love the sunglasses he wore for what seemed like the better part of the early 80's. I never knew him, but now i'll remeber him. 27 April 2006 - NY Brad Dodds I am truly sorry for your loss. Although I didn't know your dad personally, we did have mutual friends and I know he made the world a better place while he was with us. People say time heals all wounds, I hope your hurt lessens with every day. Just know there are a lot of people in Columbia (many you may not know) that love and pray for you and your family. Godspeed 11 April 2006 - Columbia Missouri Matt Schuckman | mschuckman~AT~whig~DOT~com This is a great idea, Kali. There are still nights, sitting at the office late, I'll come across a funny story and think "Kent would love to hear that." I miss sitting in the Tribune sports department and hearing his laugh bellow out of his office. I used to talk to him once a week after I left Columbia, and usually it would be a late night conversation when he was sitting in the Trib office and I was at my desk and you wouldn't realize that an hour had passed. It reminded of the nights at the Trib when we'd sit down to work, get talking about something other than our stories and realize an hour later that no work had been accomplished. That doesn't mean there wasn't something accomplished. A friendship was built during those times. We all miss Kent, but I'm proud to say he was my friend. 24 March 2006 - Quincy, Ill. John Short To the Heitholt Family. So many times the victims of these horrific crimes seem to get less attention than the people accused of the crime. I am glad to see this web site and I am glad to see your Father will not be forgotten. Every person that I talked to about Mr. Heitholt wold tell me what a gentle giant he was, and what a great family man. I think we should all strive to be remebered like that when we leave this earth. God Bless you all! 23 March 2006 RUTHIE & BOB LOHR | bwlohr~AT~aol~DOT~com KENT WAS THE FIRST OF HIS GENERATION,ALL THE OTHER COUSINS LOOKED UP TO HIM. BOB WAS IN COLUMBIA A LOT FOR HIS BUSINESS AND EVERYONE THERE THOUGHT HE WAS A GREAT SPORTS WRITER. HE WROTE ABOUT EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE, AND THAT MADE PEOPLE FEEL VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE THAT COULD BE THE ONLY RECOGNITION THEY MIGHT EVERY GET. HE PAINTED A PICTURE WITH WORDS THAT EVERYONE COULD UNDERSTAND. HE COULD CARRY ON A CONVERSATION WITH THE YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE. HE WAS ALWAYS HAPPY AND HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE. BOB WAS THE FIRST TO CALL HIM '' THE BIG KAHANA '' AND WITH US IT STUCK FOREVER. HE IS SPECIAL TO RUTHIE SINCE HE WAS MY GODSON. KENT WILL ALWAYS BE SPECIAL, NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN. 19 March 2006 Frank Sutherland | fsutherland~AT~gmail~DOT~com I never made a better hire than Kent Heitholt. When I was a reporter at The Tennessean, he was a tough competitor, without ever compromising his gentle nature. A few years later, after I became editor of The Times at Shreveport, I received a call from one of Kent's colleagues/competitors at The Tennessean, saying that Kent and the Banner had parted ways. You should hire him, his competitor said. If you will forgive the sports jargon, I was able to steal a veteran for our sports department who was a good hitter (got the story first), was good with the glove (wrote with clarity) and was good in the locker room (worked well and taught others in the newsroom). His best years were still in front of him. He became an all-star performer, first as a reporter and then as an editor. He made The Times' sports pages a better section. He enriched our lives. I miss him, but his effect on those he met, such as Jessica Hopp says in another note on this site, will live on forever. 13 March 2006 mgbada south | onyeocha~AT~yahoo~DOT~com i love you kent 7 March 2006 - south Jessica Hopp | jhopp~AT~tennessean~DOT~com Kent was the man who gave me my start in sports. As a college junior with less than six months of reporting experience -- none of which was in sports -- I knocked on Kent's office door and told him I wanted to write for his section. He looked at me with a smile, and, after seeing my sparse resume, I am sure he was laughing inside. But it didn't keep him from giving me a chance. Five years later, I am again reminded of him as I sit in the sports department of The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, surrounded by several of his former coworkers and friends. Being here I feel like Kent and I have come full circle. He started my career, and in turn he sent me off on a journey in which I would happen on a city where he spent a good part of his. My memories of Kent are fond, and I will be forever greatful he was willing to take a chance on a girl with a dream, however inexperienced she may have been. 6 March 2006 - Nashville, Tenn. Kevin Broom | kdbroom~AT~hotmail~DOT~com I knew Kent back when he was in Shreveport working for the S'port Times. I had recently graduated from LSU-S, had rejoined the Army, and was stationed over in Georgia. We became friends because I would occasionally call the S'port Times Sports Department to ask for information about the LSU football team (this was in the early 90's....pre-Internet). Kent would often take the time to catch me up on the news of the football team, sometimes even taking the time to scroll through the news wires and read me the stories. Of course, he didn't need to do that; he could have easily said that he had a deadline to meet, that he didn't have time, or some other excuse. However, he always took the time to talk with me…possibly because I was a soldier away from home…possibly because I was a sports fan. Regardless, this indicated both his deep love for his work as a sports writer and his willingness to help other people. One year (~1996) I took some vacation and came home to S'port to visit family. I made it a point to drop by the newspaper and personally tell him "thank you." He was again very cordial, introducing me to some of his staff and gaving me a brief tour of their newspaper’s offices and how the newspaper went to press each night. Years later, in 2001, I was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana when I heard over the radio of Kent's death. Apparently, the DJ also knew Kent from his days in S'port and relayed to his audience how big Kent's loss was to the media, partly due to his professionalism, and partly due to his friendliness. That day has always stuck with me, especially considering that his case was unsolved for so long. Over the last few years, I had searched on the Internet many times hoping that his case would be solved, but never to find any news. I was very happy to see the "48 Hours Mystery" special that told of his killers' convictions. May you now find some peace in your life and can begin the healing process. Godspeed to yourself, your brother, and your mom. 28 February 2006 - Mississippi Ben Arnet Any time I feel upset about my life I remember how happy Kent always was. I worked at KMIZ and KOMU while Kent was at the Trib. Working in the media you frequently get sent to stuff you don't want to be at or get caught up in stress. But Kent always seemed happy about everything. He found great stories everywhere and enjoyed it. Columbia lost a lot when he was taken away. But without even trying, he inspired me to always be posative no matter what. If I was ever in a bad mood at a game, I looked for Kent and chances are I would feel better within minutes of talking to him. His personality rubbed off on all those guys at the Trib. You couldn't run into Joe or Dave or Bob without exchanging kind words and feeling good. And I think we all have Kent to thank for that. 27 February 2006 - Tucson, AZ April Cunningham | amcunningham~AT~tribmail~DOT~com Memories of a daily deadline and Kent always coming in right under the wire. A guy always willing to go the extra mile to help a co-worker. A friendly smile and hello in passing. Kent was a hard working dedicated man who will always have a place in the hearts of "old timers" here at the Tribune. 27 February 2006 - Columbia, Missouri PJ SHIELDS | pjshields61~AT~comcast~DOT~net Whenever we had a potluck of any kind at the Trib, Kent and I cared most about the Cajun food. We were kindred in the food category. I still think of him often. This page is a worthy tribute to his kindness and humor. I wish there was a way to commemorate his unique ability to shake the entire building by slamming the door to the sports department. All my best to the Trib and Heitholt families. PJ 26 February 2006 - Denver, Colo. Courtney Puidk I remember having birhtday party sleep overs at the Heitholt's for Kali's birthday, and not only was Kent very involved with his family but he would go out of his way to have fun with his kids. He didn't have to participate in the mystery dinner party, but he did, and I still remember the pancakes he would make us in the morning. Kali, you're a strong girl and God Bless. 26 February 2006 - Columbia, Mo Catie DeVito | catie~DOT~f~DOT~devito~AT~espn~DOT~com I worked with Kent, both as a student at Mizzou, while @ KOMU, and then later while at FSN Midwest. He always had a smile on his face and kind words for those he knew and I am sure, those he didn't know. It was a sad day for those in Columbia (and elsewhere) who knew Kent, but also those who were never lucky enough to meet him, when we lost him. 26 February 2006 - Bristol, CT Bob Brendel | bob~DOT~brendel~AT~mchsi~DOT~com In a town where it seems that every third person you meet is a journalism student on a mission, having a sports editor at the Tribune like Kent Heitholt was refreshing. A guy who could laugh at himself and poke fun at his subjects. I always found it interesting to talk to sports fans around town who could never figure out whether Kent was being serious or not ... probably just the way he wanted it. He knew what to take seriously and what not to. His perspective was excellent. And in this day of "the future is now", he had respect for history and tradition and knew its place in today's big-money sports environment. I was in Kent's J-school class at MU, but at the Missourian I worked the news side while he worked sports. We knew each other, but not well. When he came to the Tribune, I was sports information director at the University. I was so happy that the Trib had acquired an editor who had a wealth of experience and who understood Mizzou and all of its quirks and picadillos. Over the next four years, we built a tremendous relationship. When I left the University of Missouri, he was one of the first to call me, and I deeply appreciated the kind comments he shared with readers about my 20-year tenure at Mizzou. We continued to correspond over the next 15 months, sometimes by phone and sometimes by email. In early October of 2001 he called and left me a voice mail message that he'd like me to give him a call. I emailed back that I'd call him the following week. Unfortunately, I got busy and forgot to make that phone call. I'll always regret that. 23 February 2006 - Columbia, MO Kelly Dude | wkdude~AT~adplebel~DOT~com I was on the sports staff of the Missourian with Kent in 1973-74. I was a year ahead of him. I remember him being big, warm and gregarious, and was deeply saddened to learn of his death, and I'm glad they finally caught the guys who committed such a senseless crime. May he rest in peace. 22 February 2006 - Colorado Dave Matter | dmatter~AT~tribmail~DOT~com A great idea to set up a site for a great man. Kali, I've got a wonderful picture of Kent I could get scanned to add to the site. 22 February 2006 - Columbia, MO Stephen Struemph | steam~AT~mchsi~DOT~com RIP Kent. You were one of the good guys and you always made me smile and laugh when we'd pass each other in the hall at work. I hope this website grows into a great memorial. -steve 22 February 2006 - como Scott Charton | scottcharton~AT~yahoo~DOT~com Greetings to the family and friends of Kent. I served as the Associated Press roving reporter based in the Columbia Daily Tribune newsroom from 2000-2005. Kent was among the first to welcome me and we became good friends, and shared an all-you-can-eat buffet from time to time. He was a warm, witty and caring person. He was also a professional who brought a lot of heart to his work. After 9/11, Kent wrote that we needed to get over our shocked paralysis and get back to the comforting things that make America great, including resuming sports competitions. He knew that the strength of America didn't only come from big cities, big business, armed forces and Washington. He knew that it came from softball and baseball fields and pickup basketball games and families in places like Columbia, Missouri. Thank you for establishing this site, and God bless you and give you peace. 22 February 2006 - Columbia, Missouri Jason Becking I worked as Sports Info guy at Columbia College for 3 years and came to know Kent from that. He was always great to work with and a guy that you were happy to see coming to the game. My favorite memories are him telling jokes about whatever the news of the moment was. His way of testing them out before the good ones showed up in his column a day or two later! Like many many people, it seems, I didn't know Kent well but still considered him a great friend. 22 February 2006 - Columbia, Mo. Laura Pasley | lepasley~AT~sbcglobal~DOT~net I did not know Kent except from his portrayal on 48 Hours. But, I was struck by his simple acts of kindness. When I was growing up, it wasn't the big things that impressed me, it was the simple things. My dad used to stop the car and move turtles out of the road. He would fix the broken wings of birds with pop-cycle sticks and he rescued a baby squirrel from a tree following the death of its mother. I thought of those fond memories when I watched the segment where Kent fed the stray cat. The fact that he did that simple act of kindness tells me what a wonderful man he was. You should be very proud of the way he lived his life. God bless you for keeping his memory alive. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. - Martin Luther King 22 February 2006 - Dallas, Texas Kali Heitholt | heitholtfamily~AT~yahoo~DOT~com Please leave your memory here! 22 February 2006 - Chicago, IL Muzzy | teambutton~AT~hotmail~DOT~com I love you Kali. Let's fill this up. 21 February 2006 - Chicago