Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Void felt by loss of friend

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000 | 10:06 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Her column appears Thursdays. Reach her at deskin@vegas.com.

"We will have to meet for lunch sometime soon."

Whenever Bill Willard and I happened to meet we would joyfully reminisce for a time and end with the promise of "lunch sometime soon."

It never happened. My friend is gone. All I have left to remind me of this gentle man is an oil painting that hangs on the wall. Bill was doing some painting near the Northern California coast when he happened upon a scene that reminded him of something I had said. He caught the scene on canvas and surprised me with the painting on a birthday long past. I treasured it then and I treasure it even more today. I know his work must grace the walls of many Las Vegas homes.

A genial gentleman, he sort of sauntered through life gathering friends, promoting the arts, and dabbling with success in all kinds of career activities. His talents were boundless. He wrote entertainment columns for local newspapers, including the Sun. His scripts for the hilarious antics of the old Hank Henry show at the Silver Slipper assured standing room only audiences. Las Vegas Press Club members will remember utilizing his talents for the annual Branding Iron Revue, a spoof on local politicians and prominent citizens. He knew success as a public relations guru, and served the community for several years on the planning commission. He was a dynamic force in sponsoring cultural activities in the city and state. A man of many trades, he was a master of almost any venture he tried.

A part of the Las Vegas legend died with Bill Willard.

That engaging grin and ability to turn the negative into a positive will always be remembered. My own tribute will be to follow through when a friend suggests lunch sometime soon.

Las Vegas has everything.

If you don't believe it, visit the doggie park located at Durango and Spring Mountain Road within the Desert Breeze park area. Here, big pooches, little pooches, and a most interesting assortment of owners gather to frolic and exchange doggie tales. It's great fun for humans and their dogs.

In case you are wondering, strict rules apply for doggie behavior and little plastic bags are supplied for canine creatures who can't wait till they get home.

Announcement that the Lied Library at UNLV will be open soon leaves some old-timers wondering about the James Dickinson library, named after Dr. Dickinson, the first president and guiding spirit in the establishment of a university campus in Southern Nevada.

Longtime Las Vegan Betty Poray is among those who are concerned about Dr. Dickinson being forgotten.

Quite some time ago I wrote a column item regarding this situation and I was assured, by the powers that be, that Dr. Dickinson would, indeed, be remembered in some manner, but the library would not carry his name. I wonder how they plan to remember this good man?

Where did January 2000 go?

It was just yesterday we were anticipating a glorious New Year's Eve celebration on the Strip. The less said about that the better. What's next? Would you believe it's time to start preparing for income taxes returns. Already IRS forms are coming through the mail to remind us to declare all of our income or Big Brother will wreak havoc on our lives. Time does pass swiftly when you are having fun -- or growing older.

Andre Agassi is the world's No. 1 tennis player and a great ambassador for Las Vegas, but to thousands of local underprivileged children he is much more.

The Agassi Foundation is a No. 1 force in our community offering assistance, both educational and recreational, to children in need. We salute Agassi for his tennis prowess and thank him for his humanitarianism.

An old Greek proverb reminds us you can't score until you have a goal.