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Kerry
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 with Kerry Daigle REMEMBERING JOHNNY! So, if you remember him as Johnny Wright or Wandell Allegood or even Cajun Pete.. it really doesn't matter. Most of us remember him as a friend, a father figure, a mentor, and a gentleman who always had a smile for you and a kind heart who was more concerned about your success than his. "Humble" was his middle name. He had this desire to make certain you were always the focal point of every meeting or session you had with him. Johnny was such a great listener and one to make you move forward with a project you had an interest in. When I first started doing radio Johnny would always ask me, "Who inspired you, Kerry, to write this type of positive thinking material?" I told him that my inspiration was Maw Maw and Paw Paw Daigle, my grandparents. He spent time learning about my grandparents and then suggested that I should offer the world the wisdom I learned from them. This started the writings of Maw Maw and Paw Paw and how they were my first mentors. He had this vision for a successful venture into writing, not only for me, but for so many others that were fortunate enough to cross his path. From his guidance there is now a CD entitled, 'DREAMS, FAIRY TALES, AND MIRACLES' which is 5 chapters from a book I am completing about the wisdom of my grandparents.....all inspired by Johnny. Johnny gave me the understanding that everything I've done in business needs to be attributed to my grandparents, especially Maw Maw Daigle. He had this certain wisdom about him to dig down deep into your soul to find out who you really were.. and he did it in a non-invasive way. He taught me to remember (after listening and interviewing me) that Maw Maw Daigle's faith in me..along with her character, her drive for me to dream, her dedication to being the best grandmother she could be, and her willingness to do whatever it took to raise me on state assistance, would create a story I needed to tell the world. He explained to me that God took me out of my birth mother's womb and placed me in Maw Maw's heart. Today, I promise that I will deliver those messages from Maw Maw Daigle and Paw Paw...because I learned from Johnny that it was important to do so..not for me..but for others. Johnny, I know you are reading this..and I thank you for your wisdom. So many people ask me over and over... "What did Johnny teach you? Can you write about it?" Sure, I could write about the thing Johnny taught me but not in one article. It would have to be a book. The reason is that every week we did the Keeppunching Radio Show he spent extra time teaching me something new about radio...or people in general. I knew I would never stop learning from him and that he would be here forever. Johnny was ageless, enthusiastic, and a visionary. He is with me in spirit, the same as Maw Maw and Paw Paw, and I can feel him leading me into my next book. I can hear him telling me what to write...and how to deliver the message so everyone could understand what I was writing...the same as he taught me about 'radio'. Many people come to mind that Johnny mentored...too many to mention. Every one who came into contact with Johnny were mesmerized by his kindness and compassion along with his wisdom and willingness to help everyone get their '15 minutes of fame'. He touched and inspired so many lives. As I sat in the funeral home thinking of all the great times I spent with my mentor, I felt this sudden deep sadness that I realized I couldn't speak to him anymore. It tore me up inside as I looked around at all the people coming in to see him for that last time still looking for advise. Although his soul had left for heaven his spirit was still in the room. It was as if I could still hear him saying, "People who aim at nothing in life usually hit 'nothing' right on the head." I started smiling and understood he wasn't leaving us altogether. He was only going somewhere else where he could gain more wisdom to bestow on us and he would have a way to deliver his message. I just know he will. I listened to the eulogy first from A. B. Reed, a retired bank executive from St. Landry Bank in Opelousas as he spoke of their childhood and how he started his career at KSLO before moving to banking. He spoke of Johnny's faithful love of radio and how he was such a good friend. I could tell Mr. Reed meant every word. The closing eulogy came from a good friend of mine, Bobby Dupre. Bobby talked of his 30 years with KSLO doing THE BOBBY DUPRE SHOW. He spoke about Johnny tutoring him to mention other people's names constantly on his show giving them recognition and acknowledgement. This made the Bobby Dupre Show 'the most listened to' radio show in St. Landry Parish which now plays on KDCG-TV simultaneously. Bobby always spoke about the wisdom, kindness, and guidance of Johnny and how Johnny always made you feel special. The third eulogy was done by Douglas Sandoz, who actually spoke second. He was a student of Johnny's since 1977 working as an announcer at KSLO. Doug always worked the elections with Johnny in St. Landry Parish and Johnny would only call on Doug to carry out that chore with him. They were a great pair. Doug started working at Andrepont Printing in Opelousas in the last few years but never quit working with Johnny. As he said in his eulogy....Johnny was a father figure to him as he was to so many others. Doug left us all with a big soft spot in our hearts as he spoke directly from his own heart. I want to share those words with you. Johnny Wright
I feel I should be asking for that beautiful bean footage, however, I'm sure
Johnny would have preferred his favorite audio clip of the late Sheriff Cat
Doucet from the 1960's. By Douglas Sandoz Penny asked me to write something brief about her dad. I think I may pass up the 60 second mark; however (for those of you familiar with radio ads), I did double-space with all caps! I learned a lot from Johnny. I didn't learn everything, but I wish I had. So if you aren't impressed with me, don't blame him. We always do our own thing regardless of proper training. Thinking back now, I realize every time I did something different from the way he taught me, how wrong I was. I was still learning from him before God called upon him. Johnny was a wonderful teacher to all of us. He was a true friend, an avid sportsman, a man with many hobbies. It didn't matter what your hobby was, he would still show interest as if you were being "interviewed". Regardless of how busy he was, he always had time for you. He was truly a southern gentleman. In the 28 years I've known him, I've never seen him get really mad. He only raised his voice slightly to show his unhappiness. Usually this was with young announcers that weren't quite ready to be left alone. I am happy to say I wasn't one of them. When I found out I had cancer, I stopped by to talk to Johnny about it. After a few treatments he asked me one day, "How's it going, old timer?" I told him my hands and feet were tingling and sort of numb from one of the pretreatment drugs. He said, "That should go away". I said, "You've had the same problem?" (As if I had found someone I could truly compare notes with). He said, "No, I haven't, but I'm sure it will go away." When I think about it now, I realize how right he was. I notice the tingling and numbness even less now. Johnny was a very professional person, yet very private. I was one of those fortunate enough to know him personally. He was a wonderful friend on any level. For some of us he was even a father figure. Many times I would stop at the station early in the morning to say hello and he would always bring me in the studio to get an update on things. He was always genuinely interested in whatever you wanted to talk about. Learning from him, however, made me curious enough to ask him questions much like he would ask me. This is how I got to know him and I have to say, he really enjoyed life and was truly one of the most fascinating people I've known. I'm sure by now Johnny has interviewed God. And I can only imagine the particulars of that conversation. "God? Quit calling me Lloyd, you can call me Johnny. Even Cajun Pete would be fine." I sense God doubting himself and asking St. Peter to pull his records to find out who Johnny really is. Regardless, he will be impressed. God might want to sit down if he isn't already seated. I know we all have questions we would like to ask the Lord, but with Johnny, it's going to be one of the longest interviews God's ever been through (longer than any political interview Johnny's ever done.). I can only hope one day I will be fortunate enough to be where he is now and continue my education, as I still have a lot to learn. Hopefully by then, he will be finished interviewing everyone else and he can give me a tour of his new studio in heaven. I would like to close by extending my condolences to his family and wishing you the finest memories of a man whom I would like to personally call Dad. Thank you Doug for your thoughts. And to Johnny..I know he will always Keep Punching! I love you, Johnny. 
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Kerry has been involved in his own homebased business since the age of 13 and now
years later still operates a multi-million dollar sales and distribution center
directly out of his home involving Juice Plus, a whole food product,
www.kerrydaigle.com.
During his teen years and all of his adult life, Kerry has worked in the promotional
arena in professional and amateur boxing and major concerts worldwide. Some of the
shows he has been involved in were televised on the major networks, ESPN, USA Network,
and other cable affiliates. He has also promoted legal seminars for attorneys. Kerry is also an author and writer. He does the Keeppunching Radio Show which is promoted internationally through audiotapes and the web on www.keeppunching.com and www.kslokogm-fm.com He also does speaking engagements on personal development and sales across the world. Kerry also assists other speakers and authors to promote their profession and/or books through his contacts across the globe. Kerry can be reached at 337.288.8510 or email him at keeppunching@cox.net. Feel free to write to Kerry about his articles and any questions you may have. And as Kerry says...KEEP PUNCHING! |
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