Jack Canson

Kay, thank you so much for posting this information and your memories of growing up in the "Solomon Compound" in downtown Marshall.

I had been asked to help provide a semi-obituary by Dr. David "Ronnie" Senn, a close friend of Miller's after Ronnie had spoken with Judy Troy. Howard Solomon has advised me that Miller had been very emphatic about his wish to have no funeral or memorial service and no obituary. As you know, Miller had a very strong personality and Judy felt compelled to honor his his desire for none of the traditional after death activities or ceremonies.

After talking with Ronnie, Judy said that although she would honor Miller's wishes she would have no objection to family or close friends posting their reminisences and we agreed I would put something together. Alas, as I began to gather material I fell and injured my back and rib cage. Anyone who has had the bad luck of injuring a rib knows how painful it can be and how difficult it is to do anything that involves movement of the upper body. Two weeks now and I am still trying to recuperate. It hurts to punch letters on a keyboard except when my head is full of pain killers and under those conditions I'm too batty tomake much sense.

I always felt very close to all of the Solomons, and especially to your mother and father and your siblings. Miller and I stayed in touch although we had not seen much of each other the last several decades. As I tried to organize my thoughts and memorie I realized what a large task it would be to do justice to the story of what an interesting man he was. I hope to get something done soon and will be sure to post of link it here.

Meanwhile, let me assure you that the story told about the meting in Principal John L. Roark's office which involved me and Mr. Roark kneeling in prayer mode is SUBSTANTIALLY TRUE! 

"Remove this poor Canson boy from the influence of Miller Solomon's powerful personality," was I believe, the phrase.

Best to you all, Jack

Indeed, Edmund was a great friend and always a lot of fun to be around.  We saw a lot of each other in Austin the last few years of his life.  Edmund was working in physics at Balcones Research Center, his wife Mary was an attorney in the Enrolling & Engrossing office in the state capitol.  That's where the ideas (good, bad, and ugly) that legislators have for new laws are turned into bills.  I think all the attorneys working there were women, and all of them wickedly smart.  That office was tucked away in the basement of the capitol, not too far from the snack bar.  Working as a speechwriter and consultant for Governor Briscoe, I was in the capitol 3 or 4 days a week and I often had coffee with Mary.  Edmund, Mary, a girlfriend, and I got together for Mexican food every Wednesday and did a lot of drinking and eating at their house on Rio Grande weekends.  One Friday evening I returned from an out of state trip and called Edmund's home.  A cousin answered and told me Edmund and Mary were at a hospital where he was going to have back surgery the next morning.  Can't remember the name of that hospital now, but it was in East Austin and not far from the house I was restoring and living in at the time.  So I went there and the three of us had a great time talking and joking around until it was time for visitors to leave.  I was awakened early the next morning by a call from one of their close friends.  Edmund had died in the recovery room following the surgery.  It was a terrible time. They had two children, one an infant and the other I think was maybe three.  Mary moved away from Austin, I began spending more time in California, and it was many years before I saw her again.

Posted on: Jul 22, 2020 at 2:33 AM

Happy birthday. Have a blessed day!

Posted on: Jul 22, 2015 at 2:34 AM

Happy Birthday!