Author

Michael Dougherty

Memories, ‘missing’ continue

Nancy Elizabeth “Sissy” McQuary was 14 when I met her at Mabelvale United Methodist Church sometime in the fall of 1970.

She was 48 when I came over to this house for a visit on Christmas Day 2004, and 50 when we got married two years later.

Today, she would have been 64. I’m sure there’s a too-cute Beatles analogy to be made somewhere, but I’m not in the mood to try to find it.

She died nearly 17 months ago after a second visit from acute myeloid leukemia. Some days it seems like a couple of days ago, and on others, the funeral is in the distance.

June 1, 2020

Letters to Bradley

Where Gibby and I live, what we do each day

written by Michael Dougherty

Mike Dougherty
Little Rock, Ark.

Bradley Bucy
Austin, Texas

April 19, 2020

Dear Bradley,

It sure has been fun getting to talk to you on FaceTime. Your mom has been calling me about twice a week and that makes it easier for me to see you growing.

You weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces when you were born, and I think you had dropped off to about 6 pounds when I came down to Austin to see you. Mom said you weighed 11 pounds, 2 ounces when you went to the doctor three weeks ago.

April 20, 2020

Letters to Bradley

Introducing a granddaughter to the world we share

written by Michael Dougherty

My world changed on Jan. 25, 2020. Bradley Harper Bucy, my granddaughter, was born that day in Austin, Texas.

It was just like many friends have said: “Oh, you’ll love it. Everything changes once you’re a grandparent.” I believed them because I had seen evidence of it when Debbie became pregnant with our first child, Patrick Aaron Dougherty, in 1982.

We called to tell my mother that Patrick was on the way, and she squealed, “Oh, thank goodness! I didn’t think I would ever be a grandmother!” (We lived in Vernon, Texas. My folks lived in Little Rock, Ark., and still do.)

April 2, 2020

Blog

Robert Shearon to join Oh, Dougherty as columnist

written by Michael Dougherty

Robert Shearon, a longtime journalist, semi-longtime friend, and current social worker, is joining me as a columnist here at Oh, Dougherty (ohdougherty.com). I’ve taken a hiatus from posting columns because of family illnesses, but Robert and I hope to establish a regular routine in the weeks and months to come. From there, we’ll play it by ear.

Subject matter will not be coordinated between us, so we may write about the same subjects from time to time.

We have been friends since 2007. He has been my boss at newspapers and I have been his supervisor at different newspapers. We work well together.

Our interests vary widely, but we get along great. He loves comics and superhero movies and I live and breathe baseball. I know Batman and Superman and might recognize Spider-Man. It’s doubtful that Robert’s interest in baseball extends beyond “three strikes, you’re out” and the World Series is the ultimate annual goal in the major leagues.

We have similar senses of humor and often agree politically, but our columns will be about whatever is on our mind when we’re at the keyboard. We hope you enjoy it. Robert’s first effort is below.

November 16, 2018

Blog

JFK — That day 53 years later

written by Michael Dougherty

My fourth-grade class had just come in from the after-lunch recess in the early afternoon of Nov. 22, 1963. I was sitting next to Sandra Sites in Mrs. Robertson’s room at Carnall Elementary School in Fort Smith, Ark. We were divided into groups, with each one assigned to build a diorama representing the Jamestown settlement of Virginia.

November 22, 2016

Blog

Baseball’s all-star break too long for fans

written by Michael Dougherty

Having an All-Star Game in the middle of the baseball season takes a little time — I get that.

The logistics of getting 70-75 players and coaches for two All-Star teams to one ballpark in one major-league city and then back to wherever their teams start the second half of the season takes a few days.

July 14, 2016

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