Jill's Journal: ‘The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated’

The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated is a popular misquote attributed to author Samuel Clemens, probably more recognizable by his pen name, Mark Twain. The humorous quote is based on a letter Twain sent to a newspaper reporter who had asked Twain about rumors that he was dying.

Well, that same scenario also happened here, and I’m ultimately the one to blame.

In last week’s special section dedicated to Brandon’s 50-year anniversary, I had noted that the town’s first four mayors since incorporation had all passed on.

As it turns out, I was wrong.

Thanks to the efforts of one of our subscribers, Dorothy Meyer, who informed me that our town’s very first mayor – Wayne Hoffman – is alive and well.

And indeed he is! 

Dorothy once worked with Mayor Hoffman and his wife, Karen, in Huron. The story in which I wrote that Hoffman and his three predecessors were all deceased, surprised her and motivated her to do a bit of research on her own.

And am I ever glad that she did.

It was through her efforts that she connected me to Wayne and his wife, Karen. As you likely saw on page one of this issue, I had the opportunity to sit down with them and learn more about Brandon and what it took to incorporate a city.

I’m thankful he has a sense of humor. He even joked that he should try and collect on his life insurance.

After learning more about Wayne and the early movers and shakers of this town, I thanked him for doing what he and the others did to make Brandon the best community it could be. When he left our town in 1975, Brandon was for the most part, still a sleepy little bedroom community. But he and the others saw the benefits of putting our town on the map as an incorporated city.

And my, look where we are today, more than 11,000 people and adding more and more to our population every day.

So, to Wayne and the others who believed in helping to “Build a Better Brandon,” thank you.

Also from last week’s special section, I received a note from Gunnar Rotter, who is the operations manager at Odeco. After reading with interest on the story about the wild goose mobile, he let me know that the vehicle is still in Brandon today.

Apparently, the Ode family purchased it “back in the day” and it now sits at OdeCo’s new shop along Holly Boulevard.

“It’s pretty cool to look at and something even cooler (and a great part of history) is John Green was paid to paint the side of it with an outdoor hunting scene,” Gunnar wrote.

Lastly, a huge thank you to the party planners and our local businesses, organizations and volunteers who stepped up to organize a party that’s been 50 years in the making.

Cheers to the next 50 years in the making, Brandon. While I surely won’t be around for that one, I have no doubt that our next generations will make it a celebration you won’t want to miss.