Portland’s own Imel was a treasure

To the editor:

This morning, a phone call from an old friend delivered sad news.

On Sunday evening, in his California home, Portland native son Jack Imel passed away, suddenly and quite unexpectedly.

Jack was a bona fide superstar in an era when us rural residents were fortunate to be able to tune in a mere three or four channels with our aerial mounted antennas, or rabbit ears. One thing was certain, in our home, every Saturday evening, that television was certainly going to be tuned to The Lawrence Welk Show.

The small screen would burst to life with Lawrence and his colorful cast of characters, keeping the music of The Great American Songbook alive. One character in his stable of stars was a tall, handsome, tap-dancing marimba player from Portland named Jack Imel.

Just a few years ago, a local business friend called me and asked me to stop by his office. He had a surprise for me. I went right up, and his surprise was to personally introduce me to a visiting Jack Imel.

I found him to be a man with a firm handshake, a warm personality and, a twinkle in his eye, and quite affable. He always had a funny story or a quick joke to tell.

A few days later, in the mail, I received a photo of us together that day from my friend. Somewhere, Lawrence is lifting his baton, Jack is poised and ready at his marimba … and the orchestra will play on.

Rest in Peace, Jack. It was indeed an honor to have met and known you.

Respectfully,

James D. Fulks III

Dunkirk