Francis Misgen was a man of many talents. He said things as they were. He could hide the goodness and softness of his heart sometimes in being honest and blunt, but one always felt the importance of his presence.  Loyalty was his middle name. He often visited the care centers and was loyal to his quest that the New Richland Care Center would be where he wanted to be when the time came. I wonder how many times he made a point of really visiting with his friend Ed Menefee when he was there? 

Francis was proud of his country and an outstanding member of the armed forces that carried over into his participation to the service men’s organization. I will always have a mental picture of his pride as he drove fellow servicemen in his jeep during parades and other events. A project he took on to perpetuate the value of the armed forces and the sacrifices they made for our well-being.

He was a family man that extended beyond his own children to those of other family members. He didn't coddle as much as he brought strength to his family as he taught them that life doesn't come easy. It takes hard work and an intelligent mind to accomplish what needed to be done. He was honest, humble and kind.

He had a right to be proud. He never shirked in his willingness to be of service and help to others. He continued to work well past his age because it was something he did - he believed it was important to do what you can while you can.

Francis was Francis. He will leave an indelible place in my heart and a mental picture of a proud military man who served his country and mankind in many ways. God Bless the memory of this great man.

And speaking of great men — I ran across this 50-year-old speech by noted radio host Paul Harvey recently. It is often quoted, sometimes inaccurately. But I checked it for accuracy. This is the authentic version.

I couldn't help but think how his predictions have come true. I'm not going to comment further, but whether you believe in the devil or not, think about the foresight Harvey had 50 years ago. Almost all of the things he warned us of - whether the work of the devil or our own misguided policies - have come true.

Next year will mark the 50th year of Paul Harvey's famous "If I Were the Devil" commentary. So for you who have never heard or read it, I thought I would share it with you and then you can consider what has happened in America over the last fifty years.

"If I Were the Devil”

If I were the Prince of Darkness I would want to engulf the whole earth in darkness.

I'd have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree. 

So I should set about however necessary, to take over the United States. 

I would begin with a campaign of whispers. 

With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve, "Do as you please." 

To the young I would whisper, "The Bible is a myth." I would convince them that "man created God," instead of the other way around. I would confide that, "what is bad is good and what is good is square."

In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you.  I would caution them not to be "extreme" in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct. 

And the old I would teach to pray - to say after me - "Our father which are in Washington." 

Then I'd get organized. 

I'd educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull, uninteresting. 

I'd threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vise-versa. 

I'd infiltrate unions and urge more loafing, less work. Idle hands usually work for me. 

I'd peddle narcotics to whom I could, I'd sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction, I'd tranquilize the rest with pills. 

If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions; let them run wild. 

I'd designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I'd get preachers to say, "She's right." 

With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to vote against God and in favor of pornography. 

Thus I would evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, then from the Houses of Congress. 

Then in his own churches I'd substitute psychology for religion and deify science. 

If I were the Satan I'd make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the devil I'd take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. Then my police state would force everybody back to work. 

Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coalmines and objectors in slave-labor camps. 

If I were Satan I'd just keep doing what I'm doing and the whole world would go to hell as sure as the devil."

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. 

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Thursday, January 23rd: Eugene Worke, "Emeritus" Bob Hanson, Eugene Cornelius, Rodney Sorenson, Dean Broitzman, Garnet Folie, Jeff Miller, Chris Paulson

• Friday, January 24th: Morgan Sophia Luhring, her 9th; Renee Polzin, Greg Menefee, Mary Cunningham, Trevor Tracy

• Saturday, January 25th: Calvin Thomas VanderStoep, his 5th; Sophia Mabel Olivia Mrotz, Max Thomas Powers Brekke, his 7th; Emma Meiners, her 6th; Paula Olson, Vernon Simonson, Lana Thompsen, Troy Phagan, Ladawn Hatch

• Sunday, January 26th: Andilynn Leigh Knudson, her 5th; Russell Nelson, Bonnie Peterson, Pat Reese Ceplecha, Linda Oldenburg, Angela Borchert, Donna Borchert Knudson, Amanda Abel

• Monday, January 27th: Anna Mae Lee, Jon Berg, Linda Davis, Nancy Ingvaldson, Paul Larkin, Keegan Brighton, Myrtle Peterson, Ken & Waynette Peterson, Bruce & Rose Ann Kubicek

• Tuesday, January 28th: Brian Brekke, Kevin Stieglbauer, Kalei Wilson, Caleb Brocker, Ruth Paulson, Denise McGowan, Rachel Schei, Lona Berg

• Wednesday, January 29th: Molly Jo Wayne, her 6th Jalen Aaseth, Rick Seath, Andrea (Hanson) Carter, George Dettman, his 84th, Kim (Harpel) Johnson, Zenobia Haberman, Stephanie Jensen

May your special day be a happy memory and tomorrow a bright new promise.