May 08 2009
R.I.P., Bud Shrake
Another day, another great one gone…this afternoon brings the sad news of the death of Edwin “Bud” Shrake, journalist, author, playwright and noted Texas wit. Shrake was also noted as the long-time consort of former Texas Governor Ann Richards.
I can’t even begin to cover Shrake’s illustrious career, but I did get a chance to meet him last year at a book signing for his most recent novel, Custer’s Brother’s Horse. My favorite of his remains Strange Peaches, the first book of his I read about his experiences as a newspaperman in Dallas during November 1963. The novel introduces us to various nefarious folks like Jack Ruby and other rather bizarre Texas characters. The other piece of his I loved was a rarely-performed play that I had the great fortune to see at Zachary Scott Theater here, Pancho Villa’s Wedding Day.
At the book signing, Shrake regaled us with stories like acting as Mohammed Ali’s chauffeur the day he announced his refusal to be drafted. The story I remember most though, told of his brief sojourn on what appeared to be the Other Side. See, this isn’t the first time Shrake has died. Several years back, he had a near-death experience he described to us. He saw people come in to his hospital room and ignore him completely as the walls of the room rose and disappeared. He turned and behind him, an enormous stage stretched as far as the eye could see. What he had known as the entire world was, in fact, simply the very front of this huge stage. He found himself surrounded by friendly, helpful people, leading him onto the real stage amid a sense of growing excitement.
Shrake returned from this vision and shared it with others. Later, when he attended Ann Richards on her deathbed, she, too, faded from this part of our life for some time, returning to lucidity at one point to declare, “I don’t know where I am, but it’s all very exciting!” He said he knew then she was leaving soon and, indeed she did.
Now Bud has gone over, too. I bet there’s an incredible excitement over there this evening. Wish I could hear the stories he’s telling over there now.
