Finishing up Bert Case’s obituary cartoon got me thinking: What’s his legacy? What did he leave behind for the rest of us who knew him so well.
When I say “the rest of us who knew him so well,” I mean everyone who watched him for 50 years. He appeared on all three Jackson TV stations. He was a legend in this community. When someone comes into your living room for five decades, you know them.
Bert was family.
I had the pleasure of getting to know him a little bit over the years. We had a mutual admiration society going and I enjoyed visiting with him when I could. I respected Bert. And this is what I got from his life:
1. Love being yourself. Bert loved being Bert. Whether it was in front of the camera or out on a sandbar on the Pearl River, I’ve never seen anyone enjoy being themselves more than Bert Case. That’s why he fought sepsis for so long. Sepsis will kill you quickly. Not Bert. Bert had a lion’s will to live.
2. Stand up to the powerful. Bert respected people, but he didn’t put up with their crap either. Whether it was a mad governor or a ticked pit bull, Bert held his ground. That was a great service to a state that needs that kind of journalistic oversight.
3. Love your job. Bert enjoyed 50 years of doing what he loved to do. Life is too short to hate your occupation. And when it looked Iike he would have to retire, he continued to work and finished on his own terms.
4. Find the love of your life. Bert loved Mary. And Mary loved Bert.
5. Be an original. How many can hear his trademark “Berrrrt Case!” in your head? I can. He came up with that when someone said his name sounded like “bird cage.” I’ve lived in several TV markets and never seen anyone quite like him.
Bert was one of a kind.
And that’s why I will miss him so darn much.
I loved Bert. I was lucky enough to work with him and would just marvel at how much fun it was to see him work. And I loved when he would tell stories as we drove from town to town. Great read and great memories. Thanks for sharing that.