Page 28 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine

William Kerns:

CHAMPION OF LUBBOCK ARTS

by James Eppler

arrived at the coffee shop He would later
early. Sitting at a wobbly table write me a letter of
I with a cup of coffee, I was far recommendation to the
too nervous to drink. I anxiously Texas Tech newspaper
watched the front door. I double- to start my career in
checked to make sure my Regis media.
Philbin-brand tie was straight and
dimpled because I was dressed to Bill’s work and
impress. After all, I was about to influence in Lubbock
meet a man I had admired since were destined from the
childhood. William Kerns was that start. After graduating
big of a deal to me. from Texas Tech, his
first day at the Lubbock
It was the Fall of 2000, and I had a A-J was on Buddy
senior-year, high school assignment Holly’s birthday:
to interview professionals in the September 7, 1976. Like William D. Kerns Award for the
field I wanted to pursue. I had Buddy, Bill’s work over the years Performing Arts in 2003. In a true
been reading “Mr. Kerns” since I made him an icon locally. testament to his arts inclusivity,
was old enough to read – running Bill later requested the LHUCA
outside early before school Fridays Whether it was a small, local theater Board of Directors also consider
to grab the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal production, a gathering of jamming a Visual Arts award, which was
to devour the arts section and his musicians, a blossoming annual given out for the first time in 2009.
movie reviews. After summoning art exhibit, an independent film Every year, LHUCA hosts a gala
the courage to email him for an or countless other events, Bill was where the Kerns Awards recognize
interview request, he had been kind there to make sure the community the achievements of exemplary
enough to suggest a face-to-face knew about it. He battled tirelessly local artists whose contributions to
over coffee. against the lazy and ignorant
mantra about there being “nothing Lubbock have helped define the arts
“Mr. Kerns,” as I kept calling him, to do in Lubbock.” He has proven scene. Winners have included music
was generous to a nervous high that wrong time and again. In fact, producer Don Caldwell, Ballet
school kid. He let me pick his brain there were often so many art events Lubbock’s Yvonne Racz-Key and
for well over an hour. If that wasn’t to cover at a given time that Bill artist, Ginger Bundock, who created
enough, he invited me to a midnight worked long hours and personally the Lubbock Artists’ Studio Tour.
screening of a dreadful horror movie sacrificed more than most readers Bill is also an adept interviewer.
called “Valentine” so I could see him will ever know. Over his decades of writing, he
work in the field. We had a blast brought interviews to Lubbock
laughing at the picture. There has been no greater champion
for local artists. The Louise Hopkins audiences with some big-name
He has been “Bill” to me ever since Underwood Center for the Arts celebrities, and he was never
– the start of a close friendship. recognized this when it created the satisfied with asking the rote

28 Lubbock Senior Link