“The Ole Seagull,” more formally know as Gary J. Groman, is a 66 year old grandfather living in “Branson,” just outside of the thriving community of Hollister, Missouri. He is the editor and publisher of the Branson Courier, an online newspaper about the live family entertainment capital of the world, “Branson, Missouri,” loves to trout fish his beloved Lake Taneycomo, has been married to his bride, Lois, for over 43 years, and publishes a weekly column in the Sunday edition Branson Daily Independent entitled, “Seagull Musings” which is also published on line, each Sunday, as the editorial in the Branson Courier .
He and his family moved to Branson in 1986 after vacationing in the area for one week a year for about a decade. He is blessed with three children, two daughter in laws, an ex son in law, his wife, and son, and seven of the greatest grandchildren in the world, all of whom currently reside within 50 miles of Branson.
About six years ago, as he decided to make a commitment to writing about the things that concerned him he also decided that a “brand” would be helpful. “The Ole Seagull” evolved from a speech given by Jim King, past National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, during the Carter administration. At a presentation given at the FAA Center in Oklahoma City, Jim characterized his position within the political hierarchy of the day as that of, “a lowly seagull walking along after the horse in the parade picking at the droppings.” Even as it gave Jim perspective at that time so too does it keep the Ole Seagull’s roll in perspective today.
On occasion, the Ole Seagull has been asked what his qualifications are to his write his opinions and why anyone should pay any attention to them. In order, the answers are “only his life’s experience” and “they shouldn’t unless, one way or the other, they have evaluated those opinions and find them useful in their own decision making process.”
It’s easy to want to spew forth a list of qualifications but, in the final analysis it is a useless act and a waste of time. Abraham Lincoln said it best when he said, “If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Gary a.k.a. The Ole Seagull can be contacted via phone at 1-417-339-4000 or via email by selecting “The Ole Seagull” from the drop down dialogue box accessible through the “Submissions/Contact” box in the lower left hand corner of the front page of the Branson Courier.
