Kat King

Current Wanted Poster in 71307 Alexandria, LA Post Office.

Current wanted poster in our Alexandria Zip 71307 Post Office. Viewing it brought the following story to mind.

A Lady Named Kat

To my knowledge Kat King was never featured on a wanted poster, but I still think of here when a see a F.B.I. wanted poster in the post office.

It’s amazing how you remember people who are kind to you as a child. Growing up in a wonderful place called Dry Creek meant I was the recipient of so much adult kindness. I’ve always said that everyone was your uncle and aunt in the Dry Creek I grew up in.

Among some of the best of this kindness came from Kat King.

Mrs. King was the postmistress of Dry Creek’s small post office.   Zip code 70637.  Until my teen years, the post office shared space in Ryan Harper’s grocery.  Later it moved into the south end of the building that is Dry Creek Camp’s office.

In addition to running the post office, Kat King and her husband Ed ran a local dairy and were pillars of our church.

Anytime I went into the post office to get our mail, Mrs. King asked about my day, school, and the events of my life. She evidently noticed my preteen interest in the wanted posters found in federal post offices.  When criminals were apprehended by the FBI and Mrs. King received notice to remove a poster, she gave it to me.

I pinned the old posters in my bedroom.  They were part of my growing up.  They were one of a hundred ways that Kat King made me feel special.  I made it my business to speak to her anytime I was in downtown Dry Creek.

 

Wanted poster of James Earl Ray, assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The original poster named him as Eric Starvo Galt. I scanned every face I saw hoping to turn in this criminal and meet J. Edgar Hoover.
Wanted poster of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The original poster named him as Eric Starvo Galt. I scanned every face at Piggly Wiggly and Dairy Queen hoping to turn in this criminal and meet J. Edgar Hoover.  When Ray was finally caught, Mrs. King gave me the poster.

 

I didn’t turn out to be an F.B.I. agent or on the Top Ten Most Wanted list, but I grew up in the shadow and smile of an adult friend who always made me feel special.

Her name was Kat King and on this second day of a new year, I thank God for her and her husband Ed.

 

Kat King
                Kat King

Read a story about Ed King entitled “The Sermon in the Hayfield.”

Ryan Harper’s Grocery was an integral part of my growing up.  On Wednesday, I’ll share about a memorable day in the store.

Tell me about a special Kat King-like person in your life.

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