A4 • COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • JULY 25, 2018
O PINION
Family, community mourns Richard Swift’s passing
“I never want to be looked at as
a rock star dude… I’m pretty
comfortable being the guy
driving around town in the big
silver van who’s got the radio
show at KSOW on Sunday nights
and spins records at the
Axe & Fiddle on Monday.”
—Richard Swift
Quoted in an August, 2008 edition of
the Sentinel
I
n the years since he spoke with his
hometown newspaper (with this au-
thor, it should be noted), Richard
Swift found himself in many ways living
the quintessential life of the “rock star
dude,” despite his objections to the label.
Soon, a packed schedule put a halt to his
local radio show, as well as appearances at
the Pub of the great DJ Donald Fivepen-
nies, who had filled Monday nights with
the boom-tat, hum and squeal of the best
soul, R&B and rock records ever made.
Tours around the world as part of re-
nowned rock acts the Shins, the Black
Keys and the Arcs added to an already
impressive resume as a solo artist and
producer and helped fuel a decade of con-
stant touring, recording and producing
up-and-coming acts from his home stu-
dio, National Freedom, in Cottage Grove.
During this time, Swift found himself on
the world’s biggest stages, blasted across
screens on some of its biggest television
shows and rubbing elbows with many of
its biggest names.
And yet, when the tour ended and his
home life again beckoned, Swift returned
to Cottage Grove, to his wife, Shealynn,
children Madison, Kennedy and Adri-
an and a host of family and friends. At
times, he’d be seen piloting the silver van,
but more often he’d simply stroll about
downtown, sticking out (quite comically,
at times) like the proverbial sore thumb
in his ever-present all-black attire, su-
per-dark shades and frizzy black hairdo.
Talented musicians sought out his wiz-
ardry in the studio, and bands that trav-
eled to Cottage Grove to record often fell
By Jon Stinnett
Community member and past Sentinel editor
in love with the unique charm of this town
and its people. During their time here,
road-weary musicians enjoyed the whole-
some change of pace that this communi-
ty provided, patronizing local businesses
and making friends of their own all over
town.
Over time, Swift proved himself the best
kind of rock star, one whose unassuming
and engaging nature, whose love for his
craft, whose genuine interest in and desire
to nurture the creative endeavors of oth-
ers could help foster in them a deep and
abiding love of music and all its powers.
It’s no stretch to believe that Richard Swift
made just about every musician he’d ever
encounter a better musician in some way.
And he did it from a town that was largely
unaware it harbored one of the industry’s
most prolific talents.
These days, those of us who knew and
truly loved Swift are left to ponder the
what-ifs and what-might-have-beens of
his saga, longing all the while to return
to what today seem like simpler, much
happier times. On the morning of July
3, 2018, Swift succumbed to an illness
brought on by alcohol addiction, passing
away at a hospice care facility in Tacoma
and, at age 41, cutting short a career and
a life that still held untold potential for
inspiration, true happiness, undreamt-of
success and love.
In the moments following Swift’s death,
well-wishes poured in to his family and
friends, along with recognitions of his
unique gift from those who admired,
appreciated and were changed by his
work. A few days later and still very
much grief-stricken, his family chose to
disclose the cause of his death, explaining
through his Facebook page that Swift had
been diagnosed with hepatitis and liver
and kidney distress the previous month.
“I just wanted to get the truth out there,”
Shealynn Swift later said, “that it’s possible
to drink yourself to death at an early age.
There are a lot of functional alcoholics out
there, and it’s so socially acceptable. But
alcoholism is a terrible disease.”
While working to preserve her hus-
band’s artistic legacy, which should in-
clude the release of a newly completed
album this fall, she said she’s also hopeful
that his story can somehow save oth-ers
from a similar fate. She advocates Al-Anon
as a resource for the family and friends of
someone struggling with alcoholism.
“If even one person can reach out, get
help and survive, it’s worth it,” she said.
The First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridg-
ing the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition their
Government for a redress of greivences.
Letters to the Editor Policy
The Sentinel welcomes letters to the editor as part of
a community discussion of issues on the local, state
and national level.
Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed
letters must be signed. All letters need to include full
name, address and phone number; only name and
city will be printed. Letters should be limited to about
300 words. Letters are subject to editing for length,
grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not
guaranteed and depends on space available and the
volume of letters received.
Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumentative,
sarcastic or contain accusations that are unsourced or
without documentation will not be published.
Letters containing poetry or from outside The
Sentinel readership area will only be published at the
discretion of the editor.
Political/Election Letters:
Election-related letters must address pertinent or
timely issues of interest to our readers at-large.
Letters must 1) Not be a part of letter-writing
campaigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2) Ensure
any information about a candidate is accurate, fair
and not from second-hand knowledge or hearsay;
and 3) explain the reasons to support candidates
based on personal experience and perspective rather
than partisanship and campaign-style rhetoric.
Candidates themselves may not use the letters to the
editor column to outline their views and platforms
or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid political
advertising.
As with all letters and advertising content, the
newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publisher,
general manager and editor, reserves the right to
reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above criteria.
Send letters to:
nhickson@cgsentinel.com or cmay@cgsentinel.com
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPS
We’ve come a long way since The Dixie Chicks
controversy — but in the wrong direction
the president of the United States and I can tell you that the sense of
betrayal felt by the Lone Star State
is from Texas.”
Reaction from the other side ran deep.
Ultimately, the backlash ended
of the pond in America was
swift and, as the coming weeks what had been a cosmic rise to
and months would prove, unre- superstardom.
Now, 15 years later, in a not-
lenting. Many country fans and
t was 15 years ago this past Americans in general felt the so-subtle twist of irony, it’s the
March when the once sky-
rocketing career of the coun-
try singing group Dixie Chicks
came crashing back to Earth after
Ned Hickson
making a comment disparaging
the president while performing
on foreign soil.
The Texas-based trio of sisters group betrayed a sacred trust be- American people and the intelli-
Emily Robison and Martie Magu- tween the American people and gence agencies representing their
ire, along with lead singer Natalie their elected president, regardless interest around the world who
Maines, were performing at the of which side of the vote they had have been disrespected by the
comments made by their presi-
Shepherd’s Bush Empire Theater landed on.
dent while on foreign soi
Simply
put:
You
don’t
“dis”
the
in London and kicking off their
The reaction?
international Top of the World president when you’re on foreign
Swift ambiguity.
Tour following the multi-plat- soil.
While a few in the U.S. Con-
Almost instantaneously, ra-
inum release of their album
gress
have used terms like
dio
stations
stopped
playing
the
“Home.”
At the time, then-president group’s music, country music “shameful” and “bizarre” to de-
George W. Bush was supporting stars like Toby Keith and Reba scribe President Trump’s vocal
the invasion of Iraq, and Maines McEntire spoke out against the support of Russian president
took the opportunity to voice her group, one-time fans and even Vladimir Putin’s denial of elec-
opposition to the impending war. radio stations held CD-crushing tion meddling, the vast majority
“Just so you know, we’re on the parties during which cars and have offered little more than fin-
good side with ya’ll,” Maines said. trucks were driven over stacks of ger wagging and generalities.
The president offered no such
“We do not want this war, this Dixie Chicks albums.
I was living in Texas at the time generalities when he specifically
violence, and we’re ashamed that
I
From the Managing Editor’s Desk
called out the FBI, remarking:
“They said they think it’s Rus-
sia. But I have President Putin;
he just said it’s not Russia,” later
adding: “President Putin was ex-
tremely strong and powerful in
his denial today,” effectively say-
ing he took Putin at his word.
Regardless of the president’s
personal feelings on the Mueller
investigation and talk of collusion
between foreign and domestic in-
terests participating in swaying
the 2016 election, to shake hands
and openly express supporting
the word of a strongman dictator
over America’s top intelligence
agency and the people it serves is,
at the very least, disgraceful.
At its worst, it raises the ques-
tion of whether Russia’s influence
has already swayed its way into
the White House.
In an era where taking a knee in
protest has created so much con-
troversy and division, it would
seem we’ve come a long way since
the Dixie Chicks’ remarks drew
disdain from so many Ameri-
cans.
But, apparently, we’ve come a
long way in the wrong direction.
Oregon state
representatives
Oregon federal
representatives
• Sen. Floyd Prozanski
District 4 State Senator
PO Box 11511
Eugene, Ore. 97440
Phone: 541-342-2447
Email : sen.floydprozanski@
state.or.us
• Rep. Cedric Hayden
Republican District 7 State
Representative
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Ore. 97301
Phone: 503-986-1407
Website: www.leg.state.or.
us/hayden
Email: rep.cedrichayden@
state.or.us
• Rep. Peter DeFazio
(House of Representatives)
405 East 8th Ave.
#2030
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Email: defazio.house.gov/
contact/email-peter
Phone: 541-465-6732
• Sen. Ron Wyden
405 East 8th Ave., Suite 2020
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Email: wyden.senate.gov
Phone: (541) 431-0229
• Sen. Jeff Merkley
Email: merkley.senate.gov
Phone: 541-465-6750
C ottage G rove
S entinel
(541) 942-3325
Administration
Jenna Bartlett, Group Publisher
Gary Manly, General Manager ........................................................Ext. 207
gmanly@cgsentinel.com
Jakelen Eckstine, Marketing Specialist ...........................................Ext. 213
jeckstine@cgsentinel.com
Park Nelson, Marketing Specialist .................................................Ext. 203
pnelson@cgsentinel.com
Editorial
Ned Hickson, Managing Editor........................................541-902-3520 .....
nhickson@cgsentinel.com
Caitlyn May, Editor. ..........................................................................Ext. 212
cmay@cgsentinel.com
Zach Silva, Sport Editor ....................................................................Ext. 204
zsilva@cgsentinel.com
Customer Service
Mandi Jacobs, Office Manager .........................................................Ext. 200
Legals, Classifieds ...................................................Ext. 200
mjacobs@cgsentinel.com
Production
Ron Annis, Production Supervisor ..................................................Ext.215
graphics@cgsentinel.com
(USP 133880)
Subscription Mail Rates in Lane and Portions of Douglas Counties:
10 Weeks .........................................................................................$11
One year ..........................................................................................$41
e-Edition year .................................................................................$35
Rates in all other areas of United States: 10 weeks, $15; 1 year, $53; e-Edition $35.
In foreign countries, postage extra.
No subscription for less than 10 weeks. Subscription rates are subject to change upon 30 days’ notice. All
subscritptions must be paid prior to beginning the subscription and are non-refundable.
Periodicals postage paid at Cottage Grove, Oregon.
Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424.
Local Mail Service:
If you don’t receive your Cottage Grove Sentinel on the Wednesday of publication,
please let us know.
Call 942-3325 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Advertising Ownership:
All advertising copy and illustrations prepared by the Cottage Grove Sentinel become the property of
the Cottage Grove Sentinel and may not be reproduced for any other use without explicit written prior
approval.
Copyright Notice: Entire contents ©2017 Cottage Grove Sentinel