

34. DoQ:or, Lawyer, Merchant
or Chief?
Today we celebrate life and the Giver of life who
makes it not only possible but also worthwhile.*
Author and novelist James Michener is indeed a
member of a prestigious and talented club of famous
adoptees. The adoptees' names, and in many cases
the events of their lives (warts and all), are known to
us. Each, as a fallible, mortal human being, was born
with a free will to do good and/or evil:
Founder of Wendy's International Dave Thomas
... former President Gerald Ford ... founder of
Apple Computers Steve Jobs ... Olympic
Decathlon Gold Medal Winner Dan O'Brien ...
pioneer bird watcher John J. Audubon ... actor
Richard Burton ... Olympic figure skaters Peter
and Kitty Carruthers ... newscaster Faith Daniels
... actor Ted Danson ... professional football
player Eric Dickerson ... actor Hugh O'Conner ...
Olympic diver Greg Louganis ... professional
baseball player Jim Palmer... Olympic ice skater
Scott Hamilton ... former First Lady Nancy
Reagan ... former President Reagan's son
Michael Reagan ... playwright Edward Albee ...
senator Robert Byrd ... Christina Crawford,
daughter of Joan Crawford ... Admiral Farragut
... rock singer Deborah Harry ... television
program host and author Art Linkletter ... actor
James McArthur ... the patriarch Moses ... Karen
*This text includes excerpts from a keynote speech the
author presented at the 30th Annual Celebration
Dinner sponsored by Christian Homes of Abilene,
coinciding with the placement of their 1,000th baby for
adoption. The reader is also referred to the author's
book on the same subject.
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