Kathi Bowers Wallis – Civic-Minded Entrepreneur

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Kathi Bowers Wallis on equality for all ~

“I particularly felt strongly about women and the fact that women were having a very difficult time. You couldn’t get a loan from the bank. You couldn’t get anything done because you were a woman. For me, that extended right over into minorities and people who were having a difficult time breaking through the old boy white network, which frankly really pissed me off.”

A Ockershausen: Hi, this is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I’m going to read an introduction that’s important, and then I’ll explain why when I finish it. Our next guest has been a tremendous influence on my life. I’ve known her and been a friend for almost 50 years. That’s hard to believe. During my career at WMAL in late 1970s, that was for radio and television, this lady made some courageous suggestions to me professionally that have changed the course of influence of our industry. Our industry, not just Washington, and the live of minorities and women in broadcasting. She’s always been ahead of the curve in her thinking. She’s an entrepreneur. She’s been a movie reviewer on radio right here at WMAL. A yoga instructor, and now she’s a burger queen. She’s the kind of spirit that added spice to the old boys club. Theold boys club. Not only that, the old boy. She’s been a wonderful friend to me, and please welcome Kathi Wallis. Ta-dah!
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Ta-dah!
A Ockershausen: Say something.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Good afternoon. Here I am.
A Ockershausen: Well, it’s important that you know that Janice and I feel this way about you, and she makes a point that the things that you did to help me and help WMAL was influence on the industry, and that’s a true story, with women and minorities, mostly black. The people that you suggested that we started here at WMAL Radio like Ed Scandrett in radio, Mary Brown in personnel. Because you had been in the personnel business.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Right.
A Ockershausen: I think when we first met as a matter of fact, you were selling for Chase Photography.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: What was my title there? Public relations for Chase Studios with those two dirty old men. Right? Remember them?
A Ockershausen: Absolutely.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh my God.
A Ockershausen: It was a great business. Wasn’t it?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah.
A Ockershausen: It was downtown photography.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Downtown on M Street, and they did all the portraits of everybody who was important.
A Ockershausen: Beautiful, beautiful work. They’re out to business now.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh my God. They’re both dead and buried long ago, but they were the only guys you went to to get your picture taken.
A Ockershausen: They’re the best.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah.
A Ockershausen: You had the PR job.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I had the PR job. I think before that, I was with Super Girls. Oh, dear God.
A Ockershausen: You’re a super woman now.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Thank God I became radicalized. Super Girls. That’s when I was Miss Buick.
A Ockershausen: I had the opportunity of working with you and meeting these people and through the Ad Club and the other things that you were deeply involved in. I’m serious now about the influence in broadcasting because we had almost no black people in the broadcast business in their line of sales work.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s true.
A Ockershausen: They had them on maybe on station, but this was let’s say a lily white radio TV company, and we brought in Ed Scangrett and Mary and others, Phil Brown, all because of your name. It had an influence on this company. Believe me ABC then looked at us as a prime example of what you could do in broadcasting if you set your mind to it. If you want to hire black people, don’t say you can’t find any. That’s baloney. ABC used us in management as an example. The first sales meeting I went to with them, it was out of the city. I took the FM sales girl was name Sherry Black.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Sherry Black.
A Ockershausen: Ed Scandrett was an AM sales manager, and Ernie Fears was the FM general manager, and they were all minorities. People in broadcasting couldn’t believe it. Where did you find them?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, I had my own business at that point in the early ’70s.
A Ockershausen: In Georgetown.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, I started in Georgetown, then I moved to Connecticut Avenue. Moved uptown.
A Ockershausen: With the swells.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: With the swells. I was remarking to your producer that I always felt very strongly about injustice, and I particularly felt strongly about women and the fact that women were having a very difficult time. You couldn’t get a loan from the bank. You couldn’t get anything done because you were a woman. For me, that extended right over into minorities and people who were having a difficult time breaking through the old boy white network, which frankly really pissed me off. That’s when we started the Association of Women Business Owners because it was six of us who couldn’t get anything done. Do you remember Hank Struever(?), I think his name was. “Hank from the Bank”. National …
A Ockershausen: National Bank of Washington?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yes.
A Ockershausen: NBW?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yes. We had him come to one of our first meetings with a bunch of women, and Hank stood up and Hank was horrified at the questions that were asked and why women were so angry. Because you couldn’t do anything as a woman in that era. You couldn’t. If you were a minority women, you just didn’t stand a chance at anything.
A Ockershausen: I lived through it with you. I know what you’re saying. I know you had some problems at Blessed Sacrament at one time with one of the … with one of the members of the rectory there.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, no. That was St. Matthews.
A Ockershausen: Oh, was it?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I think we chained ourselves to the doors.
A Ockershausen: That’s right. Downtown . . .
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I can’t remember why. It was some reason.
A Ockershausen: Oh, Kathi.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Always marching, always protesting. Well, because-
A Ockershausen: But it worked.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: You have to do something. You can’t stand and complain about anything and not take action. At least that’s my feeling.
A Ockershausen: Since we started these podcasts, we talked to so many women that have come in with the same story that you have. They were there at the beginning when it was very difficult to get anything done, but now that has changed for the better. Everybody agrees. Its not perfect yet. It may never be, but it’s a lot better than it was.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, women are still only making 87 cents I think it is on the dollar. I’ll tell you a great story. We were up on the Hill testifying before some committee about women. I was sitting next to Jacob Javits. He was on my right or left. I can’t remember. We all had our papers, and we were going to give them hell up on the Hill. All of a sudden, I feel his hand on my thigh and I thought, hmm. I’m only telling this story because he’s dead. I just picked it and slammed it down. That is where women were. I mean, man felt they had complete right and control to do whatever. My God, we were in a committee meeting. Really. Really.
A Ockershausen: Sounds like Bill Clinton. It was more than a committee meeting.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: If that doesn’t tell you.
A Ockershausen: You have been a trailblazer, and it’s true.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, I have been interested in making sure that everybody gets a fair chance. That’s very important to me. It always has been.
A Ockershausen: You have really worked at it too. Now, let’s talk about, Kathi Bowers. You’re a native of Our Town.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I am.
A Ockershausen: Your family. All of them.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yes.
A Ockershausen: I know you father went to Eastern High School.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right.
A Ockershausen: I remember that.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right.
A Ockershausen: You started here, but you didn’t finish here. You left town for a while as I recall.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I do-
A Ockershausen: Tell me about … Where did you go to high school?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Regina High School for Girls. Catholic educated.
A Ockershausen: Naturally.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Immaculata College for Women. Catholic. Didn’t do me any good, all that Catholic education.
A Ockershausen: You probably still have friends from there you don’t remember.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I don’t remember a lot anymore, so I don’t know.
A Ockershausen: That’s baloney. You got a great mind.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Depends on what day and how much coffee I’ve had.
A Ockershausen: Sure. You went to high school here, and then you decided to get into business, or how did you end up …
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, I decided that like any true entrepreneur, you always think you have a better idea. You always think, well, if they’re doing it, I can do it even better. That’s how I got into the employment business. I had to get the money from a guy because I couldn’t get money from the bank. He lent me the money, and I paid him his money back in six months because he kept coming into the business trying to tell me how to run it. I didn’t like that.
A Ockershausen: You could buy him off.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I got him bought off right away.
A Ockershausen: Listen, Bowers, you had one of the great ideas of all time for downtown, and every time I think about it, I say, “Oh my God.”
Kathi Bowers Wallis: The bakery.
A Ockershausen: A bakery in downtown Washington-
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right.
A Ockershausen: … with a symbolic box.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: What happened? Where did that-
A Ockershausen: I don’t know. You didn’t pursuant it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Didn’t . . .
A Ockershausen: You didn’t pursue it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know. A lot of good ideas.
A Ockershausen: in black and white?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Right. The black and white box. They were fabulous.
A Ockershausen: The box sold the product. Correct?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know, just like Georgetown cupcakes.
A Ockershausen: Just like Ridgewell’s done that with the trucks.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right. Georgetown cupcakes. Pink box.
A Ockershausen: Is that incredible?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right.
A Ockershausen: Kathi knows . . .
Kathi Bowers Wallis: My husband to this day when the cupcakes started, said, “It’s never going to work.” Every time you see the line out the door.
A Ockershausen: I doesn’t work.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: You’re such an astute business guy. Got to love him.
A Ockershausen: Kathi, what your idea was for the bakery was downtown.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Downtown.
A Ockershausen: I don’t consider Georgetown downtown.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No. Downtown. Right.
A Ockershausen: It was downtown. People going on a bus, is the metro …
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Because that’s all I knew. I lived downtown. I worked downtown.
A Ockershausen: Metro was new. It was going to be something.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I don’t even remember. I don’t think Metro was even around then.
A Ockershausen: You and I talked to Blackie Auger about it at one time?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yes.
A Ockershausen: Seeing the value of it. He’s an entrepreneur, but he couldn’t see it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No, he couldn’t. That’s right.
A Ockershausen: Very limited.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That was a long time ago. My God.
A Ockershausen: We’re talking 50 years.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know, I know.
A Ockershausen: Katherine Elizabeth Mary Bowers. That’s a long time.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know, I know. A lot of water under the bridge. My God. All the things that have been done since then.
A Ockershausen: We’ve been great for years.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right. Yeah.
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. We’re talking to Kathi Wallis. I’ll say Kathi Bowers Wallis.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Thank you.
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Announcer: You’re listening to Our Town.
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. I’m talking to Kathi Bowers. Kathi Wallis, the co-founder of the Association of Women Business Owners, chair of the Women’s Small Business Committee, SBA. Created Posterity Business buying and selling original 19th and 20th century posters. I remember the posters, Kathi. Remember you had a big show in New York one year. That’s a long time ago.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yep. Everything’s a long time ago.
A Ockershausen: No, it isn’t. You’re still active now.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yes, I am.
A Ockershausen: You’re very-
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Organic hamburgers. Pushing that meat.
A Ockershausen: We’ll get to that later. No commercial please. Of all these charities you’ve been involved with, it’s always been high profile with your family. Right?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: St. Martin’s. High profile? I don’t think the charities were-
A Ockershausen: Your husband, David had to put up with it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, yes, but he’s always happy to get me out of the house. Give him some peace as he calls me the loyal opposition. He’s always happy to see me go because then it’s quiet. David says he’s never been bored. That’s the good news.
A Ockershausen: Isn’t that great?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, I guess so. Never been bored because he-
A Ockershausen: With you, it’s impossible to be bored. You found all these people that you could place in businesses when you had you little business. Correct?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Right.
A Ockershausen: The personnel business.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Right.
A Ockershausen: You gave that up, the personnel business.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I sold it. Right. Because I wanted to become a mother.
A Ockershausen: Oh I….
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yes.
A Ockershausen: Then, you had two boys.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I had two boys.
A Ockershausen: You never quit working.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No, nope. The boys are 34 and 38 and I’m a grandmother, Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m a grandmother. It’s the best thing ever to happen to me, ever. It’s the greatest joy I’ve ever had. It’s absolutely mystical. It’s wonderful. Enough about that. No.
A Ockershausen: As I was saying …
Kathi Bowers Wallis: As I was saying, yeah. I had the poster business, and then I … I don’t know. Then, I became a yoga instructor and then I ran the Yellow Ribbon Fund.
A Ockershausen: I remember the Yellow Ribbon Fund very well. In fact, you were the chairman, president of …
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I was the executive director. Yes, for a year.
A Ockershausen: You left something out of your background that I recall dimly. You did something on the west coast. Didn’t you go to California for a while?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, I did.
A Ockershausen: You worked out there?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, that was when I was very young.
A Ockershausen: Well, yeah, but you got into politics out there. You knew something about what was going on.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No, no, no. I moved to California to get away from the east coast and the family. That’s right.
A Ockershausen: Great reason.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: 3,000 miles. It was wonderful.
A Ockershausen: You had a big fab, big happy family.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yes, I was out there during the hippy-dippy, the Haight-Ashbury.
A Ockershausen: Right.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Playing the bongo drums, got arrested. It was a lot of fun.
A Ockershausen: Weedville?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh, yeah. Everybody’s smoking weed. It was great.
A Ockershausen: They’re probably still doing it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, they’re doing it all over now. Thank you, Jesus, again.
A Ockershausen: They never stop. Janice prompted me to remember that you were a Barry Goldwater supporter when you were young.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right. Oh my God.
A Ockershausen: That was a long-
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That was my roommate, Tish Riley’s influence. I blame that on her. She made me go-
A Ockershausen: That’s the early ’60s.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know. She made me go door to door and we’d canvas for him. I don’t know. What did I know? I though, what the hell.
A Ockershausen: Barry Goldwater would be a rarity today because he’s a man who spoke his own mind.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, I did like that about him.
A Ockershausen: You might not like him-
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No.
A Ockershausen: You knew where he stood.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Exactly.
A Ockershausen: He never hesitated.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I think I was politically naïve, and I thought Tish knew more than I did, so I went along with it.
A Ockershausen: Yeah, but that’s the kind of person you would appreciate now. That when he says something, you can believe it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, that ain’t true with politics anymore, honey.
A Ockershausen: Politics. . . it’s not that way anymore.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No, it isn’t.
A Ockershausen: That’s why Barry couldn’t get elected. He was too honest.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Right. If you’re a politician, you’re a liar.
A Ockershausen: That’s true. They have to be to .. .
Kathi Bowers Wallis: They have to be. Yeah.
A Ockershausen: You’re a fundraiser. That’s what it’s all … It’s a fundraiser.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah.
A Ockershausen: As soon as you get elected, you start . . .
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Get elected, and then you start calling again. “Hello, send me money.” Yep, got it.
A Ockershausen: What are you doing with your yoga? You gave up your yoga instructions.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yes. I started another business, Altogether Now. That was not … Went into people’s homes and moved furniture around and helped them recreate things on the cheap so they didn’t have to spend a lot of money.
A Ockershausen: You were a designer also.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. Call me whatever. Yeah, sure. Okay.
A Ockershausen: I saw you.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, okay. I enjoyed it. It was fun.
A Ockershausen: You have a myriad of experiences.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Don’t pass over Kathi on the radio. Kathi at the movies.
A Ockershausen: Katherine at the Movies.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Kathi at the Movies.
A Ockershausen: I had a television show, it was called Our Town. We did it at Duke Zebert 00:15:21]’s. Kathi came down a couple of times with David, her husband. Watched the show and said, “I should be on this show.” She called me up and I said “Kathi.” She got mad at me because I couldn’t … She wanted to be the co-host.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right.
A Ockershausen: I said, “We can’t pay you.” You said, “I’m not interested then.”
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s right.
A Ockershausen: I said, “I’m not getting paid, you won’t get paid either.”
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Kathi at the Movies was fun.
A Ockershausen: Kathi at the Movies was a big part of WMAL when you did it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, with Trumbull and Core.
A Ockershausen: They really worked with you too.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, they did. That was about a year. I went to the movies, and then called them up right away and let them have it.
A Ockershausen: Your reviews were great.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, I was saying it from a normal person’s perspective.
A Ockershausen: That wasn’t you. When was the last time somebody called you normal?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Normal is a cycle on the washing machine. There’s no such thing as normal anymore. There’s all different degrees of dysfunction in my mind. Nobody’s normal. Who’s normal? You don’t know anybody who’s normal.
A Ockershausen: That’s a good Catholic education.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No, I don’t think anybody’s normal anymore. I really don’t.
A Ockershausen: Isn’t it great?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, thank God.
A Ockershausen: I love it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know. Thank God.
A Ockershausen: I am what I am.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: You have to have people who are different and we do.
A Ockershausen: A song from La Cage Aux Folles about my own special creation.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh, right.
A Ockershausen: I am. A lot of people don’t like it, but thank God that Janice does.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: That’s all that matters.
A Ockershausen: We’re talking to Kathi Wallis on Our Town. We’ll be right back.
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Announcer: You’re listening to Our Town with Andy Ockershausen, brought you by Best Bark Communications.
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town. Having a wonderful conversation with Kathi Wallis who’s a trailblazer in what she’s done for women and for men. What she did for me many, many years ago which became something important to American Broadcasting Company and to what we could do if we worked at it. It is find people, and give them a chance, and that was because of you, Kathi.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, it’s nice to hear. That is really gratifying to hear.
A Ockershausen: Well, you know it’s true because we did. We colluded that.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know, I know.
A Ockershausen: you know the problem I was having.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know.
A Ockershausen: I hired an ex-Redskin. He was a player a the time. He wanted to be player. He didn’t want to be a sales guy. We couldn’t find anybody, but you up with a genius move with Ed Scandrett.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Good old Ed. God rest his soul.
A Ockershausen: Brown.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, Phil Brown.
A Ockershausen: Phil Brown.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: He was smart as a whip, that guy.
Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Good looking too.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Good looking.
A Ockershausen: Barbara Terry.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh my God, yes.
Janice Iacona Ockershausen: Barbara Terry.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yup.
A Ockershausen: Kathi, they were people you felt had something to offer and they did.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh, yeah. Yeah, they did. Absolutely.
A Ockershausen: They got in the door and did a great job.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: You have to look at all people based on what they could bring to the table, not what color, size, shape, sex they are. Who cares? What do they bring to the table is important.
A Ockershausen: Yeah. I had one of these kids after a while say to me, “You fired me because I’m black.” I said, “No, no. I hired you because you’re black. I fired you because you didn’t sell anything.”
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Because you’re no good.
A Ockershausen: It’s not up to me. Look at your billing. You don’t sell anything. If you don’t sell, you’re out the door.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Right. Absolutely.
A Ockershausen: I learned that the hard way. Then you add in a sort of topper of your career in both health and welfare was establishing a hamburger place.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Organic.
A Ockershausen: Organic. In two locations at once time.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. Well, now just one.
A Ockershausen: You don’t have to franchise, but it is a franchise. Correct?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yep. Organic beef, organic hotdogs, organic chicken, organic eggs, yes. No GMOs in a lot of stuff. I’m pushing that all the time actually. Trying to get people to eat healthier. If you’re going to eat a hamburger, don’t eat that stuff that comes from the stockyards. The french fries are cooked in olive oil. I mean, if you’re going to eat french fries.
A Ockershausen: I only hear this 20 hours a day. If you were around, it would be 24 hours a day I know, but Kathi, Janice believes in this-
Kathi Bowers Wallis: You are what you eat.
A Ockershausen: … and she’s a great example. Look how beautiful that girl is.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know.
A Ockershausen: What she’s put up with.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know. You are what you eat. That makes you cheap and easy.
A Ockershausen: Kathi, tell me when you … The restaurant out in Hyattsville. The first time Janice and I went there, it was in the midst of what was going to be a building boom, but at the time we didn’t see it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: You ought to see it now. It’s unbelievable. The town homes, the apartments, Whole Foods is-
A Ockershausen: Hyattsville.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Whole Foods is going in. Mike Isabella is putting a place down the road. I mean, it’s gone boomp. David’s also in a business where he delivers if I can understand this properly. Once again, it’s technical. He delivers broadband through microwaves to businesses. They’re up on the rooftops all over the metropolitan area. He’s going in one direction, I’m going in the other.
A Ockershausen: Yeah, but he’s going in the future. That’s for damn sure.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, yeah.
Janice Iacona Ockershausen: People have to eat.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah.
A Ockershausen: He used to be in the travel business, Kathi.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. 20-some years.
A Ockershausen: Did a lot of traveling.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: We used to live high on the hog. Those days are over. Now, we’re at home with two dogs.
A Ockershausen: Yeah, but they’re not over for Janice and I, because you did us the greatest favor with a trip to China.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh, yes.
A Ockershausen: My God.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: God.
A Ockershausen: I’ll never forget that.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, wasn’t that-
A Ockershausen: You made our life.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: There you go. What a friend I am.
A Ockershausen: I said that to you. I’ve saluted you so much, my hand’s getting tired.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, salute me on 45 years of being married in May.
A Ockershausen: It’s incredible.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. Isn’t it? I said to David, “What are you coming up with?” “I don’t know.”
A Ockershausen: Yes, he does. He’s an electrical guy. He understands all these new fads.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I don’t want anything electrical for my anniversary.
A Ockershausen: Why not?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I want something that sparkles, honey. Sparkles.
A Ockershausen: You won’t believe this. Janice and I coming up on 25 next year. You said it wouldn’t last.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: What are you going to do for the 25th?
A Ockershausen: I don’t know. Maybe I’ll live. I’ll live until I die. Kathi, great, great success for you, for whatever you try. The amazing thing is, and you’re proof of this, and I’m not knocking it. You never let age hinder you in any way. You’ve gone for the gold.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I don’t feel old.
A Ockershausen: Even when you were a kid.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I don’t feel old. I mean, I know I am, but I don’t feel old.
A Ockershausen: You’re spectacular, come on.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No. It’s true. As you get older, if you think you’re old, you’re old.
A Ockershausen: You’re old.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I don’t remember how old I am, which is best.
A Ockershausen: It’s only a number.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I can’t remember.
A Ockershausen: It’s all right.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I don’t remember how old I am.
A Ockershausen: This is America. You do what you want.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. Age can slow you down if you start living to your chronological age.
A Ockershausen: Correct. You are a perfect example. Now, you might remember him, and I’m sure you do because I’ve talked to him almost everyday to keep him going strong, and he is going strong. Charlie Brotman.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: God love him, yes.
A Ockershausen: He’d be 90, and he’s going strong.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: He’s the best.
A Ockershausen: He had his problem. He had a little stroke, but he got back into life.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I know. He’s the best.
A Ockershausen: He never let it stop him.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: You can’t.
A Ockershausen: He couldn’t drive, so he hired a driver.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Good for him. Good for him.
A Ockershausen: I mean, that’s what you got to do.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah, you have to keep moving.
A Ockershausen: Stay active.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: My father used to say, he lived until 95, “You have to keep moving. You always have to keep moving.”
A Ockershausen: What was your father’s nickname? Speedy?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Swifty.
A Ockershausen: Swifty.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Swifty. Swifty bit the bucket at 95.
A Ockershausen: Long, long time ago.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. You keep moving.
A Ockershausen: You got good genes, honey.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: David says to me at around 6:30 at night, “Why are you still up and moving?” I said, “It’s 6:30.” He’s in the barcalounger. It’s only 6:30. I’m lucky. I was blessed with a good metabolism.
A Ockershausen: Isn’t that great?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yeah. He’s gone. He’s out with the dogs.
A Ockershausen: A doctor told me the best medicine for any person is having good parents that lived a long time.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No question. God knows I’ve abused myself for many years. No, it’s true. Genetics pays. Look at your wife. My God.
A Ockershausen: She’s spectacular.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Being Italian. I mean, that beautiful skin, the hair. Some people really … It’s not fair. Some people get all the luck and other people …
A Ockershausen: Take a look in a mirror. You’re spectacular.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: No, but I mean in other people, no matter what they do, they age. I think if you look old, you might start thinking that you’re old. Maybe that’s part of it. I don’t know. I don’t want to think I’m old.
A Ockershausen: You’re a great example of somebody to get up, get dressed and get out.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Well, my children … My hair is gray because I wanted my kids to know that I am old, because they think that I still can do what I did in my 30s and I can’t.
A Ockershausen: It’s tough to do.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I let them, “Here, lift this box up for me. Do this. Do that.” “Why, Mom?” I’m old!
A Ockershausen: Whoever thought this little Catholic girl from the suburbs would be operating a hamburger joint?
Kathi Bowers Wallis: God knows, not me. I want to be in Florida.
A Ockershausen: Or Hawaii.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Or Hawaii.
A Ockershausen: That was your vacation plan. You and David.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Yep, we’re going to try to go next year.
A Ockershausen: This has been a wonderful, wonderful conversation.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: It certainly has.
A Ockershausen: Been looking forward to you for a long time.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Lucky for you to have me.
A Ockershausen: When I called you about this idea, you didn’t know what I was talking about, but you agreed to do it.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I still don’t.
A Ockershausen: I want you realize whatever you do and say here will be up in that cyber space forever.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Oh boy.
A Ockershausen: Isn’t that great? Your great-great-great-great-great children will be able to hear it and see it. Maybe. We don’t know. Maybe we won’t be here.
Ken Hunter: Too late now.
A Ockershausen: Kathi Wallis, I love you so much. Thank you so much for being here and being a part of Our Town.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: You’re welcome.
A Ockershausen: What you bring to us is unbelievable. Connect the dots.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: Connect the dots.
A Ockershausen: Please give our best to David.
Kathi Bowers Wallis: I will.
A Ockershausen: We will see you when we launch our second season.
Announcer: You’ve been listening to Our Town, season two, presented by GEICO, our hometown favorite with your host, Andy Ockershausen. New Our Town episodes are released each Tuesday and Thursday. Drop us a line with your comments or suggestions. See us on Facebook or visit our website at ourtowndc.com. Our special thanks to Ken Hunter, our technical director and WMAL Radio in Washington, D.C. for hosting our podcast, and thanks to GEICO. 15 minutes can save you 15% or more on car insurance.