My beloved son, John Nova (with his daughter Harriet Rose here in 2012), born March 26, 1970, passed away from multiple organ failure at St.Luke’s Hospital last May 22.
So, in his honor I am reprinting his last column for the Houston Press, after twelve years with that fine publication. He moved on to Houstonia, Texas Monthly and Texas Highways, freelancing as well for many publications, including The New York Times, and kept his blogs going until just days before he was hospitalized and even posted some during his last days.
Here’s his Press good bye column, published on December 21, 2012:
INFAMOUS LAST WORDS; SOME OF THE STRANGEST FINAL UTTERANCES FROM DEATH ROW.
“Well, gentlemen, you are about to see a baked Appel”
Those were the last words of one George Appel, a cop-killer electrocuted by the state of New York back in 1928 and it might just be the greatest such utterance of all ime. No that Appel hasn’t had some competition over the years.
At his 1966 electrocution, James French offered reporters in attendance the following(amazing) editorial instruction.
“How about this for a headline in tomorrow’s paper:, French Fries”
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Then there wqs Christopher Scott Emmett, who waxed political just before his 2008 lethal injection. “tell the Governor he just lost my vote. Ya’ll hurry this along, I’m dying to get out of here.”
So far no Texan has reached these immortal heights though some have come close.
Earlier this year, 47-year-old baby killer, Jessie Joe Hernandez became the second Texan to use his last seconds on the planet to cheer on the Dallas Cowboys and another Texan rooted for the Texas Rangers, presumably the baseball team and not the government agency.
Houstonians have never seen fit to praise the Rockets, Astros, Oliers or Texans. I guess Dallas really is a better sports town than Houston.
North Texas cop-killer Randall James Haldahl was executed in January 2022 and perhaps bested every Texan before and since when he offered these words of inspiration and referenced two great songs to boot:
“Let’s get going, the road goes on forever and the party never ends. Let’s rock and roll. Let’s go, Warden. Me and you. All of us. Remember Wet Willie – keep on smiling, keep on smiling. I love you. It’s on the way. I can feel it. It’s OK baby, we have a party to go to. I can feel it now.”
And with that I am out of here. (The Press, not the planet.)
It’s been a great 12 years, folks.”
Editor’s note: Sadly I do not know wht John Nova’s last words were as he was heavily sedated during his final days.
He did, however leave us with THE SOLE OF HOUSTON. You can find this book of his 12 walks across the city at Sig’s Lagoon, Cactus Music and Brazos Books, or by sending $20 to me at 757 Brownlee Drive, Nashville, TN. 37205.
Photos by David Beebe, John Nova Lomax, and Jay Lee
Photo by Jay Lee
Just yesterday I ran across something of interest and immediately thought: Nova would appreciate this, sigh.