On Tuesday March 16, 2004, the Virtual Hall of Fame lost a very dear friend, Bonnie Kate Mahaffey Anders passed away shortly after 12 PM. I'd have to say Kate was one of the biggest Jackson supporters on the face of the planet. The Anders (Kate and her husband Joe) were friends with the other Kate and Joe...(as in Jackson) and they had many great stories of the Jacksons. I think my fondest memory of Kate....was in the Summer of 1998 at the first Joe Jackson Memorial Baseball Tournament in Dyersville, IA. It was extremely hot in Iowa that summer and Kate and Joe didn't want to burn up in the hot Iowa sun watching baseball. So the three of us took shelter in a nearby wooden building (with no A/C I might add!!). We spent several hours in that building burning up from the heat talking about Joe Jackson. The Anders had wonderful memories of the Jacksons and they shared them with anyone willing to listen.....I would have sat in 200 degree weather that day to hear the stories they told!!! Later that evening (it was the 4th of July)...we were the guest of the Mayor of Dyersville at his VIP tent....and we had front row seats to the fireworks.....it was just one of those days....that as it's unfolding....you know it's special...and probably never will happen again. Well....it didn't....but I did get to share other days with Joe and Kate and they were always the same kind of people...no matter when you saw them....just down to earth folks. Kate was a very sweet woman and her husband Joe a gentleman through and through. Ms. Kate.....we will miss you dearly.....but we know you, Joe and Katie Jackson are having a blast....what a sight that must be.

                                                   -- Mike Nola, 2004