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Show HORIZONS STANDARD-EXAMINER SUNDAY, JULY 12, 1992 FEATURESEDITOR: 625-4270 TRAVEL WEDDINGS TELEVISION LISTINGS Northern Utahns are doing double takes at these,local UBLES By JANELLE BIDDINGER Standard-Examiner staff The first time Charles Farrell heard the name Wilford Brimley, the movie “The China Syndrome” had just opened in local theaters. One morning, the secretary arrived at work looking a bit thoughtful. She told Farrell she’d seen him on the big screen the night before. Even Farrell’s bald spot, she mused, looked just like that what’s-his-name actor in a small role in the movie. Farrell decided to check it out for himself. Afterward, as he walked out of the theater, a bit thoughtful Wile Brimley himself, he was asked for an auto- She inspected Farrell closely as he played on the TV drama “Our graph. calmly pumped gas. “You're either Mr. Brimley,” she said, “or the best damn look-alike I’ve ever seen in House.” “They're satisfied,” says Farrell, who since his retirement my life.” Farrell continued to stored antique automobiles, many watch the cents and dollars spin. “Yeah,” he drawled. She scratched her head, paused a moment more, of them now displayed in the Nothis. Brimley’s. Wilford Brimley, of the drooping mustache, spectacles, round cheeks and granddad smile. Since that day some 12 years ago, Farrell’s been taking it from all sides, from banktellers, waitresses, grocery store clerks, from the emcee of last fall’s look-alike contest at the Utah State Fair. Says Farrell, who won the contest, “Right “til I left, he never did believe I wasn’t Wilford Brimley.” Even from passing strangers. Like the time Farrell stopped at a gas station in Jackson Hole, Wyo. A woman who was pulling out slammed on her brakes, backed up. then droveoff. Atleast four orfive times a week, it happens. Someone glances at him once, then again, And as often as not, the inquiry starts, “Hey, from Hill Air Force Base hasreBrowning-Kimball Car Museum at Ogden’s Union Station. Farrell, who lives in Clinton, has even received a raspy seal of ap- proval from the big guy himself. When Brimley gave a speech at you're ...” — you know,that gruff- Weber State University several years ago, Farrell stopped by to voiced man who looks down-home to be celebrity. doppelganger. Brimleyhimself did too Down-home, just like Farrell. take a firsthand look at his seeming tograph, he scrawls “Gus Wither- a double take and, Farrell remembers, said, “You look more like me than I do.” spoon,” the character Brimley See DOUBLES on 5E Whenever he’s pestered for an au- Charles Farrell says even Wilford Brimley sees the resemblance. fohn Stockion Local photographs by August Miller/Standard-Examiner More local look-alikes on Page 5E Garth Brooks Dennis Gerber of Clinton wishes he were in John Stockton’s shoes. Garth Brooks look-alike LaMont Martinez of Layton was singing and wearing a black cowboy hat before he knew of Brooks. Vearl Thompson of West Weberis constantly told he looks like Tom Selleck. re Mike Hall of Syracuse saysit’s tiring answering to calls of ‘Hey, Chuck.’ Lacey Olsen, 7, of West Weber looks like Michelle on TV’s ‘Full House.’ Madonna Sixteen-year-old Tracy Jorgensen of Roy is the person who most resembled Madonna in photographs sent to the Standard-Examiner. After 216 years, the time still hasn’t come to undo democracy A couple of weeks ago in Inverness, Fla., two lawyers had an argument while they were picking a jury for a trial on drunken driving. The lawyers went to the bench for a conference, as lawyers often do, and on the wayback to their tables, one of them said to the other, “I take myorders from the bench, not you, little lady.” The“little lady” in question — Assistant State’s Attorney Liz Os- mond — took exception to that remark and asked for another conference, and then went back to County Judge Gary Grahamto tell PETE DEXTER Universal Press Syndicate him what Bill Reed had said. “I have never, never, never seen this (kind of) behavior in court,” Ms. Osmond said later. Indicating, I would think, that she lives in a somewhat safer world than the rest of us — professionally, at least — and that her range of experience within this world has not been particularly broad. If I am still allowed to use the word “broad.” At any rate, Judge Graham called Mr. Reed to the bench and instructed him to apologize, and Mr. Reed, whosaid later that he “meant every word he said,” refused. The man obviously has deep feelings about his use of the words yer himself, decided that Mr. Reed was in contempt of court for not apologizing, fined him $90, put him on probation for six months and ordered him to do 50 hours of community service. Unbilled hours, ouch. “It was a sexist remark and meant to be demeaning, and it offended me,” Ms. Osmond said afterward. “little lady,” but then, lawyers are “For her to be insulted and for us to be here in this position now known for their highly principled stands on all kinds of issues. is absolutely stupid,” Mr. Reed said. And Judge Graham, being a law- Now, as a layman I know I’m not qualified to step between these would the judge have ordered her two keenly honed legal minds still to apologize? Would he have put her on probation if she had refused, or ordered her to do 50 hours of community service? More to point, do we want to live in a place where a remark like the one Mr. Reed madeto Ms. Osmondis a criminal offense? Do we want to legislate politeness for politically fashionableclasses of people? And if we do, what happens when members ofthe politically fashionable group need to be insulted? in pitched battle, but it does seem to me, as an outsider, that something here has been overlooked. That 216 years into the greatest democracy the world has ever seen we have now cometo point where someone can be handed a criminal sentence for not apologizing for saying “little lady.” Thefact that it was a lawyer only mitigates things slightly. You have to wonder if Ms, Osmondhad called Mr. Reed “little man” or even “you fat slob,” See DEXTER on SE |