Kansas City, Kaw River Front, Kansas City, Mo., is the title on a postcard published about 1910 by the South-West News Company of Kansas City and printed in color in Germany. Dark smoke from tall smoke stacks is seen on the horizon, but no tall office buildings. A small sailboat with gaff rig makes its way in the foreground. The postcard was found in an old bookstore in a back corner of Tokyo, Japan, and was without message or address. James. M. Kushner, formerly of Shawnee Mission, found the card while browsing through the store looking for antiques. Mr. Kushner's life since his years in Shawnee Mission has taken some interesting turns.After graduation from high school he attended the University of California, then spent two years in the Peace Corps in Kenya. After earning a Ph.D. in Communications at the University of Minnesota, he joined the State Department. Six years later he joined a marketing research firm headquartered in Hong Kong, learning to work among different people, their customs and language. In 1980 he became the marketing representative for Reynolds Tobacco Co., Hong Kong, and is now marketing development manager of all Southeast Asia and Australia. He resides in Kuala, Malaysia. We thank Loraine Tramill, of Lake Lotawana, who received the postcard from Mr. Kushner, mailed with a Hong Kong stamp. She passed it on to our readers. A long round trip for the nostalgic picture postcard and over a lapse of time of about 75 years. Kansas City Times, October 19, 1984.
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