Gary J. Groman, aka “The Ole Seagull” is a 65 plus year old grandfather living in the Branson, Missouri area just outside of the thriving community of Hollister. He is an independent local columnist, publishes the Branson Register on the internet, writes a a weekly column in the Sunday edition Branson Daily Independent, and publishes a Blog, which to no ones surprise is called The Ole Seagull.Com.
After vacationing in the Branson area for one week a year from 1976 to 1985 he and his family elected to move to the Branson area in 1986. He is blessed in that his three children, their families, and his mother have also elected to live in the immediate Branson area.
About six years ago, as he decided to make a commitment to writing about the things that concerned him, he decided that a brand would be helpful in communicating those concerns. “The Ole Seagull” evolved from a speech given by Jim King, past National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, during the Carter administration. He characterized his position within the political hierarchy of the day as that of, “a lowly seagull walking along after the horse in the parade picking at the droppings.” Even as it gave Jim perspective at that time so too does it keep the Ole Seagull’s roll in perspective today.
On occasion, the Ole Seagull has been asked what his qualifications are to his write his opinions and why anyone should pay any attention to them. In order, the answers are “none” and “they shouldn’t unless, one way or the other, they have evaluated those opinions and find them useful in their own decision making process.”
“But couldn’t your opinion in a given situation be 100 percent wrong?” Absolutely, and that’s why the Ole Seagull tries to give the basis for the majority of the opinions he writes. Hopefully there is enough information and references so that the reader can evaluate the opinion and put it in perspective.
It’s easy to want to spew forth a list of qualifications but, in the final analysis it is a useless act and a waste of time. Abraham Lincoln said it best when he said, “If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”