BRAD DOHERTY

The  Stillman ranch house, the founder's love nest nestled in the brushland between Brownsville and Corpus Christi, has found a permanent home at the Linear  Park in front of the federal courthouse and will be converted into a museum featuring Brad Doherty's photographs.

"I admit that presently it is an eyesore, but it is a historical structure," said Tony Gray working on behalf on State Representative Rene Oliveira in order to assure Doherty's immortality. "Landscaped, renovated and the permanent home for Brad Doherty's photographs, it will enhance our art district."

Justo Leyes, the lawyer who fought to have the collapsing structure removed from in front of his office, has softened his stance in recent weeks.

"The  city has spent too much of our money shuffling Stillman's whore house from one site to another," he said. "I believe that the threat of legal action has forced the municipality to get off its ass and resolve  the situation.

"When I heard that it was going to  house Brad Doherty's work, I have to admit I reconsidered my position. Historically, Doherty is one of our greatest photographers. His 40 years of work covering Brownsville, the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas and Mexico is worth preserving. A negative many times is little more than the beginning of a positive.

"For once our mayor deserves credit. He is a longtime admirer of Doherty who vociferously argued for this project over the objections of various city commissioners and developer Bruno Bocafuerta, the Machiavellian Matamoros millionaire."

"I've  known Brad for years and I have several of his prints hanging in my house," said the mayor who is trying to convince his colleages to make Havana Brownsville's sister city and establish economic relations with the isolated country. "As much as I like honoring loyal citizens for adhering to my dictates, we need to appreciate our true artists."

"I am very  honored that a part of me will remain once I have been laid to rest," said Doherty who just returned from New York where he opened a new exhibition at a Manhatten museum featuring ladybugs fornicating.

"Brownsville is not my home, but it adopted me many decades ago," he continued. "It  is very gratifying when your adopted hometown chooses to adopt you."