SATURDAY STORY - DAN JACKSON - FINISHED!!!

 DAN JACKSON #16

Author’s note.  I’ve enjoyed writing this story.  I think I got more involved in the last month.  No, it is not a major work of fiction.  But, whenever I finish this, I’ll go back and get it to fit together more cohesively.  At this writing, it has become a book with about 125 pages.

Dan Jackson (or Daniel - I’ll have to figure out what to call him) - assembled a computer in his parent’s basement in Bloomington Illinois in 1980 when he was 14 years old.  That was just after Radio-Shack came out with the TRS-80, Apple created the Apple II, and late in 1980, IBM introduced their Personal Computer.  

Then Dan created a computer for his uncle (Steve Jackson), for some friends of the family, for neighbors and they told their friends about it, and soon Dan had a backlog of maybe 100 computers.  So, they made a company - DJ Computers to build personal computers.  The company took off.  

Soon, Steve Jackson was the CEO of DJ Computers.  In 1984, Dan went off to Purdue University and was flourishing.  Dan was discovering a social life (that he had missed during high school), was getting excellent grades, joined a fraternity, was elected to the Student Senate, and had a girlfriend.

In the last few episodes, Dan was kidnapped from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois when he was opening a computer sales room at the Northwestern Bookstore. 

*****

On Monday, June 17, 1985, Denise Brown, the assistant to the CEO of DJ Computers, her pastor, Ronald Harbin of  Shekinah Glory Baptist Church, woke up at Crandon Inn and Suites and drove the few blocks to Yeti drive-in in Crandon, Wisconsin.  Dan Jackson, founder of the DJ Computer Company had been kidnapped but had escaped to Yeti Drive-in and Steve and Aggie Eide.  

True to her word, Aggie put on quite a spread for breakfast before Dan, Denise, and Ronald headed South to Bloomington, Illinois.  Fried eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes - with real Wisconsin maple syrup, and hashbrown potatoes. She even filled up some disposal coffee cups so they would have coffee on their trip home. 

It was a 6-hour drive without stops, but with full stomachs and full bladders, they would need a few stops on the way.  Their first stop was at a Pilot Truck stop at Stevens Point.  Denise wondered if anybody would recognize the white boy with two black people as being Dan Jackson who had been kidnapped.  But, nobody noticed, and soon they were on their way.  

It was good company for the drive.  Pastor Harbin was a gifted speaker, but Denise Brown was also a talkative person.  Dan was in the backseat and enjoyed listening to them.  Around Portage Wisconsin, Denise started singing.  Denise was the choir leader of Shekinah Glory and had an amazing voice.

Dan, whose family never attended a church, other than maybe Christmas Eve, listened as Denise and Ronald belted out hymn after hymn.  At some point, the stress of the last week got to him and he fell asleep in the back seat.

At about 3:30 that afternoon, they pulled into Bloomington, Illinois, and went to the Brown’s house.  D’Anton Brown, Denise’s husband, was ready for them and called Wayne Pauli, the FBI special agent immediately to say Dan was back to town.  He also called Will and Beth Jackson, Dan’s parents, and Steve Jackson, Dan’s uncle and the CEO of DJ Computers.  That afternoon, they all gathered at the Brown household, and Dan got lots of attention and love from his family and friends.  Even Abby and Ada Jackson, Dan’s five-year-old twin cousins, enjoyed having cousin Dan back home.  

Will Jackson had noticed some strange cars around their house.  He suspected it might be the media thinking that they were lurking to see if Dan showed up.  When they left their house to go to D’Anton Brown’s house, they went first to the Meijer store, where they got some groceries.  Will thought they might have been tailed.  Then they went to Sonic Drive-in where Beth got a Cherry-Limeade, and Will got a peach shake.  Sonic had a rear exit and a front exit, and Will took the rear exit.  They drove through a park and Will and Beth watched for any cars tailing them.  Finally, they went to Enterprise Car Rental and rented a Honda Civic CRX, and left their car there.  A few more turns and verification that nobody was tailing them in the Enterprise car that they drove to D’Anton and Denise Brown’s house.

There didn’t seem to be any extra cars in the Brown neighborhood.  Their house was on a dead-end street so there wasn’t much traffic anyway.  Plus, nobody knew of D’Anton’s involvement in the kidnapping case. 

The others didn’t seem to have any problems.  Wayne Pauli had been using an official FBI car but also got an older car from one of the agents in the area. Steve Jackson didn’t worry about being tailed.  But, he too borrowed an older car from a neighbor.

Wayne Pauli had insisted on secrecy - no leaks.  He used the old statement from World War II “Loose lips sink ships”.  They finalized their plans for the next day.  They would drive into Chicago tonight.  Special Agent Pauli had arranged for a hotel.  They would go to the WBBM studio in the morning, get made up, and be interviewed, and Rodney Smith would get time to talk.  There would be a radio program on WBBM radio after the televised version and a call-in program.

At about 7:00 p.m. Wayne, Will, Beth, Dan, and D’Anton Brown got into an FBI van for their trip to Chicago. Beth had packed a suit for Dan as he would be on National television from WBBM studio in Chicago.  She had nice clothes for herself and Will, but nothing too flashy.  If anything, the camera would be on them for a second or two.  

They would be meeting up with Rodney Smith and his crew from CSA in the studio.  This group was already in Chicago having been taken there by Wayne Pauli’s authority from the Wisconsin FBI group that had blundered into the kidnapping story.  Wayne (and the FBI) had three rooms at a Hampton Inn in Cicero, Illinois.  They would stay there overnight and go to the WBBM studio in the morning.  

The Jackson family had one room - almost like a family vacation, D’Anton had a room and Wayne Pauli also had a room.  Dan asked if he could run on the treadmill at the hotel, and Wayne said ‘No, we don’t want you recognized”.  As they settled in, Will turned on WBBM 10 O’Clock news and there were teaser ads for a “break-through” in the Dan Jackson kidnapping and WBBM (and all the CBS affiliates around the country would have exclusive coverage on Tuesday, June 18th at 9:30 a.m. (CBS had allowed half an hour and had the coverage right before the Price is Right with Bob Barker.)

The group was up at 6:00 on Tuesday, June 18, and in the lobby by 6:30 and on the road to WBBM studios in downtown Chicago.  The Chicago police had a roped-off section for Dan, Wayne, Will, and Beth to arrive.  But, the news coverage was there.  On the other side of the roped area, reporters and photographers were there to see if Dan Jackson would be arriving.  The FBI van had tinted windows, so the reporters couldn’t see in, and the van disappeared into a parking area under the television studio.  A news flash went on WBBM at 8:00 reminding viewers of some important story.

*****

Back in Bloomington, Steve Jackson was getting calls from friends, DJ Computer staff, and the media.  Has Dan been found?  Did they arrest the kidnappers?  Is he okay? 

Steve dodged all the questions - saying “No comment”, or “I don’t know”.  Steve was generally a straight shooter and saying “I don’t know when he did know was hard.  He didn’t like to lie.

Denise Brown didn’t receive any questions, although she knew most of the answers..  Pastor Ronald Harbin didn’t know all the answers - but he did know that Dan Jackson had been delivered home, safe.

But, at DJ Computers, televisions were on WBBM news and an announcement over the company’s intercom said employees would be on a paid break from 9:30 to 10:00.

*****

WBBM staff ushered Dan, D’Anton, Wayne, and the family into a secure room.  In the room were Rodney Smith, Jerry McDowell, Wayne Fleming, and Bob Wilson from the CSA organization.  Dan and Rodney hugged, and Dan got to introduce his parents, D’Anton and Wayne Pauli.

Wayne and three FBI agents went over the plans for the program.  This was live TV - so no ad-libbing. Rodney had written out his script, it would take 15 minutes.  Harry Porterfield, the long-time anchor newsman from WBBM would be the onscreen personality for the briefing. Harry would get five minutes to review the history of the case, from Dan Jackson as the computer whiz, the highjacking at Northwestern University, and the involvement of the FBI.  

Dan Jackson would get about two minutes to thank Rodney Smith, the FBI, and WBBM.  Then Rodney would get his 15 minutes, and Harry Porterfield would give some closing remarks.  

After the onscreen briefing, Dan, Rodney, and Harry would have a question-and-answer program on WBBM radio that would also be picked up by CBS radio affiliates 

*****

Fifteen minutes before air time, WBBM staff reminded all of the participants to use the restrooms.  Rodney Smith gave a prayer, and they settled into Studio C at WBBM in Chicago.

*****

Dan, with his parents and D’Anton Brown, was on the left of the studio. Rodney was on the right, and Harry Porterfield would move between the two.

*****

“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one - we’re live” 

Harry Porterfield warmly greeted the camera.  “This morning we have the conclusion to the kidnapping of a computer whiz kid from here in the Chicago area.  With me in the studio is Dan Jackson, founder of DJ Computers.  For those living under a rock, Dan, when he was just 14 years old, made a computer in his parent’s basement.  Others wanted a computer and soon Dan was overwhelmed assembling computers, so with Dan’s parents and Uncle Steve, they started DJ Computers in Bloomington, Illinois.  The company has been a great success and has about 25% of the market share of home personal computers.  Dan is now nineteen years old and just finished his Freshman year at Purdue University.”

The camera shifted to Harry and Dan.  

Harry continued, “Dan, you’ve just had an interesting week, can you tell us about it?”

Dan went into the story of opening a computer outlet in the Northwestern University BookStore, and when he was leaving, a group grabbed him and put him in a car.  He had some fun comments about going to Yeti’s Drive-In in Crandon Wisconsin and how he really wasn’t a captive, but well-treated by Rodney Smith and the group.

Harry asked the obvious question to Beth and Will Jackson,” How nice is it to get your son back again?”

Beth gave a heartfelt answer to get your only son back.

Harry then interviewed D’Anton Brown about his part in the issue.  

D’Anton said, “I was at home on Sunday morning, getting ready for church when I got a call from Dan and Mr. Smith.  They asked me if I could be the go-between to get this situation settled.  I worked with a top-notch FBI special agent, the Jacksons, Rodney Smith, and his group, and the FBI worked to get this time for Mr. Smith to give a presentation.

“I do want to thank our special agent (and I’m not at liberty to discuss his name), the Jackson family and Rodney Smith, and WBBM for helping us out.

After talking to D’Anton and the Jackson family, Harry took a minute commercial break.  It wasn’t your normal commercial.  It was one of the spots that DJ Computers had used in March for their March Madness basketball tournament ads, and a more generic spot with Steve Jackson thanking the FBI, WBBM, and Rodney Smith for working out the situation.

Dan was surprised. He didn’t know that Uncle Steve would have a place in this program and was glad it wasn’t really a commercial about DJ Computers.  

Harry Porterfield then gave an introduction to Rodney and chatted with him for about 30 seconds.  

Rodney then had his time on air. 

Rodney started.  “I’m sorry that all of this happened.  I’m a person who promotes LOVE WINS.  This is based on the Judeo-Christian message to love one another.  

Rodney quoted Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

“My friends, let me use a familiar song by Dionne Warwick, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.”

The Greeks had three words for love, agape, philos, and eros.  The perfect love is agape love.

Soon, Rodney finished his comments, and Harry Porterfield came back on screen to give a summary.  He quoted Shakespeare, “All’s well that ends well.”  He thanked Dan, Beth, and Will; he thanked D’Anton and Rodney Smith.  And he thanks DJ Computers for sponsoring the airtime.

And - it was over - just in time to air some commercials before the network switched to “The Price is Right” with Bob Barker - the number one daytime program.

Harry excused himself and went to a studio for the radio coverage.  This time, it was Dan, Rodney, D’Anton, and Special Agent Wayne Pauli in the studio.  Harry introduced Agent Pauli as “Agent X” 

They discussed the details of solving the kidnapping.  There was about 20 minutes of talking and then they took phone calls.  The WBBM switchboard lit up with calls.  Staff wrote down the questions and handed them to Harry Porterfield.

One of the questions was, “Is the FBI charging Rodney Smith and the CSA for this kidnapping.” Wayne Pauli indicated that charges were being filed.  

Other questions were “Was Dan hurt?” The answer was no.; Was Dan free to roam around,  Dan answered that one and said he jogged every morning and could have just gone to the police if he wanted to.

There was no discussion of the Indiana FBI capturing a phone call from Daniel to Linda Watson, or the Wisconsin FBI bursting into the CSA campground.  (That was a sore subject for Wayne Pauli - how some mavericks within the FBI thought they were going to save Dan Jackson.

At about 10:45, the group had exhausted the questions, so Harry Porterfield signed off, and the media coverage - at least the immediate media coverage was over.

*****

The group split up.  Rodney and Wayne told Dan and the others about the plea bargain.  Rodney, Jerry McDowell, Wayne Fleming, and Bob Wilson were assigned to a minimum security prison in Oklahoma and Rodney would be a chaplain there for a year - unpaid, but working as a chaplain.  At the end of the year, there was an option to hire Rodney as chaplain.  

They came out of the front door at 2 Prudential Plaza to a crowd waiting for them.  Dan saw Linda Watson and her parents and ran to give her a hug, the police guard was surprised by the move and stopped Linda from crossing the rope line.  Dan ran up to the guard and whispered something in his ear, and the guard went to his supervisor, and Linda Watson was allowed into the area.  Photographers got a great shot for the evening papers and evening news.  “Dan Jackson hugs his girlfriend”.  (Of course, later they got the name “Linda Watson’ from Huntington, Indiana).  Linda had brought Dan a Purdue shirt that he put on - so his campus got some publicity.

Eventually, the FBI van pulled up, and Dan, Will, Beth, and D’Anton hopped him.  They didn’t go far as the FBI had arranged for lunch in Naperville at Denny’s Restaurant there and Linda and her parents joined them.

After lunch, the FBI took Rodney, Jerry McDowell, Wayne Fleming, and Bob Wilson into custody.  Dan got to thank them for their help, and of course, Rodney got to thank Dan for helping spread the news that LOVE WINS.  

The Watsons left to go back to Huntington, Indiana. Wayne and one agent drove back to Bloomington, Illinois, and dropped off D’Anton, Will, Beth, and Dan.  

That might have been the end of the story, but the kidnapping had been national news, and the national telecast on the CBS network received the highest rating of any news program that month.  

Dan now was a superstar.  DJ Computers put him into more commercials and increased their sales and market share.  

Over the rest of the summer, Dan, Beth, Steve Jackson and Wally Bunting from DJ Computers Marketing Department went to all the Big Ten campuses and opened a DJ Computer Store in the campus bookstores (or in the case of the University of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota, they opened a store near the campus (as the bookstore either didn’t have room or didn’t want to sell computers.)

Dan, while out on these marketing trips, got people who gave him strange looks as he went out jogging - looks that seemed to say, “Hmmm - that kid is familiar - who is he?”

Back on campus in the fall, Dan tried to put all of this behind him, but that was hard to do.  He got speaking engagements and even an offer to write a book (he passed on that offer, so the offer came down to me to write this story).  

*****

Epilogue

The internet changed Dan’s world and DJ Computer’s World.  While still using the basic Microsoft Operating System, Sam Siner, and Dan Jackson perfected an internet platform that was quickly snatched up by Microsoft and became Microsoft Explorer.  Since it was developed at DJ Computers, but by Sam and Dan, the sale was split - 50% for the company, and 50% for the developers (or 25% for Sam and 25% for Dan).  DJ Computers spun off Internet Products and Applications (known as IPA to both beer drinkers and computer-savvy individuals.  

Out of IPA came texting, smartwatches, and wireless connectivity.  In short, Dan Jackson became a billionaire.  And, at some point, Dan sought out Rodney Smith and D’Anton Brown to really believe that LOVE WINS in the fullness of God’s love.

*****

And, Rodney Smith’s message about letting LOVE WIN gained momentum.

*******

End of Dan Jackson, Computer company founder.

Author’s note.  I had lots of different ideas when I started this, but as I started the book just seemed to write itself.  I have no idea if it is a good story or not.  I started something last week that could be my next story.  But, that isn’t decided yet.

Karen White

LOVE WINS

Georgetown TX - Spring 2023