WHO THE HELL AM I?
WHAT MADE ME THIS WAY?
OTHER INTERESTING
FAMILY FACTS AND PERSONAL TRIVIA
...AS REPORTED BY NED ROUSE
"For me, myself and my loved ones, I am the Reporter"
The Kids Are Alright
Baba O’Reilly
, and
On Todd Rundgren’s 1974 album, Todd, my name is there, in alphabetical
order, in all of the names that make up his image, on the poster, included
in the album.
I have saved three people’s lives, in my life, so far. One was a farmer
crushed under a tractor, the other, a child drowning in a creek, and a child
severely injured by a car.
I wrote my first song when I was eight years old. It was a song about 13
mile road, where I grew up, out by Kenowa Avenue. It sounded like a Bing
Crosby song.
I caught, and still have, Little Betty’s leg, part of a chopped up doll that I caught during the song
Dead Babies at my 1st Alice Cooper concert in Holland, Michigan in 06/21/1972. Local Spins
did a story on it in 2015 where they also spoke briefly with me. Here is the link:
Dead Babies
Cheap Trick’s drummer, Bun E. Carlos, bought my antique, brass/bronzed,
Leedy snare drum from the person I sold it to when I retired from drumming.
I learned about music and how to love it from my Uncle Rich, and
brothers, Hank and Jim.
I have had photos published in several well known
magazines under an alias name.
I auditioned once for the band Journey. It went poorly. I showed them my
music. Bad match for all involved. I am not a commercial kind of guy. I
should have known better.
When people thought I was doing drugs to be so creative, and eccentric,
I wasn’t doing any. You couldn't fit the drugs I have had into a shot glass. Today I am totally
anti-drug! I never had been much of a drinker either, so ears ago I stopped drinking
anything with alcohol in it too!
I once was the Eastbrook Mall Santa Claus for 2 years in the early 1990’s
I once spent one hour in a downpour with John Wayne Bobbitt,
sharing my umbrella with him.
My Grandpa Hank was a well known Baldwin, Michigan guide who entertained guests at
his camp such as, Ty Cobb, Don Wilson, Amos & Andy and guest appeared on the TV’s
Michigan Outdoors.
My first wife and I were in the audience of the Who’s’ Pontiac Silver-Dome performance
that is featured in the DVD, The Kids Are Alright, during the songs, Baba O’Reilly, and
Won’t Get Fooled Again.
I was once assisted by a woman, a stranger, who said she was told by God to help me
survive a most difficult time in my life. Her name was Maria Elisa Cruz. During this time
a mentally ill man was trying to kill me. She kept me safe and helped me, as she proved
she had the gift of knowing the future and his movements. She also prepared me for what
good was coming in my life! She did this countless times. Early on I asked her if Jesus
was really the Son of God and if the Bible was all true. With not one moment of pause, she
said yes! Since then I have never believed any differently. One of the things Elisa shared
with me was that she often saw, and talked to, the Lord. I remember her telling me that
Jesus is so beautiful! There were many talks and correspondences. Then my spiritual
friend said goodbye and I never saw her again. We named our daughter, Clara Elisa Marie,
after her because Clara was one of the blessings she‘d predicted! Years later I attended the
funeral of my dear friend, Phyllis Robbins, who knew this story in much greater detail.
When I got to the funeral her daughter said that while her mother was going in and out of
consciousness, slowly dying, that she had seen the Lord and wanted her daughter to tell
me about it at her funeral. She did. I arrived, mourning my loss. Soon, after my arrival, her
daughter met me for the first time and told me that at one point her suffering mother
started crying with joy, and said that she had just seen Christ. She told everyone in the
room, with peace and clarity, that he, Jesus, looks so beautiful! Her mother told her to
make sure you tell this to Ned Rouse! He will be coming to my visitation he won‘t make it
here before I die. She also told me that my stories of Elisa had helped to bring her mom,
Phyllis, to Jesus Christ. That was one of the happiest days I will ever remember!
I was there, in the background, taking pictures when they were filming the Apocalyptic
ending to Stephen King’s, The Stand in Las Vegas.
My 2nd wife, Vicki, used to date, Rick Allen, the drummer for Def Leppard, when he
still had 2 arms. This was back when she was a dancer in Las Vegas. She knew many
celebrities there. Vicki left Las Vegas after surviving a brutal stabbing where she was
declared dead in front of our son, Tom. Singer, and friend, Andy Gibb paid her hospital
bills. She didn’t want to be living there if the assailant ever got out of prison, since he
swore that he would someday finish the job! She came and found me! We burned
brightly for years! Vicki was a fun and passionate woman. She still is a great person
with a lot of energy! We get still along and she likes and respects my wife Sara.
My Grand Aunt Marguerite was married to film star, Chester Conklin, who
was better known as the Captain of the Keystone Cops. He also appeared in
many 3 Stooges shorts and a lot of motion pictures, like Lil’ Abner. She had
her own religious radio show and claimed stigmata.
My Great-Grandmother, Clara Rouse was an author and an artist. She wrote the book, Iowa
Leaves and also wrote for The Washington Post. Her father was Robert Robinson, who helped
found the state of Iowa with the man who was to become the first Governor.
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