Hungarian Heritage Review, 1990 (19. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1990-01-01 / 1. szám
Kati Rékai merits applause not only from the “Hungarian Heritage Review”, but also from the Hungarian community of Canada, for the job she is doing to help foster closer cultural relations between Canada and Hungary through literature! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - He was born in New York City on October 13, 1915. One year later, his Hungarian parents took him and his older sister back to Hungary, where his father reported for military service and was assigned to duty as a Captain in the Hungarian cavalry. Four years later, in 1920, he and his family returned from war-torn Hungary to the United States and, in 1931, he became the youngest undergraduate enrolled in Columbia University. Then, because of his father’s illness, he terminated his studies and returned to Hungary with his family. When he finally got back to the United States some years later, he re-enrolled in Columbia University as a pre-med student, where he also had an opportunity to become a member of the 1936 U.S. Olympic Fencing Team. However, he soon gave up his studies and opportunity to participate in the Olympics, because he decided to become an Actor. The rest in cinematic history. His career spanned 50 years; he starred in more than 50 major film productions; he was nominated for an “Oscar” for his role as Chopin in “A Song to Remember”; and he produced and directed such films as “The Big Combo”, “Beach Red”, “Sword of Lancelot”, and others. He died recently at the age of 74 and his outstanding contributions to the American film industry and cinematic art will be sorely missed. He was the Huftgarian-American, Cornel Wilde. ********** NEW YORK, N.Y. - “In a time, more than ever, America needs leaders, America needs “LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF ATTILA THE HUN”. Believe it or not, this is one of the promotional blurbs on the flap-cover of the book entitled: “Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun” authored by Dr. Wess Roberts, the Vice-President for Human Resources Development of the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, and published by Warner Books. It is also a real “Believe It or Not’ that this book has become a “best-seller’ among leaders of American business and industry! This book, which is based upon careful research and filled with pithy, illuminating maxims df leadership attributable to Attila the Hun, reveals how the “Scourge of God” managed to unite numerous tribes in opposition to each other and forge, under his personal command, one of the most unified, cohesive, and powerful forces ever known. His wisdom is revealed in how he addressed and handled his troops before leading them into battle, how he kept the peace in camp, how he chose his enemies, how he negotiated, and much more. His principles of leadership are detailed in his “Advice and Counsel” on character, courage, decision-making, delegation of authority, developing chieftains, diplomacy and politics, leaders and leadership, and the like - all of which is useable today. It is a book, in fact, from which the present-day leaders of and spokesmen for the Hungarian community at-large could learn a lot! Another interesting part of the book is that it also provides some biographical information about Attila the Hun and historical insights of his life and times. Here, for example, is how it describes his death: “His death came unexpectedly. It happened at a time when he was bout to lead his reorganized and formidable army into a new quest to conquer the empire. Attila was dead! His warriors and chieftains were stunned! Women wept! Children feared! Their noble king was gone forever! The Hunnish nation had prematurely lost its central figure of unity, pride and leadership. Although still in shock, the high priests prepared for the burial ceremony. As Attila lay on a high bier in the main square of Etzelburg, a black horse was offered in sacrifice as the sightless high priest Kama asked the departed Hunnish spirits how their king should be buried. The answer was directed that Attila be buried in a triple coffin: the first of gold like the sun; the second of silver, as the tail of a comet; the third of iron, for Attila was of iron. To prevent any threat of disturbance of the beloved king in his final rest, Kama was told by the spirits to bury Attila at the bottom of the Tisza River. A dam was constructed to divert a small channel of the river, and a grave was prepared in the river bed.- continued next page 6 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JANUARY 1990
