Weldon Kees was born on February 24, 1914 in my home town, Beatrice, Nebraska. He graduated from Beatrice Senior High in 1931. He went to Doane College in Crete, Nebraska for a time and later went to the University of Missouri in Columbia. In 1934, he wrote a storie for the Prairie Schooner. He became a student at the University of Nebraska where he became a member of the Wimberly's Boys. They were writers and poets. He loved spending his afternoons discussing writing and poetry.
He moved to California hoping to be a screen writer and work with fellow Nebraskan Robert Taylor. Kees published poetry and short stories.
Kees moved to New York and became a painter and later he became a musician. Kees was brilliant at all these endeavors. Unfortunately, he was never satisfied with his life regardless of what he was doing.
On July 18, 1955, Kees' 1954 Plymouth was found at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He has not been seen since. Some have speculated he jumped off the bridge and others have speculated that he disappeared to Mexico. We will never know.
Sometimes the most talented are troubled, sad people. What a loss!
However, I wish him a happy birthday, wherever he may be.
Nebraska Nellie
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